Insomnia and Cancer

Thanks hopeful, maybe I did not give it enough time to work, it is a 50 mg. which I think is way
high, the zolpiderm was only 5mg. It is difficult for me to try the sleep specialist, as you have
to spend time away from home and I could not do that, with my 3 doggies. There will be a
solution, there is to every dilemma. Thanks for your input. Lacey

Thanks, I am going to try that, but it is very expensive that way, $ 7.00 seems unheard of

Google cost of zolpidem and ways to reduce. I've been using those freebie cards for a couple of years. I know it sounds to good to be true, but it works. Also works for other drugs. Not all. If I just went in to buy out of ins the cost was around $40 but with one of these cards it is $7.

Thanks, Laney, I went into Good Rx website and my prescription card is on its
way, thanks for the info. Too good to be true, but I am forever grateful. Lacey

@lacey,
I am so sorry to hear about your sleepless nights. We have dogs, too and I know for a fact that they smell it on us. They know exactly when their humans are in a hurry or have not slept or just tired & irritated. Suddenley they are full of mischief, will go for really long walks and try your patience to the limit.
I live in Sweden so I cannot help you with name of different medicines. Unfortunately none of the sleeping pills helped me. I think I had to learn that in a near future I am going to die. Until med help of a wonderful therapist I learned to accept my adventure. Even now, once a week I wake up after 30 minutes of pure exhausation and can't go back to sleep. I usually do the one of the following:
- Learn to meditate and remember all the good things/events in your life, the adventures which offered you pleasure,
- read a really boring book. I have a book on political economy and I have not finished yet the second chapter.
I know my suggestions sound a bit crazy but I remember some periods that I could not have slept more than 5-6 hours in a week, I worked, took care of cooking, laundry and took the dogs for long walks. I am one of those whom sleeping pills don't work on and drugs make me speedy so my good doctors are att loss to help me sleep but I listened to my therapist, body and mind and I can even take power naps every now and then to make life more enjoyable.
Dearest Lacey I wish you the best of luck.

Hello Saltis, thanks for taking the time to tell me how you have been coping. I wonder if you ever took
zolpiderm?? It is the only thing that helps me to sleep, Are you living in Sweden or here in the US? Look
at a website named Good Rx, one of the other friends on Mayo told me about it and read the facts it
shows, I think there is something that can help us both. Let me know what you think? Lacey

Lacey, I removed your email from the public message board because I don't want you to start getting unwanted spam. I believe this is the website and app that @laneyk was referring to. http://www.goodrx.com/

Hi @lacey,
Yes, I live in Sweden. Sorry, no I don't know the zolpiderm. Unfortunately the site you mention won't be of much use to me because all my medication is through my oncolog or my GP. I already take too much medication and for two years ago I decided not to take any powerful medication, because this is the only time I have living & I don't like not to be present. Even though sometimes it means pain & sometimes sleepless nights. The only luxury medication which I have allowed myself to is my anti-depression pills cymbalta 30 mg. Well I am a 3 time cancer survivor but now it has spread to my chest, too. Probably I would live another couple of years but it has become metastastic and it is stage 4. Thank you for thinking about me but I walk the dogs, meditate and have my utterly boring book, lol. Take care dear Lacey!

Thank you Colleen. Lacey

I have had insomnia problems but eventually overcame them. People can become addicted to zolpidem, the generic for Ambien. Ambien does nothing for me as I quickly get used to it, but long-term use such as yours can lead to addiction. The recommendation is a gradual tapering off over weeks. Trazodone needs much higher doses than other medicines. Usually Trazodone is prescribed in 100 mg. for sedative effect. I got hooked on benzodiazipines the doctor prescribed and only dropping .5 of a mg. after being on it for only 4 weeks caused my insomnia. It took many weeks of little sleep to get back to normal. I'm still taking 1.5 mg. Hope this gives you some insight and ideas to discuss with your doctor. If all else fails, the body does get so tired that you will eventually sleep. Just do not worry about not sleeping, but accept that you are not sleeping and let time take you into sleep.