Does taking/stopping your pain meds cause insomnia?

[TexMom85]

Hi All,

While I know insomnia is discussed on another board (Sleep Disorders), I was wondering how many of you have experienced it due to either taking a pain medication or when you stopped taking something.

I have suffered from chronic insomnia for 17 years now, and have probably tried more things than I could possibly remember. However, it's been relatively controlled the last two years or so, as long as I take my meds (Ambien CR, Promethazine 25 mg (generic Phenergan) and occasionally Xanax .5mg, along with Mirapex for RLS. I also have a CPAP machine for apnea.

So, on to my question....To control pain from fibromyalgia, bulging disks, a pinched nerve and an extreme case of tendonitis, I've been started and stopped on a few different things. The main thing I had been on since January was Lyrica, which I stopped taking nearly 2 weeks ago, replaced by Neurontin. I have also tried and stopped Ultram ER, Relafen and Daypro (the latter I took for about 10 days, then stopped due to tummy problems).

For the first time in quite a while, I have experienced 4 nights in a row of severe insomnia, i.e. go to bed and 5-6 hours later, not asleep, despite being comfortable and sleepy. I have had to take an extra Xanax (.5 mg) and Promethazine (12.5 mg), and even that didn't whisk me off to dreamland.

The last time I experienced a stretch this severe, it was a reaction to an OTC herbal supplement. Once I stopped taking it, my sleep improved immediately. Could this be a delayed reaction to going off the Lyrica suddenly? (I stopped it cold turkey and started the Neurontin immediately). I also experienced delayed sleep onset when taking the Ultram and the Relafen (not at the same time!).

I have an appointment next week with the Orthopedic Surgeon to review my current medications. I am experiencing some BT pain since switching to the Neurontin, and my tendonitis is also not responding well to anything I've tried. I am so tired I can hardly function and depression is not far off if I don't start sleeping soon. Last night, I experienced an anxiety attack after dinner, and those are usually due to something chemical, at least for me.

Has anyone else experienced severe insomnia from either taking a medication or stopping it? Any suggestions? I am ready to start taking leftover Klonopin in an effort to sleep....desperate!

Thanks all,
Tex

[aussiejono]

A Unisom tablet, taken an hour before bedtime, will help you get over short term insomnia

[morgyporgy]

I actually find 2 Benadryl tablets about an hour before bed helpful as well.

[aussiejono]

same same.... benadryl and Unisom are both sedating antihistamines, just one is labled as an allergy med, and one as a sleep aid.

benadryl is shorter acting, so it wont leave you hung over, but it might not keep you asleep all night, depends on the individual as to which one is best..... maybe try both, and see which one suits your needs.

[TexMom85]

I wish the OTC stuff would work for me, but unfortunately, none of it does. In fact, Benadryl has the opposite impact on me--I get wired. Alcohol does the same thing, and some vitamins/supplements do as well. No valerian root or St. John's Wort for me. My sleep problems have baffled many a "sleep" doctor, and no one has ever figured out a cause for my ultra-sensitive sleep problems. Most of the time, I am not nervous, worried, etc.; just can't drift off.

Has anyone experienced sleeplessness as a direct result of their pain meds? Or, conversely, when they stopped a med? I am trying to figure out what has triggered my recent bouts of insomnia so I can act accordingly. For example, when going off Lyrica, have any of you suffered rebound insomnia? Has taking Neurontin made anyone sleepless?

I slept so well on the Lyrica....I wish I didn't have the other side effects so I could stay on it and keep sleeping, but it was just too dangerous to keep taking.

Tex

PS I would list everything I've tried for insomnia, but since this is the PM board, I don't want the thread deleted. I am trying to find connections between pain meds and insomnia, so that's why I posted here. I do appreciate your suggestions, though! It's very thoughtful of you all.