Posted by Margie on April 25, 2002 at 13:47:44:
In Reply to: Insomnia posted by Patty on April 22, 2002 at 21:16:11:
Hi: I can't take valium since it causes depression in some people. My neuro had me try lorazepam and then Xanax to see if I could tolerate them. They are related to Valium, but he said that sometimes they are just enough different so as to be tolerated. They all do the same to me> down mood and outlook.
Tylenol PM, Benadryl are often used by MSers to sleep. It is not a good idea at all. The main ingredient in them causes a reduction in the brain's output of acetylcholine. This brain chemical has a great deal to do with our brain's ability to lay down short term and new memories. WE don't need anything that is going to reduce our ability to remember. Also I just saw a neurological show on the connection of low levels of acetylcholine and alzheimers. So use these products with caution.
There are some new anti-depressants that are mild and used for sleep aid. I don't know much about them since I don't use them. When I can't sleep I have a script for Restoril. Barbara Dugan told me it was short acting sleeping med so no hangover. If you use it all the time you get resistant to it; in other words it is less effective.
So during a rough time, I use it one night and then an herbal another night. Valerian is a well known herb sedative. It works okay, but too much will lower blood pressure and leave a hangover. Hops, passionflower are also known to make a person relaxed and aid sleep. Hops tends to be very bitter and passionflower perhaps too mild.
The best one I have found is Skullcap. It was used my Native Americans. It comes in 425 mg. capsules. It doesn't make me hungover the next day, nor does it cause a lowering of blood pressure. It might be worth trying Restoril every other night with skullcap on the off nights. Good luck. I know insomnia is horrid.