Alpha Wave Intrusion ???

[Celeste]

If anyone has information on how to treat this, I would love to hear about it. I have chronic back pain - relatively mild during the day - but my sleep study came back indicating that i woke 72 times during a 6 hour period and that this coincided with periods of alpha wave intrusion. The Dr prescribed Neurontin - which helps somewhat. But I find that the muscle relaxents provided by my normal Dr. provide better results.

[tooper]

I have suffered with Alpha wave intrusion for at least 8 years. Probably more. My doctor prescribed Xyrem (GHB) for this problem. It has worked wonders. I still do not get an adequate amount of sleep per night; however, prior to using the Xyrem, I had 48 awakenings in a 3 hour period (when I thought that I was actually asleep). Now, I get around 5 hours of actual sleep per evening. Xyrem sounds really scary, and there are quite a few folks experiencing some significant side effects. I have not had any problems with it. I will also add that I am not taking anything else (no other sleep meds, anti-depressants, pain medications, etc.). Just Xyrem and Armour thyroid. I think that may be significant as to why I am doing so well on the drug. Also, I'm fairly healthy otherwise. Hope this helps.

[DrMichelle]

I agree that Xyrem sounds really scary, but the idea is intriguing. Celeste, your post brings out a couple of points: Do your "Normal Dr." and "Sleep Dr." talk to each other?? They need to know about each others' meds.

Also, there are some "Muscle relaxers" that are closely related to the old fashioned antidepressants (I'm referring to flexeril being like amitriptyline or Elavil). This medicine seems to knock you out more than relax your muscles. That's not always a bad thing, but I'm not sure it would help alpha-wave intrusion, or give you a normal sleep cycle. Soma is addictive. (Can you tell I'm not a fan of muscle relaxers for chronic use?)

If Neurontin helps, maybe Lyrica would be better. Or, maybe something like Cymbalta would help both the pain AND the sleep problems. I know it helped me. I get NO stage 4 sleep and have LOTS of alpha intrusion. The cymbalta helps lots. It might take both neurontin and cymbalta. Be sure to get your two Doctors talking and working TOGETHER for you...Good Luck!

[Kim]

I took Cymbalta for a year a few years ago and it was the most incredibly awful drug I have ever taken. After discontinuing I had nothing but what felt like shocks to my body for weeks afterwards- shocks to the brain- felt like I was being tasered- not sure if the spelling is correct on that one.

At any rate, I don't suggest anyone take Cymbalta - it is awful. My doctor prescribed it for pain and mild depression. He thought my depression was caused by my pain. anyway, I feel better being off of that stuff. Bad news as far as I am concerned.

[christie gall]

I take effexor. I have taken it for years, over 10 years. Cymbalta is supposed to be kind of like effexor in its make up but with "less" withdrawl, or at least that is what I was told. I only post this because I understand your statement regarding the withdrawls of the Cymbalta, but the effexor as I am sure Cymbalta can be for many, helped to change my life to the good. BUT one thing I do, is make sure that I do not run out of it. I have accepted that I will probably take it the rest of my life. It works for me.

ALTHOUGH, I really feel the DR's should educate there patients about the withdrawl effect BEFORE they precribe either one of these meds, as the withdrawl from both are horrible, horrible, horrible and the patient should be aware of this before they choose to take it and I feel the drs should ensure that their patients do NOT run out of it.

[Mike Kessler]

I called the makers of xyrem and they say they have never heard of it being used for alpha intrusion. They say it is for narcolepsy. I don't understand all the people on these and other boards who say they are taking it for alpha intrusion. I also called a doctor in tampa who treats using xyrem, and his nurse said the same thing, that it's for narcolepsy.

[christie gall]

I had a sleep study about 4-5 years ago. They said I had lots of alpha intrusions and the sleep dr. recommended the normal route of meds for sleep and stated if I did not respond to try the GHB. I never heard of xyrem until I saw it today posted, Is it the GHB?

I did not even know I have a sleep problem as I always went to bed at 8-9pm and slept til at least 5am or later when I did not have to work BUT I never, for as long as I can remember waked refreshed. I deal with exhaustion when I wake til I go to bed. Most of my other drs. just laugh at that suggestion of GHB, but after struggling with sleep problems and going through almost all the sleep meds that does not work for me. I would consider it. The other issue I have is I have MS too so this can also contribute to fatigue obviously. So my case is a little more complicated, but I have tried so many meds over the years that don't make a difference, that to me, this is just another med that I would try, if it gave positive results and I felt better, I would try it.