Piano0105
11-19-2005, 01:12 PM
Has anyone here had difficulty sleeping while on Forteo? I tried it a few months ago, but it kept waking me up in the middle of the night. I was unable to get back to sleep. After 3 separate trials I discontinued but would like to try it again.
Sponsor
CrohnieToo
11-19-2005, 02:21 PM
My sleep wasn't exactly worth beans when I started Forteo so I certainly cannot begin to say one way or the other whether Forteo has disturbed my sleep pattern or not. If it has disturbed my sleep it hasn't been enough to differentiate from my usual sleep problem.
I no longer count how many times I wake up and trot off to the bathroom as sleep disturbances AS LONG AS I CAN GO BACK TO SLEEP. Often just taking a regular Tylenol will get me to sleep or back to sleep. I used to use Tylenol PM to get to sleep but I've "graduated" to Ambien. I don't take it regularly but have used it to help me get back on a better sleep pattern or just now and then when sleep loss gets out of hand.
Many's the time I've been physically exhausted and ready for sleep, including eyes that won't focus or stay open - BUT - the mind won't relax, shut down and turn off. It just keeps whirring away. That's when an Ambien comes in handy. I've been on Forteo for almost 4 months now.
I no longer count how many times I wake up and trot off to the bathroom as sleep disturbances AS LONG AS I CAN GO BACK TO SLEEP. Often just taking a regular Tylenol will get me to sleep or back to sleep. I used to use Tylenol PM to get to sleep but I've "graduated" to Ambien. I don't take it regularly but have used it to help me get back on a better sleep pattern or just now and then when sleep loss gets out of hand.
Many's the time I've been physically exhausted and ready for sleep, including eyes that won't focus or stay open - BUT - the mind won't relax, shut down and turn off. It just keeps whirring away. That's when an Ambien comes in handy. I've been on Forteo for almost 4 months now.
taape
11-19-2005, 10:14 PM
Piano0105,
Tell us what made you think that the Forteo was disturbing your sleep? Did you have a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep, or was it giving you headaches or bone pain?
I haven't noticed any difference in my sleep. There's some good nights and some bad primarily caused from disc related back pain.
Did you try using the Forteo in the mornings. According to the literature the medication at least the majority of each injection passes through your system after 4 hours.
Tell us what made you think that the Forteo was disturbing your sleep? Did you have a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep, or was it giving you headaches or bone pain?
I haven't noticed any difference in my sleep. There's some good nights and some bad primarily caused from disc related back pain.
Did you try using the Forteo in the mornings. According to the literature the medication at least the majority of each injection passes through your system after 4 hours.
Piano0105
11-21-2005, 04:17 PM
Taape,
I tried doing the injections in the morning as well as in the evening. It didn't make a difference. I was able to fall asleep okay, however, every single night around 2-3 a.m. I would wake up and couldn't go back to sleep. I called the Forteo hotline and was told that insomnia had occurred in some people in the clinical trials. I have a friend who also experienced difficulty sleeping with Forteo. She even increased her sleep meds, but it didn't do any good.
I hesitate to use sleep meds since, in the past, I've become very dependent on them. I generally sleep okay without them. I can't see beoming dependent on one medication just so I can take another.
I tried doing the injections in the morning as well as in the evening. It didn't make a difference. I was able to fall asleep okay, however, every single night around 2-3 a.m. I would wake up and couldn't go back to sleep. I called the Forteo hotline and was told that insomnia had occurred in some people in the clinical trials. I have a friend who also experienced difficulty sleeping with Forteo. She even increased her sleep meds, but it didn't do any good.
I hesitate to use sleep meds since, in the past, I've become very dependent on them. I generally sleep okay without them. I can't see beoming dependent on one medication just so I can take another.
CrohnieToo
11-21-2005, 10:11 PM
Ha! I just asked my doctor about Ambien CR since I've got a coupon for 7 free ones to try. Hey, free is free when you're using regular Ambien on occasion anyway. (Don't you just love those commercials: Ask your doctor if ...... is for you??)
Anyway, instead of giving the script for the 7 free Ambien CR he handed me some samples for Lunesta. Now, I've seen the Lunesta commercials on TV and have thought how tastefully they are done and how attractive they are as compared to most TV commercials. Sure enough just two nights ago I felt I needed a little something to help me get to sleep and I popped one of the Lunesta samples. WORKED GREAT! I slept 7 hours! I only get 4 hours sleep from Ambien. HOWEVER, the next morning I had THE most foul taste in my mouth and I could NOT get rid of it until late morning, almost noon, despite brushing my teeth and tongue three times and gargling mouthwash three times. YECH!! As it turns out, two other people I've talked to said they encountered a foul taste in their mouth the next morning as well. Not when you take it, but rather not until the next morning. So much for Lunesta. I'll have to be pretty desperate to take a second sample of it. Now - I should clarify several others have been very happy with it and have NOT experienced that foul taste in their mouth the next morning.
Just thought I would forewarn those of you considering asking their doc for a script sleep aid. Ask for a couple of samples first before spending your hard earned money on a co-pay or the price of a script forof Lunesta.
Ooops. Forgot to mention. I picked up a Lunesta brochure which I just read tonight. It comes in 1 mg, 2 mg and 3 mg sizes. The samples are 3 mg size.
Anyway, instead of giving the script for the 7 free Ambien CR he handed me some samples for Lunesta. Now, I've seen the Lunesta commercials on TV and have thought how tastefully they are done and how attractive they are as compared to most TV commercials. Sure enough just two nights ago I felt I needed a little something to help me get to sleep and I popped one of the Lunesta samples. WORKED GREAT! I slept 7 hours! I only get 4 hours sleep from Ambien. HOWEVER, the next morning I had THE most foul taste in my mouth and I could NOT get rid of it until late morning, almost noon, despite brushing my teeth and tongue three times and gargling mouthwash three times. YECH!! As it turns out, two other people I've talked to said they encountered a foul taste in their mouth the next morning as well. Not when you take it, but rather not until the next morning. So much for Lunesta. I'll have to be pretty desperate to take a second sample of it. Now - I should clarify several others have been very happy with it and have NOT experienced that foul taste in their mouth the next morning.
Just thought I would forewarn those of you considering asking their doc for a script sleep aid. Ask for a couple of samples first before spending your hard earned money on a co-pay or the price of a script forof Lunesta.
Ooops. Forgot to mention. I picked up a Lunesta brochure which I just read tonight. It comes in 1 mg, 2 mg and 3 mg sizes. The samples are 3 mg size.
ThinBones
11-22-2005, 09:39 AM
Sleep....so elusive now. I used to sleep like death but I attribute all my problems to my age and peri-menopause. I sleep sometimes only a couple of hours and then up, wide awake, etc. All the sleep problems, I seem to have now. Do not think it is the Forteo, certainly don't want it to be and I feel I have to take it anyway due to my thinning bones. I also use Ambien but that does not guarantee a nights sleep, only a few hours. Interesting about the Lunesta, Crohnie. Maybe the ambien cr will work.
newbones
11-22-2005, 11:12 AM
I usually have no trouble going to sleep but often wake up around 2 or 3 a.m. needing to go to the bathroom. This has been happening since before I started on Forteo so I don't think that has anything to do with it. I attribute it to getting older and menopause. I prefer not to use any type of sleep medication; guess I'm afraid I might go to sleep and not wake up! Actually, I don't like to take any more medication than I absolutely have to. I might try warm milk, a warm bath or some nice "Sleepytime" tea.
Piano0105
11-22-2005, 03:44 PM
About two weeks ago I got my first prescription for Lunesta filled. However, as I said, I'm hesitant to start it because if I get a few good nights I won't be able to sleep without it. I've heard that after extended use (same with Ambien), you have difficulty sleeping for about three nights after you stop taking it.
My co-pay for the Lunesta was $40 (doc had no samples on hand). I've heard from so many people that they've gotten the awful taste in their mouth after taking it the night before. One person said it took her a month of taking it every night before it went away. It seems that 9 out of 10 people experience the bad taste. I'll probably give in and try it pretty soon since I usually get more stressed around the holidays and find it difficult to sleep well at that time.
My co-pay for the Lunesta was $40 (doc had no samples on hand). I've heard from so many people that they've gotten the awful taste in their mouth after taking it the night before. One person said it took her a month of taking it every night before it went away. It seems that 9 out of 10 people experience the bad taste. I'll probably give in and try it pretty soon since I usually get more stressed around the holidays and find it difficult to sleep well at that time.
CrohnieToo
11-22-2005, 09:03 PM
I've been battling sleep problems for years, ever since a whiplash in 1994. I seem to go thru cycles, some worse than others. One of my favorite cycles (not!) is when I go thru this 2 hours asleep, two hours awake, two hours asleep, two hours awake. Ugh.
I've never taken any type of medication for sleep on a regular basis since the sleep specialist tried me on several different antidepressants and/or benzodiazepines at low dose. All of them were a bust!!! Undesirable side effects w/every one of them. Even at 1/2 the usual low sleep dose. Tylenol PM worked for awhile, as did just Benadryl but even tho I didn't use them every night my nasal passages and/or sinuses got ticked off.
Once I realized that the Ambien got me to sleep but was only good for 4 hours and I was alert, etc., not foggy, after those 4 hours I was comfortable using the Ambien to break that darn two hour cycle when it hit by taking it when I woke up after the first two hours, or the second two hours 'cause I knew I wouldn't be foggy, etc. come morning.
I did all the things they suggest for better sleep. I found just plain Tylenol would often let me relax enough to get sleep despite the doctors insisting there is nothing in Tylenol to relax you. So I did take one Tylenol at bedtime regularly for quite a while. I only used the Ambien to help break the two hour cycle when it would hit me for more than 2-3 nights. Or when I NEEDED to get a decent night's sleep because of something scheduled for the next day. Or when I was just so exhausted I KNEW I HAD to get some sleep for at least ONE night.
I can USUALLY (but not always) get 6 hours sleep on my own now, or with just a plain Tylenol at bedtime. When I can't for more than 3 nights in a row then I resort to an Ambien. That's why I'm thinking the Ambien CR might be more helpful than the Ambien in re-establishing a decent night's sleep pattern. That's the really nice thing about Ambien, you might not have to use it on a regular basis or for more than 2-3 nights intermittently. You just have to kind of experiment to see if you can find anything or anyway to make Ambien or something work or work for you w/o having to rely on it every night.
By the way, did I mention, I don't count getting up to go potty IF I can go straight back to sleep? I only count it if I can't get back to sleep right away.
I've never taken any type of medication for sleep on a regular basis since the sleep specialist tried me on several different antidepressants and/or benzodiazepines at low dose. All of them were a bust!!! Undesirable side effects w/every one of them. Even at 1/2 the usual low sleep dose. Tylenol PM worked for awhile, as did just Benadryl but even tho I didn't use them every night my nasal passages and/or sinuses got ticked off.
Once I realized that the Ambien got me to sleep but was only good for 4 hours and I was alert, etc., not foggy, after those 4 hours I was comfortable using the Ambien to break that darn two hour cycle when it hit by taking it when I woke up after the first two hours, or the second two hours 'cause I knew I wouldn't be foggy, etc. come morning.
I did all the things they suggest for better sleep. I found just plain Tylenol would often let me relax enough to get sleep despite the doctors insisting there is nothing in Tylenol to relax you. So I did take one Tylenol at bedtime regularly for quite a while. I only used the Ambien to help break the two hour cycle when it would hit me for more than 2-3 nights. Or when I NEEDED to get a decent night's sleep because of something scheduled for the next day. Or when I was just so exhausted I KNEW I HAD to get some sleep for at least ONE night.
I can USUALLY (but not always) get 6 hours sleep on my own now, or with just a plain Tylenol at bedtime. When I can't for more than 3 nights in a row then I resort to an Ambien. That's why I'm thinking the Ambien CR might be more helpful than the Ambien in re-establishing a decent night's sleep pattern. That's the really nice thing about Ambien, you might not have to use it on a regular basis or for more than 2-3 nights intermittently. You just have to kind of experiment to see if you can find anything or anyway to make Ambien or something work or work for you w/o having to rely on it every night.
By the way, did I mention, I don't count getting up to go potty IF I can go straight back to sleep? I only count it if I can't get back to sleep right away.