topic Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help? in Wellness

My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

Seannie — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 21:51:20 GMT

Hi all,

A 67-year-old friend literally cannot sleep anymore. This has been going on for about 5 months. He takes Lipitor, Metoprolol and Eliquis for those conditions that he has. Also, he uses a CPAP machine at nite.

I gave him a box of ZzzQuil Pure Zzzs and it only half worked. Do any of you know if the prescriptions I named cause insomnia?

I am very concerned as he can be a little spacey sometimes and I worry about him having an accident when driving and hurting himself or others.

Sleep deprivation can cause some serious issues and I sincerely thank everyone in advance for any advice.

Seannie

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

I am still oxox — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 21:57:55 GMT

Best to have him speak to his MD

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

Tallgal — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 21:59:22 GMT

He should make an appointment with his doctor. Being sleep deprived is not good.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

Kachina624 — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 21:59:46 GMT

@Seannie When your friend got his prescriptions, he would have received informational material describing side effects. There should also be information online. He should discuss his sleep problem with his doctor immediately. OTC "cures" for serious sleep problems are rarely effective.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

K9buddy — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 22:19:52 GMT

Some people say that taking Melatonin helps.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

eadu4 — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 22:27:51 GMT

If this has gone on for 5 months- he needs to see his doctor. This is definitely not an over the counter fix. And he needs to do it as soon as possible. That much sleep deprivation is mentally and physically dangerous.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

Laura14 — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 22:33:40 GMT

@Seannie Forget the doctor. Please have him contact his pharmacist.

He or she can tell in two seconds if any or a combo of these medications may be causing the issue. They can then contact the doctor and get an authorization to substitute or adjust the dosage if necessary. They can also suggest OTC supplements that may be effective and not interfere with the prescription meds.

Pharmacists know more about drugs and drug interactions than your doctor ever will. Please make sure he mentions the Zzzquil and anything else he is mixing in.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

Still Raining — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 22:57:15 GMT

Drugs from these three "classes" are mine and yes indeed I had insomnia. On a bad night I would be up for the morning by 11 PM. Yes, it was still yesterday.

He needs to talk with the doctor and be very clear what the problem is. I am on a different mix now. Took some trial and error. I still have several other drugs too.

Tell him from me that it is not in his head and there are solutions.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

RedTop — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 23:17:51 GMT

Yes, sleep deprivation can be a very serious issue, and your friends doctor needs to be aware of his specific circumstances.

If your friend is still up and about each day, he is obviously getting some sleep.

My husbands sleep habits have changed, and I feel he is sleep deprived as well, but I also understand and accept his exact circumstances.

My husband has COPD and uses a C-pap. In a typical night, he may be in bed 5 hours and is generally up twice. He never seems to go into a deep, restful sleep, due to the pressure on his chest in his sleep positions, which restricts his breathing even tho he does not exhibit distress. The C-pap is forcing oxygenation, so he is fine, but sleep position in the bed is the problem.

If my husband gets up by 6 a.m., he can be in a deep sleep in his recliner by 7 a.m. and sleep until after 9. We watch the news at noon, and he will fall asleep again by 12:30 p.m., and sleep until 3:30. Without a doubt my husband sleeps better and gets a more beneficial sleep in his recliner, than in our bed.

And at nearly 70, I have no expectations this will ever go back to what it once was, but I know he is actually getting hours of sleep thru out the day.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

GenXmuse — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 23:21:34 GMT

Could you take him to see the doctor for support? Maybe he needs a sleep study. I wouldn't know what to recommend since he has underlying health problems. I've used melatonin and homeopathic medicine with success but I wouldn't know if it's right for him. Zzzquil loses is efficacy if it's used all the time though. I think it's just Benadryl which after a few nights it will make me jittery.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

Xivambala — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 23:26:55 GMT

@Seannie

If your friend is using a CPAP, I presume he has been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. He needs to contact his doctor to discuss his sleep problems pronto.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

msgb — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 00:12:45 GMT

Ask him to see a sleep clinic. There are some usually associated with medical groups.

They can evaluate that way and see his GP.

You can suggest havin acupuncture treatment.

I do not know what interfere with the medications that he is already taking so therefore the suggestion of speaking with the GP.

Hope that things get better.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

1Snickers — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 00:44:44 GMT

@Seannie @RedTop My son has a c pap and has been having trouble sleeping. He has had an online appointment and several talks with his Dr. He's also having stomach trouble at the same time. Another story!
I've been telling him to get a c pap cleaner the Dr recommended. (Even told him I'll buy it for his birthday)!
My husband had sleep apnea and was very good about cleaning his mask and hoses. I asked my son if he had been cleaning it. That night he washed the mask.
After sleeping only an hour last night he said this morning he cleaned the filter and it was filthy! Maybe he will sleep better tonight.
The company he got his supplies and checked the c pap has closed so he's looking for another that will take his insurance. He is looking at the cleaners.
My recommendation for your husband is to return to the clinic for evaluation, or ask if the machine is working correctly. And see his Dr.
Sleeping in the recliner is not proper sleep without the machine, he probably snores and wakes up. That stresses his heart.

Please don't let him drive until he can sleep properly. (my husband almost ran us into a UPS truck coming down a mountain before he got his c pap)!

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

hckynut — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 02:38:31 GMT

@Seannie wrote:
Hi all,
A 67-year-old friend literally cannot sleep anymore. This has been going on for about 5 months. He takes Lipitor, Metoprolol and Eliquis for those conditions that he has. Also, he uses a CPAP machine at nite.
I gave him a box of ZzzQuil Pure Zzzs and it only half worked. Do any of you know if the prescriptions I named cause insomnia?
I am very concerned as he can be a little spacey sometimes and I worry about him having an accident when driving and hurting himself or others.

Sleep deprivation can cause some serious issues and I sincerely thank everyone in advance for any advice.

Seannie

@Seannie

At one time I was on Metoprolol for Blood Pressure and Lipitor for cholesterol fof many years. I had no issue with sleeping while on them. A Statin like Lipitor, for many can cause muscle spasms and other side effects, I don't know that it effects ones sleep.

Has your friend had a Sleep Study done? While I was on Coumadin/Warfarin, which like Eliquis, are blood thinners, I never had trouble sleeping. I am however a person that has never needed more than 4-6 hours of sleep to be 100% physically and mentally functional.

Sounds from what you describe, this friend might have had heart problems/stroke, or maybe DVT. My suggestion for you would be this.

DO NOT give him any medications, OTC or prescription. Medications, even OTC can interact and cause very serious issues. NEXT: Leave it up to his doctors to find the source of his problem. If he has not had a Sleep Study done, he might bring that up to his doctor.

Many people THINK they do not sleep, but actually get more sleep than they think. If this lack of sleep was seriously harming him, I would think he would be having Major Health issues in these 5 months.

hckynut

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

Mindy D — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 03:23:55 GMT

@Seannie Less common side effects of Metoprolol

Less common

Belching
bloated feeling
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
difficulty having a bowel movement
discouragement
dry mouth
excess air or gas in stomach or bowels
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
feeling of fullness
feeling of indigestion
feeling sad or empty
inability to have or keep an erection
irritability
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
loss of interest or pleasure
nightmares
pain in the chest below the breastbone
passing gas
redness or other discoloration of the skin
runny nose
sensation of spinning
sneezing
stuffy nose
tiredness
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping ❗️

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

Mindy D — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 03:27:57 GMT

@Seannie wrote:
Hi all,
A 67-year-old friend literally cannot sleep anymore. This has been going on for about 5 months. He takes Lipitor, Metoprolol and Eliquis for those conditions that he has. Also, he uses a CPAP machine at nite.
I gave him a box of ZzzQuil Pure Zzzs and it only half worked. Do any of you know if the prescriptions I named cause insomnia?
I am very concerned as he can be a little spacey sometimes and I worry about him having an accident when driving and hurting himself or others.

Sleep deprivation can cause some serious issues and I sincerely thank everyone in advance for any advice.

Seannie

@Seannie @Common side effects of Eliquis

Psychiatric

‼️Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia, depression

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anxiety[Ref]

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

Mindy D — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 03:31:00 GMT

@Seannie wrote:
Hi all,
A 67-year-old friend literally cannot sleep anymore. This has been going on for about 5 months. He takes Lipitor, Metoprolol and Eliquis for those conditions that he has. Also, he uses a CPAP machine at nite.
I gave him a box of ZzzQuil Pure Zzzs and it only half worked. Do any of you know if the prescriptions I named cause insomnia?
I am very concerned as he can be a little spacey sometimes and I worry about him having an accident when driving and hurting himself or others.

Sleep deprivation can cause some serious issues and I sincerely thank everyone in advance for any advice.

Seannie

@Seannie @COMMON Side effects of Lipitor

Common side effects of Lipitor include: hemorrhagic stroke, arthralgia, diarrhea, and nasopharyngitis. Other side effects include: urinary tract infection,‼️ insomnia, limb pain, muscle spasm, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, and nausea. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

sunshine45 — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 03:40:05 GMT

PLEASE encourage him to see an MD or multiple MDs.

a few years ago i had a friend who passed away from FFI (fatal familial insomnia.) it is very rare. she was only about 53 years old.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

Mindy D — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 03:59:08 GMT

@Seannie wrote:
Hi all,
A 67-year-old friend literally cannot sleep anymore. This has been going on for about 5 months. He takes Lipitor, Metoprolol and Eliquis for those conditions that he has. Also, he uses a CPAP machine at nite.
I gave him a box of ZzzQuil Pure Zzzs and it only half worked. Do any of you know if the prescriptions I named cause insomnia?
I am very concerned as he can be a little spacey sometimes and I worry about him having an accident when driving and hurting himself or others.

Sleep deprivation can cause some serious issues and I sincerely thank everyone in advance for any advice.

Seannie

@Seannie @I wanted to add that I suffered from complete insomnia when I had severe depression. It's a symptom of this. I don't know if your friend feels depressed but side effects of these meds are listed as possible triggers of depression. His insomnia could be secondary to depression if he suffers from this. I would not give your friend any medication, especially ZzzQuil, with the medications he is on. He really needs to speak with his doctors about this. He might also want to speak with his pharmacist about this. I did have an accident when I was sleep deprived.

The apnea machine might not be being used correctly and it could cause insomnia too.

Re: My friend is very sleep-deprived, how to help?

denisemb — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 03:35:53 GMT

This may sound completely unbelievable (that's what I thought until I tried it as a "last" resort), but I found a weighted blanket to be an amazing non-prescriptive solution.

I, too, am 67 & take Metoprolol, but suffered from insomnia most of my life. Did my research and found weighted blankets should be 10% of your body weight. Instead of being filled with down or whatever, the squares of the comforter are filled with tiny glass or plastic beads (mine are ceramic).

It is comfortably heavy enough for back or side sleepers. While you CAN move, I find myself not doing all the tossing and turning. Usually find myself asleep in 20 minutes, then sleep soundly for 8 hrs. or so.

I see QVC has some, but found one on the "A" place called Degrees of Comfort" that included a summer cover (CoolMax microfiber) and winter (fleece). Cost was around $100.