Hi Vicki;

Thank you for your reply.

I found a lot of interesting reading on the following web sites.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/105/107658.htm
http://www.sleepdisorderchannel.net/stages/
http://www.sleepdoctor.com/stages.htm
http://web.umr.edu/~psyworld/sleep_stages.htm#3
http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleeping.htm
http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_aids_medication_insomnia_treatment.htm
http://consumerhealthdigest.com/desyrel19.htm?source=google
http://trazadone.org/trazadone-drug-information.htm

Marshall

Anyone really needs to talk to their sleep doctor specifically about their situation to determine if sleep meds are appropriate or not. I made the assumption that once I started xPAP, that I should be able to go off Ambien or at the least, take less of it less often. I was surprised when my sleep doctor told me other wise during a follow-up appointment. In my case, with having severe & treatment resistant CSA, it is better to be on a sleeping med not so much to help me fall asleep, but to keep me from fully wakening up when I have central apneas. CSA is different then OSA in that BiPAP ST helps to get me breathing again when I stop so in a way it does most of its work in response to an apnea instead of preventing them, like xPAP does for OSA. There can be other reasons that some people with apnea need to be on sleep meds and there are some people with sleep apnea for whom sleep meds are detrimental. Each person needs to discuss the risks & benefits with their doctor and make an informed decission. Ultimately we are the ones who are responsible for our own health; not our doctors.

That said, there are a lot of newer sleep meds and there are a few more expected to be approved in the next year. Some of them, like Rozerem, work differently then previously sleep meds. I've been trying it and so far I am happy wiht how it works, though I have to figure out if it is possibly causing an increase in my chronic nausea or if its something else. I am really hoping it isn't the cause, since it works pretty well and I am finally getting deeper sleep. I'll know more when I have another sleep study later this month.

Wendy:  I take Lunesta (and before that Ambien) and did before I started the CPAP, because I was having wierd dreams.  (Another medication that I take can give me wierd dreams.)  The doctor who prescribed the sleeping pills knows I have sleep apnea and a CPAP.  I know my sleep study report suggested I not take sleeping pills because it can tend to make the apnea worse.  So it encourages me to keep my mask on when I am tempted to take it off!  I do find that I can get by occasionally without the sleeping meds, although it is admitted easier falling asleep with them.  I do know that they helped me adjust to the CPAP initially, because it allowed me to relax quickly and not fight the CPAP machine.  My first mask felt like air was rushing up my nose and it was hard to ignore.  A different mask helped with that too.  This is my experience anyway--saw[/code]

I use ambien on occasion only. It was a big help the first few nights with cpap or if I have stress about the next day. I cut a 10mg in half and it works almost as well as a whole one. Perhaps you coould try that. I even thought of then cutting that in half, effectivley a quarter of a 10mg. I didn't do it yet but may just try it. Something to think about. Ambien is by far the best I have used. Mike


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Thanks to all, Michael