I am interested to know what percentage of CPAP users also take sleeping pills?

and, were they taking sleeping pills BEFORE using CPAP?

I've like to know both people on this board's experiences and any formal studies that have been done.

thanks,  Stevew

I would take them if they would work for me.  Some used to work -- long before CPAP -- and as is often the case they lost effectiveness and no longer work for me.

So I am one that did not take sleeping pills for over a year before CPAP, and still do not take sleeping pills*.  But I would.

Blessings,
--pseudonym

*I do take Rozerem, I started it a year before CPAP and am still taking it.  It does not put me to sleep nor help me stay asleep, but I do feel it helps me get some dream sleep, which is mentally restful for me.  It is still working for me the same after taking it for 1 1/2 years.  Dunno if you really want to count that as a sleeping pill or not...

I'm a newbie and asked my DR. If I should taking a sleeping pill in order to
get used to the CPAP. He said no. He feels sleeping pills can make the apnea worse.

Op1

Before CPAP, I took Ambien twice a week (a half dose worked fine 5mg) just so I'd get a decent night's sleep once in a while.  I suffer from insomnia and realize now, severe apnea.  I would wake up literally every 20-30 minutes.  My sleep doctor said I could take it for my sleep studies and it would not affect the results.  It didn't.  I've been taking the same half dose but now every night.  At least I'm sleeping and using the equipment.  If this is what I need to comply with CPAP then so be it.  In four months, I have not had to increase the dose.


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ResMed S8 Elite, F&P Flexifit 406, Optilife
AHI 54/hr, Pressure 10, desat. 73

I have been seeing my sleep doctor for my insomnia ( I have been on cpap for about 2 years now)

I was taking sleeping pills for the insomnia, but his program to overcome the insomnia is really working for me.
I honestly didn't think it would, so I am plesantly surprised.

He has me deliberately creating a sleep deficit

 I started off with not being able to go to bed before 12:30, and had to get up at 7:00 (and no naps)

After a week of that I went to bed at 12:00 and up at 8:00
each week I can go to bed an 1/2 hour earlier, but must get up at 8:00.

It is working, I fall asleep in 5 mins.

Whereas before, I have gone as long as 5 days with only 3 hours sleep.
Then I would sleep during the day, and not at night, of afternoon etc.

In other words there was no order to my sleep.

It is very hard to stick to this program!!
Especially no naps...
 because I have such bad arthristis etc. by afternoon I am in so much pain,
I just have to lie down...even tho I take pain meds.

But I no longer take sleeping pills, I am astounded that I really fall asleep so fast, when for years and years and years, I had terrible insomnia.

Hi Guest, the sleep deprivation technique doesn't work for everybody, but as you can attest it does work for some!  Congratulations on finding a successful treatment for your insomnia.  That's great news.

Blessings,
--pseudonym, who's been through doctor-monitored sleep deprivation therapy and still has severe insomnia

While the older "benzo" type sleeping medications are not recommended for perople with sleep apnea, the newer medications such as ambien, lunesta, sonata, have not been shown to be detremental.  In a very small study, some patients even showed an improvement in both obstructive and central apnea by taking ambien.
  I would not be afraid to take these medications, if needed, in conjunction with my cpap therapy.

Thanks Okie--I needed to hear that.  

I do have concerns about taking sleep aids, in my case, Ambien.  But as a prescription drug and not over the counter, and given to me by my PCP, I trusted his judgment in allowing me to take it.  Only someone who has lived with fragmented and minimal sleep can understand the joy in finally going to sleep and staying asleep means to a person like me.  I can live with maybe one trip to the bathroom a night because I go right back to sleep again.  In the old days, before Ambien, after a few hours of waking two-three times an hour, my body would just give up and I'd end up watching TV or reading for the rest of the night.  Maybe dropping off again about 5am.  This is like being reborn.


_________________
ResMed S8 Elite, F&P Flexifit 406, Optilife
AHI 54/hr, Pressure 10, desat. 73

I take ambian C-R.every night, with out it i would only sleep every3 hours every 3 days.
 made me grumpy, sleepy, dopy, hungry, breathless, (almost a full set of dwarves)
 Now, I sleep 7 hours, exactly, every night. My husband said I was getting up as many as 10 times a night. I was eating,drinking, cleaning house, all while asleep. no longer. no wonder I was so exhausted.  I had a lot more apneas and hypoapneas without the ambian.  Sleeping for 7 hours straight is like being given a gift each morning.I am happy to be stiff from not moving around.

>^..^<


Carla

I don't take any sleep medication.

I don't take any sleep medication.

thank you all for your replies. I feel a little better about trying sleeping pills. I was concerned because some say Ambien and others make SA worse. I took SA in my study and am concerned it did not give the best results.

also, I already take a lot of pills - for chronic pain - neuropathy - blood pressure - pissing in the middle of the night - anti-depressants to help with pain, and a few others the docs say I should take. I make a lot of money for drug companies and docs.

Sorry to be down - just woke up from a night of half CPAP and half regular sleep. My sleep has been much worse in the month since I started CPAP. I am thinking of using sleeping pills but am not real happy about taking another pill.

For the first week of CPAP, I took a small Xanax to get me through the panic response I had.  After that I haven't needed it.

I take 5 mg Ambien every night and it has made all the difference in the world. No more 3:00am bedtimes. It seems to be very gentle.

Shoot, my problem is I fall asleep any place any time...you tell me   lights out and I am a gonner...even fell asleep on the riding lawn mower.  All that was the reason for my screen name.  I will trade a few days with someones insomnia (only a few days though)

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


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I am A ZOMBIE! 20 years+ undx'd. BiPAP Auto M 14/9. Nasal Swift&F&P Flex Fit 431 Full Face. RLS/PLMD, Primary CNS Hypersomnia, Sleep Paralysis, Parasomnia, Degenerative Disc Disease, Clinical MS, Fibromyalgia, COPD plus other past dx's..what's next?