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Is Fibromyalgia Pain Keeping You Awake at Night? Treating Fibromyalgia Pain with Sleep Aids?
© Neva J Howell, All Rights Reserved
Natural Fibro Remedies

Anyone who has been diagnosed with fibro can tell you that fibromyalgia pain is pervasive, intense and can be pretty much constant. Often, the pain of fibro will interfere with rest at night. If you suffer from sleepless nights due to the pain of fibromyalgia, your doctor may have prescribed a sleep aid such as Amitriptyline. Are chemical sedatives the best answer for fibro-related pain that keeps you awake?

Are you educated on the risks of taking sleep sedatives longterm? The object of this report is to help you learn more about the side effects of sleeping pills, particularly the sedative amitriptyline, as well as to offer alternative medicine approaches to managing the pain of fibromyalgia.

Question on health care and healing:
My fibromyalgia pain keeps me awake at night but I'm not sure I want to take the prescription sedative my doctor suggests. Is amitriptyline safe to take, so that I can sleep better at night?

Healing Facilitation Response:
I have never been a big fan of prescription sleep aids though I have used them at various times at my life. Some of them were worse than the sleep problems that caused me to resort to meds.

In fact, I've used Elavil before - which is one name for amitriptyline. I took it about 20 years ago, when I had spiraled into a deep depression on coming up against some childhood memories that I wasn't ready to face.

I hated the way it made me feel, kind of like a zombie, but when I have spoken to other people who took it, they said it had the exact opposite effect on them.

Each person's metabolism is different so monitoring the effect a sleep aid has on you and keeping in frequent communication with your doctor are vital. Monitoring the effects of medication is not just important with sleep aids but when taking prescription drugs of any kind.

I have a very sensitive system and have never found a single prescription sedative that didn't make me feel groggy and hung over the next morning so I turned to natural sedatives for those nights when I just can't get to sleep.

However, I am aware that an occasional night of insomnia and having a sleep disorder associated with fibromyalgia pain and other symptoms are two different things. Missing good sleep long term can make fibro symptoms even worse and make pain management much more difficult for fibromyalgia sufferers. In such cases, getting a good night's sleep (even if it is chemically induced) is better than no sleep at all.

Side Effects of Prescription Sleep Aids:
Chemical sedatives are often prescribed to fibromyalgia pain, to help with sleep problems.

Since you asked about amitryptyline in particular, I've gathered a bit of info on that particular sedative.

Because it is an antidepressant, amitriptyline may be more apt to be prescribed for depression but is also sometimes prescribed for insomnia. Sometimes a doctor might prescribe an antidepressant if their patient is experiencing significant loss of sleep due to pain, even if depression is not diagnosed.

There are definitely potential amitriptyline side effects you need to be aware of and watch for when taking this drug.

Even though this article just deals with this one sleep aid, most chemical sedatives have some risk of dependency and/or side effects that should be considered so be sure to fully discuss all risks and potentials for reactions with any prescription sleep aid.

One of the most common side effects when taking chemical sedatives such as amitryptyline is dry mouth.

There is a long list of possible amitryptyline side effects. THIS IS ONLY A PARTIAL LIST. You should not take it if you are on MAOI therapy or have a history of seizures, for example. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have liver problems, heart problems or thyroid problems too.

Additionally, there are strong concerns when giving this particular drug to anyone under the age of 18. Some resources I checked even say it should not be given to children under the age of 12.

If your child's doctor has prescribed this drug, it's vital to monitor the behavior of the child very, very closely because reactions can give way to thoughts of harming themselves or others, quickly worsening depression, and more.

Other things you should know about this drug:
1. Amitryptyline should not be discontinued abruptly
2. It may take several weeks on this drug before you feel better
3. Tell your doctor if you take MAO) inhibitors (Nardil, Parnate, Propulsid, etc.)
4. Inform your doctor if side effects you experience persist or become severe

THIS IS ONLY A PARTIAL LIST! Talk with your pharmacist for other potential side effects.

Common amitriptyline side effects you may experience include but are not limited to:

Throwing up
Becoming too drowsy
Feeling weak or tired
Getting over-excited
Upset stomach
Feeling overly anxious
Dry mouth
A tingling feeling in the extremities
Blurry vision
Sweating profusely
Feeling confused or addled
unexplained weight loss or weight gain
Feeling unsteady on your feet
Having nightmares at night or other sleep problems
Feeling restless for no reason
Having trouble urinating or becoming constipated to point of discomfort.

This is only a partial list of amitriptyline side effects. If taking this medication, check with your doctor if you have any troubling symptoms.

More Dangerous Sleep Aid Side Effects:
The following is a partial list of more dangerous potential side effects which should be reported to your doctor immediately:

Hallucinating
Feeling faint or dizzy
Any facial swelling (or swelling of the tongue)
Restlessness to the point of being unable to sit still
Any type of unusual, unexplained bleeding
Hands that shake uncontrollably
Any yellowing of your skin
Any yellowish look to the eyes
Heart flutters or palpitations,
Rapid heart beat
Strong chest pain
Any problems speaking or slowing of your speech
Unusual bruising
Muscle spasms in your neck, jaw area or your back
ny severe skin irritation or seizures.

THIS IS ONLY A PARTIAL LIST OF SIDE EFFECTS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT! Talk with your pharmacist for other potential amitriptyline side effects. Also, unless your sleep problems are so severe as to interfere with daily life, please consider natural sleep aids and alternative medicine therapies such as aromatherapy, Reiki, Reflexology, etc..

Featured for Healing Rest: Laminar Crystal Sleeper - If you resonate with crystal healing, this Laminar Crystal Sleeper may be something to consider. That is, if you can afford one. The Laminar Crystal Sleeper contains 25 pounds of healing crystals and is recommended for chronic pain. The healing energy of the crystals relieves discomforts anywhere in your body. Many report that lying on the crystal sleeper regularly enhances inner healing energy, as well as giving a regenerating full night's sleep or rejuvenating nap.

Part Two: Spiritual Factors to Consider
Part Three: Alternative Medicine For Fibromyalgia


The Healing Raindrop Technique
The spiritual significance of fibromyalgia

Wellness Library Home ~*~ Search for More on Fibromyalgia


Important Health Care Disclaimer: The information in this article on fibromyalgia and the sleep disruption that can often occur with fibro sufferers is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or treatment from your health care professional. Laminar Crystal Sleepers, natural sleep aids and alternative medicine therapies are suggested as avenues of exploration for adjunctive therapy and not intended to replace the advice of your chosen health care professional.

If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or any of the related conditions including Epstein-Barr Syndrome or Chronic Fatique Syndrome, please consult with your health care professional about sleep aids, the side effects and risks, and your options for regaining restful sleep. If indicated, also consider seeing a mental health professional for tips on reducing excess stress and worry in your life or for help with emotional issues that may be exacerbating your fibromyalgia symptoms and sleep problems. Ask a Healer Privacy Policy