Question about sleep aids
I had symptoms for 6 years and was finally diagnosed with N2 about 3 months ago. I know that stimulants are common in trying to treat EDS...but I've also found that many of them can cause extremely undesirable side effects. Stimulants are bandaids for symptoms and can even reduce what little quality sleep we have left. The reason we get so tired in the day is because we arent getting quality sleep at night. But what about sleep aids? Does anyone here use sleep aids? Better quality sleep would also help with stimulant effectiveness right? 🤔 What is your experience with using a sleep aid at night? Not talking Xyrem or Xywav because I am very hesitant to try those due to other reasons. I'm talking just OTC sleep aids or melatonin.
I also have N2!
When it comes to stimulants, every body is different, and it is usually a trial and error until you find the right medicine or combination of medicines that work for you. Currently, I am taking Modafinil (brand name Provigil) and that hasn't ever given me issues. I also take Xywav and getting the deep sleep at night that my body lacks has been a serious game changer for me.
(I am not a doctor, but) melatonin isn't something that puts you to sleep. Melatonin is a chemical that helps keep your sleep-wake cycle in check, and isn't something to help long term. It can help for things like jet lag or switching back to your normal time zone after traveling.
There are a lot of other nighttime medications to help people with narcolepsy. I would suggest asking your doctor about Baclofen or Eszopiclone, if you aren't comfortable taking Xywav/Xyrem. Both of those medications are commonly used to help PWN get better sleep at night. I took Eszopiclone prior to getting Xyrem and it worked for me for a while.
Good luck finding something that works for you!
Xoxo/Zzz, Gabrielle
Hi
, thanks so much for your question. Hopefully, a few others in the community will be able to chime in with their personal experiences. While sleep aids aren't often talked about among our narcolepsy community, they are really common in our insomnia community. I'll link a few articles below:
Complementary and Alternative Therapies - https://insomnia.sleep-disorders.net/home-remedies
Tips for Taking Sleeping Pills Safely - https://insomnia.sleep-disorders.net/living/pill-safety-tips
Melatonin: Bringing Rest for the Weary - https://insomnia.sleep-disorders.net/living/melatonin
Best, Allison (Team Member)
