is there anything that will help me sleep during wd's?

[tee60]

i'm on day 2 of wd'ing from a 75-100mg per day roxicodone habit. i'm sitting here at work, actually functioning ok enough. not able to do much, but luckily i don't have to do much today. my question is...does anyone know of an effective sleep aid for the tortorous insomnia of wd's? i tried a tylenol pm last night, but it didn't work. what is the most effective OTC sleep aid available? i feel like i need something really strong to knock me out. i'm an emotional wreck, but the physical effects are not nearly as bad as i anticipated. i just want to sleep tonight!

[Jane63]

Yayy {{tee}} on day 2 AND at work?? WOW!! You should be soo proud!!!

Tylenol PM {one pill} usually does it for me but if I take the recommended dosage of two then I am a zombie!!
I used something called Melatonin in rehab and for a short time when I was discharged and it seemed to help pretty well. It is non-narcotic and can usually be found in the vitamin aisle.
Other than that I am not familiar with any other OTC sleep aids but maybe someone else will come along with a reply?

Give warm baths and possibly some "Sleepy Time" tea a try! Sometimes those work for me but if all else fails sometimes I just have to get up and read, watch TV or do something until I get sleepy!
Hope you find something that helps!! Keep up the great work!!
Jane

[tee60]

thanks jane! i can't believe it, but i actually feel alright. this was not nearly as bad as i thought it would be. the diarreah (sorry) sucks real bad, and the depression is of course pretty bad, but the worst is just the insomnia. i'm the type of person that NEEDS to sleep at night to function the next day. i just keep telling myself it will pass, and i will be ok. i am thinking of taking the day off tomorrow and going to the beach with my bf...i just really need to get my mind off of this.

the cravings and obsession to try and score are consuming me at this moment, but it is fleeting. i just want to think clearly again. i want my life back!

[Jane63]

Your welcome!! I think going to beach sounds like an awesome idea!!! Bask in the sunshine and let your thoughts and cares drift away!!!

You know...something I remember hearing when I was trying to quit smoking was to understand the cravings coming on, to think them through and then to let them pass. I'm not sure if that makes sense or even if I wrote it right but basically, the cravings DO pass!!! When they start coming on, remind yourself of that.

*I used to focus on a pill bottle with me throwing one of those big red "X's" over it when the cravings would come!* I know it sounds kinda' silly but it worked for me!! {LOL}

Hang in there hun!!! Oh and drink LOTS of water!!!
Jane

[kelsh]

I still have insomnia and have been sober a while. I have used Tylenol PM which uses Benedryl as the sleep aide. Some times I just take two benedryl but do listen to music on my portable CD when I first go to bed. It depends how I feel....if I can concentrate on reading, or I just get up for about an hour and try it again.

Last night I was awake until 3 AM...up but did get sleepy a while after I was in bed.

kelsh

[Barto]

Quitting caffeine, if you’re on it, will probably help. It helps me.

Hey, watch out for taking Tylenol unnecessarily. It’s hard on the liver. Kelsh is right in that Benadryl is the ingredient in Tylenol PM that makes you sleepy. I’d stick to just that if anything at all. I also think Melatonin helps, but NOTHING helps me like being caffeine free!

Best wishes!

[northbelle]

I have the SAME problem..Running on very little sleep and lots of crazy anxiety !!
ARGHHHHH...
I relax with baths and soaking in good bath product!!! Good aroma's that clear the head are good too..I really like eucalyptus oil...I simmer iton the stove and it is really nice...realxing..
Anyway..just want you to know that you are not alone...I'm awake too...37 days clean from heroin!!!
I HAVE smoked a little weed here and there to be honest..it helps me eat and sleep ...NOT that I am recommending it to anyone!! It is just my truth ya know!! Being honest about stuff is where it is at for me today..
Thanx TEE~~~Just let yourself shake and bake !!! You will be alright!! REALLY!!
love north

[ccgirl]

I might be wrong, but I thought someone said valerian tea is soothing.

[Lizrox]

I just want to add; SLEEP WILL RETURN!!!! I know it's awful getting NO sleep.

The biggest problem we all had in rehab..NO SLEEP!!! Once I went 4 days without sleep. We all used to be up at 3-4 am smoking ciggs in rehab..

I haven't used since May9th (opiates were my main problem) and I FINALLY sleep through the night.

Opiates %&### up your circaddium rhythmm..It takes a while for your body to readjust.

Benadryl may help..if you go to a dr.. you can ask for Vistaril..

I take Remeron for sleep..

Good Luck, stay away from caffeine, nicotine, stay up as late as you can, and don't nap during the day..

[EricPaul]

Originally Posted by Jane63

Tylenol PM {one pill} usually does it for me but if I take the recommended dosage of two then I am a zombie!!
I used something called Melatonin in rehab and for a short time when I was discharged and it seemed to help pretty well. It is non-narcotic and can usually be found in the vitamin aisle.
Other than that I am not familiar with any other OTC sleep aids but maybe someone else will come along with a reply?

About melatonin if anyone decides to follow these recommendations! And if anyone decides to use tylenol pm, check with your health care provider if Tylenol pm or any other otc drug is fine for you.


About melatonin.

ADVERSE EFFECTS

Because there haven't been enough studies or research done, no one knows what adverse effects might occur from long term use. Short term effects noted by some users include vivid, frightening nightmares, headaches and mild depression, along with morning grogginess and a bit of confusion. Although some mothers with cranky, over tired children might well be tempted to try melatonin, it should never be administered to children. Young bodies always have an abundance of the hormone, and it can increase the frequency and severity of seizures in children prone to this malady and even occasionally cause them.

In fact, unless there is an underlying reason like chronic insomnia or chronic fatigue syndrome, (when sleep is never restful) no one under 40 should need to take melatonin. It is wisest never to take melatonin except under medical supervision.

Warnings!
There is the possibility that increasing the amount of melatonin in the body might disrupt the body's own production of the hormone. Altering the amount of one hormone in the body often alters the body's own production of other hormones. In the case of increasing melatonin, the hormone prolactin may also increase. This causes enlarged breasts and decreases the sex drive, which completely negates the claim that melatonin enhances the sex life.

Melatonin is often administered in far too high a dosage. When this happens, the hormone remains in the blood stream and can cause daytime drowsiness, confusion and that headachy, hangover feeling. In some cases, too high a dose can even cause insomnia, the exact opposite of the result hoped for.

A dosage as small as one mg. or even less can cause drowsiness.

WARNING!

Do not take a melatonin supplement:

if you are pregnant.
if you are nursing.
if you suffer from sever allergies or auto immune disease.
if you suffer from an immune system cancer.
if you are a woman trying to conceive.
if you suffer from a severe mental disease.
if you are taking steroid-type medication.
if you are taking MAO inhibitors.
if you suffer from epilepsy.


http://sleepdisorders.about.com/cs/m...elatonin_4.htm

is your melatonin from animals?

What is melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone made by a part of the brain called the pineal (say: "pin-ee-all") gland. Melatonin may help our bodies know when it's time to go to sleep and when it's time to wake up. Melatonin supplements (in pill form) can also be taken. There are two types of melatonin that may be used in these pills: natural and synthetic (man-made). Natural melatonin is made from the pineal gland of animals. This form could be contaminated with a virus and is not recommended. The synthetic form of melatonin does not have this risk. If you are not sure if your melatonin is natural or synthetic, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking it.

http://familydoctor.org/258.xml

melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland. taking this hormone is not a good idea. to get off benzos, we recommend the ashton taper with no other added drugs, supplements, herbs or hormones. the nervous system is very hypersensitive and any of these substances can cause unpredictable reactions and increase the severity of benzo tolerance or withdrawal symptoms.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
Adverse reactions associated with melatonin include stomach discomfort, morning grogginess, daytime "hangover," feeling of a "heavy head," depression, psychotic episodes (in combination with fluoxetine), headache, lethargy, fragmented disorientation, amnesia, inhibition of fertility, increased seizure activity, suppression of male sexual drive, hypothermia, retinal damage, gynecomastia and low sperm count. Typically, these reports are related to high doses. However, adverse effects have been reported and can occur with low doses as well.

mixing the hormone melatonin with benzos causes the drug interaction of increased adverse effects. best to not do that.

INTERACTIONS
DRUGS
Aspirin and other NSAIDs may lead to decreased melatonin levels.

The bioavailability of oral melatonin is increased by coadministration of fluvoxamine. This is believed due to inhibition of the elimination of melatonin.

Beta blockers may lead to decreased melatonin levels.

A psychotic episode has been reported associated with the use of melatonin in a subject taking the antidepressant fluoxetine.

There is a report of melatonin augmenting the antitumor effect of interleukin-2.

There is a report of melatonin enhancing the activity of the anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug, isoniazid.

Melatonin and progestin combinations can be additive in inhibiting ovarian function in women.

Use of melatonin with benzodiazepenes, sedating antihistamines, sedating antidepressants and other sedating drugs may cause additive sedation and increase incidence of adverse effects.

Use of melatonin with corticosteroids may interfere with the efficacy of the corticosteroids.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Those who use melatonin supplements for sleep disturbance or jet lag usually take no more than 0.3 milligrams to 3 milligrams at bedtime for short periods of time (no longer than two weeks). Higher doses and dosing for longer periods of time requires medical supervision. As with all nutritional supplements, the physician must know if his or her patient is taking melatonin. Melatonin supplements derived from animals should be avoided.

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/n...mel_0286.shtml

[Jane63]

Please stop quoting me Eric...ya d**n creeper!

[EricPaul]

Originally Posted by Jane63

Please stop quoting me Eric...ya d**n creeper!

Name calling is not nice as you yourself wrote somewhere else. I see you have double standards. You can call people nasty names and give medical advise! Telling someone to take drugs such as you have done above is giving medical advise and you don't know much about the drugs that you are recommending to people. Anyone who has been dependent, tolerant, addicted to any drug will have changes to the receptors in the brain caused by that drug so taking any other drug even otc drugs can have unpredictable reactions and can harm a person.

[EricPaul]

Taking any drugs or substances which are not prescribed for a medical condition while in detox and recovery from addiction is not a good idea.



Recovering patients may be reluctant to use medications, fearing that they will precipitate relapse. If appropriate, physicians should recommend nonpharmacologic treatment (e.g., lifestyle changes), as initial therapy. Patients may require referrals to learn stress reduction and relaxation techniques, and healthy eating and exercise habits. When medications are necessary for medical conditions in recovering patients, mood-altering or addictive drugs should be avoided whenever possible. Even nonaddictive, nonprescription medications may alter the patient's judgment, triggering relapse behavior. http://www.aafp.org/afp/20031115/1971.html

[woops]

Sorry - this should be directed at tee60 - but dont know how to edit the "Hi Kelsh" above!!
So - to you all............. LOL



Melatonin is not licensed for sale in pharmacies in the UK at the present time.
It's a hormone - so I guess that when/if ever it becomes available - it will only be through prescription.
So - the only people that I have ever heard of taking melatonin have come from America.

Personally I have found chamomile tea (sleepy time tea I think its called elsewhere) very soothing................... now, whether that is an objective observation or some sort of auto suggestion at work........................ anyone's guess.

Insomnia is a rotten problem and lack of sleep can play hell with your functioning the next day. But I cant see any easy solution. Either you risk taking a benzo - with all those implications including another dependency/addiction - or you take a hormone like melatonin (if you live in a country where it is licensed for use) - and who knows what side effects that might have? Or you just stick with it and ride out the discomfort as well as you can? I think that sleep comes back on line as the brain heals and begins to function again properly after a period of abuse with opiates or whatever. Allowing the brain and body to heal at its own rate would seem to be the most sensible way to do this? It might actually also be the fastest way in the end?
For during and after withdrawal the nervous system must be in some sort of excited chaos(not normal) state and I can only think that throwing in another chemical substance must be about the last thing that a fragile system needs? Maybe better to just do nothing - let healing happen at its own rate.

Exercise helps me - and I dont mean the gym (hate the places! LOL) - but lots of walking, riding, cycling, golfing, sailing............ outdoor pursuits.......... whichever is your thing. Exercise is a great mood changer too - due to production of all those endorphins - so that - even if you are sleep deprived - things won't look quite so bleak?

At my worst I have sometimes had no sleep at all at night - and there was a time when I couldnt sleep past 3.00 am - but somehow did manage to survive on just a few hours of sleep. And if you stop worrying about it - and just keep up good sleep hygiene procedures etc - it will resolve.

Take heart. Be gentle with yourself and it will happen.

[Jane63]

Name calling is not nice as you yourself wrote somewhere else. I see you have double standards. You can call people nasty names and give medical advise! Telling someone to take drugs such as you have done above is giving medical advise and you don't know much about the drugs that you are recommending to people. Anyone who has been dependent, tolerant, addicted to any drug will have changes to the receptors in the brain caused by that drug so taking any other drug even otc drugs can have unpredictable reactions and can harm a person.

A "creeper" is the creepy guy that follows a girl around, despite all attempts to let him know his presense is not welcome anywhere around her! {and that's putting it nicely!} I think it fits you perfectly, Eric, and it is nowhere near as half as bad as the names you have called others here!

I don't have "double standards" and I am usually pretty mild-mannered but I will speak up for myself if I have to!

I wasn't giving "medical advice" on this thread and you **** well know it!!! You are just using it as a way to get back at me for hurting your wittle feelings now aren't you?

If you have a problem with me Eric, then PM me and 'maybe' we can work through it, but please do not go around on the threads I have posted/replied on and antagonise me!! It is extremely mean-spirited and MORE importantly, it takes away from the people who are asking for help!!
Other than that...I am going to try to ignore you because apparently you are getting on the Moderators last nerve as well!

{{{{tee}}}}} I am soo sorry for messing up yout thread with this nonsense!! I hope you are having a restful wknd!
~Jane

[exjunky]

Would be in bad taste to mention benzos?

Of course it should go without saying that if you swap an opiate addiction for a benzo addiction you haven't improved your situation. Nevertheless, there is always period during WDs that deprives you of sleep, and this is exactly the point when you are the weakest in willpower. I am a strong believer in doing whatever you need to do to get the job done.

[leeside]

I drink a 1/2 cup warm milk and it works really good for me. I have read "warm" milk converts to mellitonin in the body. I think taking a lot of something to achieve results isn't the way to do things.

[2ala2]

Originally Posted by exjunky

Would be in bad taste to mention benzos?

Of course it should go without saying that if you swap an opiate addiction for a benzo addiction you haven't improved your situation. Nevertheless, there is always period during WDs that deprives you of sleep, and this is exactly the point when you are the weakest in willpower. I am a strong believer in doing whatever you need to do to get the job done.

I am very sorry, and not surprised, you feel this way.

[tcorral1256]

what about the back pain and muscle aches, this is driving me insane as i try to go c/t from a perc habit

[Jane63]

They gave me Melatonin in rehab and the DR assured me it was non-addictive and relatively safe to use. That was my DR of course so maybe its best to check with your own about such things.
I do remember they told me to buy the pharmaceutical grade Melatonin from the healthfood store because it was more like what we produce in our own bodies.

tcorral...the muscle aches from WDs can be reduced by taking warm baths, applying a heating pad and/or using OTC pain relievers such as Ibuprofen. Sometimes simple stretching exercises will help too.
Just remember that they WILL pass!

~Jane

[tcorral1256]

thans jane,

i am trying to taper, i have about 17 percs left and i so confused about the tapering process, have always gone c/t but i can't miss work next week as i have some major grants that i have to work on. my life seems so freakin helpless, any advice, please

[Jane63]

{{tcorral}} If you are making an attempt to get out of the cycle of abuse then your life is not helpless one bit! I wish I had more advice for you but since I detoxed in rehab I don't know much about a home taper...just that it has worked for many so maybe someone else will be along with some help for you soon!
Hang in there!
Jane