Sleeping ideas?

[lgelb]

For both of you, Al and Mary, a low dose of trazodone (as low as 10mg is used as a sleep aid), mirtazapine, amitriptyline, or Silenor (proprietary low dose formulation of doxepin) would be safer than Xanax, especially if you're getting up in the middle of the night or might need to. As Mupstate noted, Sonata is sometimes used to maintain sleep when you wake up early. It has different contraindications and effects, but in sum, I would try one of the low-dose ADs first if your problems are more general than waking up early.

If you do not have contraindications, I strongly suggest you try one [at a time!] or more of these before settling for Xanax, not recommended for ambulatory seniors at all due to the risk of falls and the ways it changes your stages of sleep.

 

[Tomswife]

Tom doesn't sleep at night because of the jolts, twitches, etc. He is now taking baclofen 10 mg mid day and 100 mg gabapenten at night. The clinic neurologist Prescribed both, but i have read the two drugs are not a good combo. These seem to be working and he is sleeping better. Plus less fasciculations. We stopped the diazepam.

 

[KimT]

I take whatever works. Last night I took 5 mg. of Valium, 100 mg. Gabapentin, and 15 mg. Remeron. I slept for 7.5 hours and had REM sleep and restorative sleep. I woke up alert and felt good. For me, good sleep equals less pain and better mood. Both my ALS doctor and my pain management neurologist know what I take. I also have an Rx for Oxy when the back and foot pain is real bad. I only take Oxy in very small amounts during the day and I've gone for as much as six months without taking any. Also, CBD every evening a few hours before bed to get relaxed.

 

[Clearwater AL]

As far as Zanax goes... I take just one in the later evening. It gives me 5 to 6 hours of restful sleep.
Most of the time when I wake up as I wrote before I am able to go back to sleep for another 2 or 3
hours. It was what was prescribed for me when others were short or miss.

I was told taking just one a day (evening) has a low chance of addiction wanting to take more.
It's those who think they need another in the morning or day that is a risk. And... once when I
was going on a trip so I thought I'd refill it early. My pharmacy told me it was too soon to refill.
Apparently it is controlled. I refilled it when I got back. No problem. That's how it is here so
if someone is able to get several refills more than prescribed elsewhere... that's a problem.

Here's one that may get comment. Everyday about mid afternoon I have a cold beer, sometimes
two. I've given up salt, hot Salsa, sweets, my occasional cigar with the guys or at the casino
and other things. Alcohol gets a bad rap in this country, in Europe (Germany Italy) it's almost a
daily staple and many of them live longer than we do. The Irish to same when it comes to beer.
and others Scotch.

Drink a couple a beers here everyday and you get branded with having a drinking problem.
Try and lay that one the folks over in Europe.

 

[Tomswife]

The nutritional value of beer exceeds that of wine . The values of protein, fiber, B vitamins, folate, and niacin found in beer make it more like food. . (Healthline) The percentage of alchohol by volume varies across beers and wines.
However..if you are taking the variety of meds that many PALS are, it may be good to run it by your doctor.

 

[lisa g]

I used to enjoy a glass of wine at night but ever since I was diagnosed having alcohol of any kind causes havoc on my nervous system. Even after half a glass my words become so slurred you would think I drank a bottle or 2. It also affects my walking so I decided to stay away from it all together.

 

[Clearwater AL]

Tomswife, I have, my doctors and Neuro didn't seem it that was concerning. Again, there is mixed opinions
when comes to beer and wine here. We have members who take many numerous meds, suppliments, forms
of marijuana, OTCs, anything they have read about... for them no. Maybe they are over doing what they are
doing. Not everybody has progressed as far as some.

 

[KimT]

As many other things, it’s a personal choice. As long as one is educated in the benefits and risks of a substance, it should be their choice. I’ve found that my doctors work closely with me once they understand I know what I’m talking about and I know my body.