Hi all,
I have had Parkinson’s for over 4 years now and my sleeping is atrocious am lucky to get 2 hours a night, I have been prescribed zopiclone 3.74 mg up two tablets a night as and when needed ( which would be even night) and my understanding is that this medication is for short term use only, what am I to do, I have been taken this medication off on for over a year now, and my specialist Parkinson’s nurse is aware of my situation, please advise.
Thanking you.
Hi Steve,
Thanks you for the message, I will have a chat with my nurse about the clonazepam, thank you, take care of yourself.
All the best and a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Sleep problems are a Parkinson’s symptom sadly. CBT is supposed to help. There’s a sleepio app that the NHS pay for that give you CBT. It’s supposed to help if you stick at it. Lots of stuff about sleep hygeine but generally good advice. Worth a try.
If you’re having nightmares and REM sleep disorder then talk to the PD team. They maybe able to advice.
Hi Lloydy1966 ime having sleep problems also inly getting 3hrs broken sleep absolutely nightmare at this rate
Can you please tell me what time due take your last medication
Hi gus i take my meds 6pm i knocked the later 1 on the head due to vivid dreams but looks like taking the last med at 10pm just hope i don’t have dreams
Hello
My husband has been prescribed melatonin to help with sleep by his Parkinsons doctors. The dose has had to be slowly increased. It does help. Maybe it is something that could help you. Best Wishes Jane
Melatonin and clonazepam are the usual medications that can be prescribed for REM-sleep Behaviour Disorder - one of the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s.
I have increased my levadopa to three a day low dose 50mg and started getting interrupted sleep, I checked the side effects of the medicine and it can cause insomnia and sleep disruption, so in my case I suspect the medication, I will reduce and see what happens.
Hi Lar
Did it work?
Regards.
Doug
Hello Doug … Not sure if I told you but I saw a private neurologist last Thursday. He has changed my diagnosis from Atypical Parkinson’s to Vascular Parkinson’s. My 6 tablets of Sinemet a day has been cut to 3 tablets a day for a week & then no Sinemet at all. This is an experiment to see if my REM sleep & Insomnia improves. The Clonazepam & Melatonin combo has not worked for me. Google says you should only be on Clonazepam for 2 to 4 weeks unless you have Epilepsy, I have been on it for 6 months without comment from my local doctor.
This neurologist has requested sight of the datscan, Mri Brain scan & Mri Spine scan
I had done in June 2O23. So the diagnosis might change.
I have stopped taking the Melatonin on my own volition as I feel so tired the following day.
Of course everyone is different & should seek medical advice if they want to stop or change anything.
Best wishes
Steve2
Hi Steve.
I hope the medication change is what you need.
I have now been on clonazepam for over 19 years! Thankfully it has only had beneficial effects for me.
How do you feel now that your Parkinsonism cause is clearer? I hope you are appreciating the changed diagnosis.
Take care
Doug
Evening Douglas … I think having Vascular Parkinson’s has a better long term prognosis than Atypical Parkinson’s so that’s good, He thinks the gait freezing I have is Spine related. But this is all in the air till he gets sight of my three Mri scans done in June 2023.
He says a simple spine operation might help a lot but can’t really say till he sees the Mri spine scan.
NHS Cystography procedure next week. That should be fun. Not.
Best wishes
Steve2