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Permalink Reply by BPLink on March 11, 2009 at 6:57am

How long have you been using CPAP? What's your pressure at?

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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Donaldson on March 11, 2009 at 11:29am

There is a natural sleep aid that seems to work well for some. It's called melatonin. You can get it at Walmart, K mart and most any place that has a vitamin section. I had a friend that took all sorts of sleep subscriptions for years. I suggested it and it worked better than all the rest. She no longer uses perscribed sleeping pills now, just the melatonin.

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Permalink Reply by Linda on March 11, 2009 at 12:45pm

I have had my machine two years...the machine and my mask are fine. My pressure is set at 12...used to be 14, been communicating with my PCP in the past few months. We have worked out all of the kinks. I have a full face mask with nasal cushions. The hardware is GREAT...i just can't sleep! I am going to a sleep specialist, but my appointment isn't until mid April.

P. S. Kudos to my PCP...he is on a CPAP as well...he is wonderful to work with on these issues!

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Permalink Reply by Quentin Smith on March 12, 2009 at 7:18am

Actually it is like I am already completely rested. It is like it works to well. I eventually will take a blanket and sleep on the living room floor the rest of the night. I don't think I am havinf apnea problems when I do this at that point.

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Permalink Reply by Melodie on March 12, 2009 at 12:40pm

Hi, this is Melodie (Mel). I also have problems with insomnia and am currently being prescribed Seroquel 600mg at bedtime. My physician first put me on trazadone and it didn't help at all. I cannot take Ambien or Lunesta as they make me do crazy things during the night - including sleep walking, etc.........

I am having a hard time adjusting to the right dosage of Seroquel, as 600mg is too much. My doc told me just to keep trying to adjust it until I get the right dosage level that helps me the most. One thing about Seroquel is that you really need to be in bed already to take it, otherwise it will slam you and you won't have time to get to the bed and use your C-PAP! It keeps happening to me and then I wake up in the middle of the night at the computer and then go to bed and use my Bi-PAP Auto SV unit...........So once I get the right dosage level on the Seroquel things will level out. You also need to allow yourself at least 8 hours to sleep with Seroquel or you will feel all dragged out. I do sleep very well with the Seroquel though, it's just hard to judge exactly when to get myself into the bed before it hits me.

I have also tried Melatonin in conjunction with other sleep aids, and the Melatonin does help - just not enough for me.

Hope this has been helpful to you in some way. You probably need to speak with your physician about other alternatives. Keep us posted on what you end up doing and what works for you.

Melodie (Mel)

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Permalink Reply by Ruth Rayceen on March 30, 2009 at 7:47pm

Linda, I understand how difficult it is to have insomnia. I have had insomnia most of my life, and have tried almost every prescription sleeping pill. Some were more successful than others. I have had less insomnia on cpap than without it. I took Ambien for several years. I did awaken clear headed with Ambien. My employment required mental dexterity, I interfaced with different organizations, requiring a differing skills. Ambien began to be less effective, and my doctor switched me to 3 mg Lunesta. Lunesta didn't perform as well for me. One of my friends also took Lunesta. She claimed she began losing her hair, and claimed there were West sites about it. That dampened my interest in it. I occasionally take 1 1/2 mg of Lunesta, when I have a period of time when I can't sleep. Their information advised against cutting it in half, or crushing it. I tried l mg, that didn't help me so, I cut the 3's in half. You mentioned you stop using diet Coke at 5:00. When I have that type of product, if I take it after 11:00 am, I'm out of luck in sleeping that night. I hope for the best for you. Ruth Rayceen

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Permalink Reply by Ruth Rayceen on March 30, 2009 at 8:06pm

Melodie, you were more fortunate in taking Seroquel than I have been. I was feeling anxious and not sleeping, even with a sleeping pill. My Doctor suggested I try a few tables of Seroquel, They were samples, I don't recall if they were 50 mg or 100mg. I tried it on a week-end. I took one in the kitchen the first night, and my dh had to almost carry me to bed. I mentioned it to my Dr. he said that was an unusual side effect, and to give it another try. I took one another week-end and my arms and legs began jerky uncontrolled movements that would not stop. The movements continued for hours. My husband called a Doctor friend to come over. He said it was an extreemly dangerous drug, with many side effects, and the jerking movements, have become permanent. Please check with your doctor, and verify the dose he wants you to take. You can also look Seroquel up on the internet. I told my Doctor about my reaction, and he said it wasn't as serious as our friend said.

Since that time, when I am given a prescription I am not familiar with, I check the internet for any unusual reactions, and talk with the Drugist. Take care. Ruth Rayceen.

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Permalink Reply by Kristina Zabala on March 31, 2009 at 5:39am

I started sleeping better when I started using a CPAP seven years ago, but now I feel like I'm sleeping less. Turning over is a pain because of the hose, which is what wakes me up. I think it's my uncomfortable bed though. I can't sleep if I have caffeine past 2:00 now. Bedtime is usually around 10:00.

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Permalink Reply by Glen England on April 2, 2009 at 12:51am

Melatonin was the answer for me. I take 5mg about 30 to 40 minutes berore bed. It does have an interesing side effect though I don't always have it. It can make dreams more vivid. I've never had nightmares on it, but, I certainly have had nights where my dreams certainly were more vivid than before. I'd give Melatonin a try, with your PCP's permission of course.

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Permalink Reply by Speedy on April 16, 2010 at 5:40pm

wow i been down so many roads when sleep is involved. been on 3-4 different cpap units i am a hyper-motion person when i sleep, so much for any device that keeps the nose connection in place. thus setting the alarm off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the only available safe sleep medicine i ate. seconol is a strong medicine so is thorazine, but they are black boxed meaning no more rx's a dr can prescribe them to a patient who is institutionalized with the dr have his only practice in said hospital. BUT my situation is a bit different, i can stay awake til' 4am. then sleep until 9 up and pluggin' away. sucks..........

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on April 21, 2010 at 9:58am

How much diet coke are you still drinking? Artificial sweeteners have been shown to cause insomnia.

http://www.binarysleep.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5917&highligh...

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