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Jana
Administrator
1547 Posts |
 Posted - 06/18/2010 : 11:23:48 AM
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Hi Bibky,
An antihistamine isn't actually a decongestant. It treats histamine which causes congestion and swelling. Antihistamines treat one reason for congestion, allergy.
A good decongestant to use when in withdrawal is Mucinex. It thins mucous so that it drains clearing the respiratory tract. This is what I used in W/D. Sudafed is a vasoconstrictor. That's a problem for benzo tapering people. There are generic versions of Mucinex.
Even now I rely on Mucinex(guaifenesin) instead of Sudafed.
I, too, have some problem allergies. How are you doing with the pollens this year?
Jana
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binky
New Member
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2010 : 12:09:29 PM
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Karen,
Wow, thank you for the magic formula for sleep! I slept 5 hours then woke up for about an hour, but was very tired. I got back to sleep and slept for 2 more hours for a total of 7 hours! More sleep than I have gotten for a long time. Now I feel like I need a cup of coffee and haven't had coffee for 6 months -- a cup of tea is in order though.
I will try same formula a few more nights and see how things go.
Thank you again, you are quite a blessing!
Binky |
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binky
New Member
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2010 : 12:13:40 PM
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Jana,
Mucinex? I will check to see if its OTC or not and try it. This was a terrible year for pollen in my area as we got much more rain than normal, but not a problem for me. Its dust that is the problem and I have been so lethargic I can't keep up with the necessary dusting, vacuuming, washing of sheets, etc. I gotta to that though, because besides the bad nasal congestion, I get bad headaches too, sometimes very very bad headaches.
Thank you Jana for your gracious help and concern,
Binky |
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Jana
Administrator
1547 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2010 : 3:18:56 PM
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Yes, it is OTC. The cheapest source is Walmart. It comes as plain or with dextromethorphan(DM). I like the fact that it is a single ingredient and not a combination product. So often we get added ingredients that we just don't want or need.
I know that house dust is supposed to be an allergen that we can escape by cleaning. Anyone who has tried to escape it knows that this stuff is as ubiquitous as oxygen.
One of my weapons is a tacky textured yellow cloth sold at dollar stores and other odd places. It is machine washable. It never scatters dust. I love these things.
Jana |
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kattklaws
Administrator
370 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2010 : 9:34:43 PM
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Oh Binky,
I am SOOOOO glad you got some good,long sleep!! You must feel so wonderful to know you may have hit on a mixture of a little bits of nothing all thrown in to make you sleep.................oh, I am just so happy for you.,
I can't imagine your dr only giving you 30 Atarax..........goodness, the directions on the info are 1-4 every four hours. so he didn't leave you much room to use them.............however if you explain they are getting you some sleep, he should oblige you as no sleep can make on psychotic! 
I hear ya about the coffee, I haven't had any in over 2 years because of all this and I was a HUGE coffee drinker. In fact everyone at every Starbucks knew my name and my order...........and now I sometimes actually have teared up when seeing those little frappacino bottles in the cold fridge at the check out at wal mart..those were my in between buddies.
That is what I miss the most is my coffee, when my husband makes it in the mornings I just cringe!
Hey, let me know how you sleep tonight again........
My prayers for you were answered, I am just so happy....
Love and blessings,
Karen |
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binky
New Member
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2010 : 10:48:32 AM
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Karen,
I slept for 7 hours last nite!! I had only minimal wake-ups. I was so tired each time I woke up that I just went back to sleep. So unlike before when I would be awake for 2 to 3 hours. I took only 1 Atarax instead of 2 and don't feel as groggy this morning. I also took .75 mg of melatonin as I can only split the 3 mg tabs into quarters. So I will keep it at this for a while and see how things go:
800 mg Skelaxin
25 mg Trazadone
25 mg Atarax
.75 mg Melatonin
I am so happy!
Have a nice weekend!
Binky
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kattklaws
Administrator
370 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2010 : 12:13:27 AM
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I am sooooo happy for you Binky. After a few days of good, regular sleep, your body will be back in rhythm of going to sleep and staying asleep! You will feel SOO much better after about 2 wks of solid, good sleep.
You will also be able to face wd's so much easier sleeping at night and being awake during the day instead of no sleep and day and night running together.
After about 4-6 weeks, switch out the Atarax and replace it with benedryl. I know you say they make you groggy in the morning, but you can buy the generic benedryl that comes in caplets and you can cut one in half and that will only be 12.5 mgs of Benedryl. Your body will be in a pattern of sleeping by then so it should be no problem switching them out.
The whole idea of switching antihistimines around is because after several weeks, they just don't make you drowsy anymore. It is not building up a tolerance to them like a benzo, it just that they are not as effective as they were. After another several weeks you can switch back to the Atarax and it will be as effective as it used to be.
Congrats on the sleeping and know I just couldn't be happier for you!!
Blessings to you ,
Karen |
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binky
New Member
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2010 : 2:21:41 PM
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Hi Karen,
7 hours sleep again last two nites with very minimal wake-ups, thank you again so much for the magic sleep formula! I will start skipping days next week on the sub opiate and will try to nix it the week after or so. This magic formula should continue to help my sleep, I am so happy and grateful for your help.
Blessings,
Binky |
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kattklaws
Administrator
370 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2010 : 11:06:41 PM
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WOW, well your body will now have gotten used to going to sleep and as long as you can go back to sleep, little wake ups are doable, no?
As far as skipping days with the sub taper, now just my thinking, isn't that going to toy with your opiate receptor? You take the sub on one day and cause that chloride channel to open, then you skip the next, your chloride channel is going to be waiting for it and not receive it and then back to taking it again. It seems like your chloride channel which is on your benzo receptor ring is going to be confused, I think it would be best to taper down to zero and take it daily........
You know, once I got good and solid into being able to sleep, I actually have some nights now that I sleep straight through and I wake up in the same position I was in when I laid down...........so you know I am sleeping well! I do have some nights where I do minor wake ups too, but I can always go right back to sleep. ahhhh, I'll tell ya, after 9 months of no sleep, I really thought I would end up in a psych ward and never fall asleep again. It was the most horrible thing.
When I was in the heat of heavy tolerance wd, I took my regular pain meds.....my Soma, Xanax and Trazadone and 4 benedryl and not a wink, was awake the whole night, pacing and exercising trying to get rid of the horrific anxiety and akethasia. But never went to sleep.
Keep it up! Are you starting to feel better, can you tell you are sleeping???
Love and prayers to you my friend,
Karen |
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binky
New Member
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2010 : 02:06:55 AM
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Hi Karen,
Yep, the little wake ups are totally doable -- so much better than the 2 to 3 hour wake ups I was getting after nixing the soma and tapering below 2 mg on the sub. The idea of skipping days on the sub is that it gradually brings the dosage down. Since sub has a 37.5 hour half life, if I take .2 mg yesterday and .2 mg today, I in effect have .3 mg in my system today, i.e. half of yesterday's dose plus today's dose. So, by skipping days, I still have half of yesterday's dose in my system, and a quarter of the day before's dose so all in all its a lower dose. That's the theory anyway, and that's what others who have tapered off of sub have done, so I will give it a try. I am gonna try to skip Tuesday's dose and see how it goes.
I can tell I am sleeping, I am not as tired as I was before. I would get like 4 hours one night, then be so tired that day that I would get 5 hours the next night, then back to 4 hours after that, etc. But being down to .2 mg sub last week and so far this week and off of soma and off tramadol is pretty rough. I particularly crave my mid afternoon 5 mg valium dose and late afternoon dose too -- its more pronounced now than it has been. I am in a critical last phase of my opiate taper and hope to jump off soon, but I gotta see how skipping days works first.
Wow, I cannot imagine waking up in the same position as I went to sleep in, must be so nice and restful!! I am very happy for you. Especially after 9 months of no sleep. OMG, I would go crazy too. I toss and turn all night, but at least I am sleeping now, its so great! I hope with my taper off the last of the opiates that I continue to get sleep. We shall see ...
Thanks for keeping in touch.
Love and prayers to you,
Binky |
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kattklaws
Administrator
370 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2010 : 5:48:14 PM
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Hi Bindky,
I understand your sub taper and skipping days. I didn't mean to sound like I was telling you, you were wrong because I have never used sub. I know it is rough, I am kind of glad I ct the opiates and the Soma, to just be done with it........ya know?
Your sleep will be ok, if it gets tricky, we can trade some stuff around. Your body WILL be expecting you to go to sleep now............and I am just thrilled.
So you get cravings for the Valium? Are you sure you are not craving the opiate or the Soma? They sure get their claws in a person.
I am glad you are feeling better and can tell your body is rested......
Love and many prayers,
Karen |
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binky
New Member
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2010 : 12:49:29 AM
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Hi Karen,
Oh, no offense taken, I didn't mean to come across defensive. I wish I had just tapered the opiates and soma and then went CT instead of this long drawn out suboxone taper. Its been six months exactly and I will probably skip days for a week or so until I jump off the sub. Its been mild misery and sometimes not so mild. I've got so many things I need to do and I just don't have the energy to do them. And my understanding is that things will get worse for a while through acute WD and then ok for a while and then worse again trough PAWS. I will cross the bridges when I get there. And hopefully the fear is worse than the reality ... we shall see ...
A million thanks again, I am thrilled too about the sleep. Have you ever used valerian? I was thinking at some point I may swap the melatonin for valerian as I believe the melatonin is addictive if you take it for an extended time -- I mean it can mess with your sleep after you stop it if you have been taking it for a long time -- well, that's assuming I ever get back to normal. I think I saw that on wikipedia, I will have to review it.
I guess I am not sure about the cravings. I think it is the valium, but I sometimes crave the warmth and comfort of some hydro, oxy, and soma to feel better and get energized, but that is stinkin' thinkin' I know for sure.
Love and prayers to you,
Binky |
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kattklaws
Administrator
370 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2010 : 11:36:50 PM
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Binky,
Actually melatonin is a naturally occurs in our brains. It is a natural chemical in our brains. Benzos deplete it so it is good to get some.
Addictive, no......and some people take it their whole lives as it has been shown to be a good cancer preventative. My grandparents, who are both in the mid 90's, and in WONDERFUL health, each take 10mgs of Melatonin a night, and have for years and years. Anything that helps you sleep, if you take it away might make you have difficulty falling asleep, but that does not constitute addiction.
I have tried Valerian, but it revvs me up and makes me a jittery, nervous wreck.
But, if it works for you than swap it out every so often and alternate Valerian and Melatonin........
I am glad you know that wanting hydro is "stinkin thinkin".......it is the devil in disguise and that warm fuzzy feeling will only last so long and then you will end up chasing that high.........if you pray, pray for God to take that craving away from you.
I quit smoking cold turkey about 12 years ago and I did just that, I threw them away and asked God to take away the craving and you know I never thought about them again.
I keep you in my prayers.............I know it is all hard, but listen,. it will not be all that when you get off the sub. I ct taking 50 mgs of hydro a day and 350mgs 4x a day and I did not have PAWS or any of that ..............you have done so good and are off all that stuff...........if you have cravings make sure you have none in your house and curse it and flush it..........You have come waaay too far now my friend!!! I am just being supportive, and helping you stay on the straight and narrow.......you NEVER want to replay this part of your life again...........never.
My prayers and thoughts are with you,
Love,Karen |
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binky
New Member
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2010 : 12:25:35 AM
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Hi Karen,
Thanks, good to know melatonin is very natural stuff and nothing to worry about.
Wow, you CT smoking!?!? I quit smoking in 1995, but I was on the patch for about 6 months. It helped to turn things over to my higher power though too, that's for sure.
Well, its been 84 hours since my last sub dose. I was going to skip days, but I am gonna just tough it out. I already nixed the trammies and soma after nixing the oxy and hydro late last year. Its getting rough though. Last nite I got only 2 hours sleep after getting 7 hours the past 4 or 5 nites. RLS kicking in big time too. I might up the melatonin and/or atarax tonight to try get a little more sleep. But I know kicking suboxone will produce insomnia, so I guess I'll see what happens tonight...
Thank you for keeping an eye on me!
Binky |
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kattklaws
Administrator
370 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2010 : 01:22:37 AM
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I am here for you til the end!
let me know how you make out tonight with the sleep........I would up the atarax it will help rls if you get that dose up there. The Skelaxin should help a bit too since it is a muscle relaxer.
Yeah, Melatonin is fine. I get the pure stuff from Puritans pride online. My dad worked Mead Johnson and also when it was Bristol meyers Squibb so he is very helpful with drug info and knows that Puritans Pride has the highest rate of Pure, highly tested supplements. It isn't any more expensive to get their brand either. I think the last batch I got was buy 2 bottles for $10 and get 3 free! Taking only a quarter of a pill at a time and there is a looooong supply.
Don't get discouraged. You just ct a substance that was opening up that chloride channel on your receptor site and now it is gone and you brain is expecting it..........but remember, opiate wd is over at the most in 2 weeks. There may be some small residual effects, but I was fine after that period of time.............there is a lengthy period where you have NO motivation or get up and go because all that came from opiate use. but it all comes back,. mine even came back in heavy benzo wd.
Please keep me posted!
Love to you,
Karen
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