REM Behavior Disorder

[ToonTownAngel]

From the research I've found, Clonazepam has been the "recommended" treatment. I can't say this has worked for me but more likely due to the fact that I dislike taking a habit-forming prescription drug and so have always avoided it unless I absolutely have to (i.e. if I have three or four episodes of being up through the night I'll take a pill).

Anyways, I hurt a nerve in my knee a few months ago and finally got around to going to the doctor about it. She prescribed Lyrica 25 MG (Pregabalin) for 30 days. I've been on it for two weeks now and haven't had a single episode of being up through the night. This is absolutely AMAZING as my trigger seems to be lack of sleep (the more tired I am the more I'm up) and for the past two weeks I've been exceptionally tired (worked 12, 10-12 hour days in a row). Has anyone else had any experiences with this? I can't find anything online.

[patllib]

Your post was very interesting to me. I will mention Lyrica to my sleep specialist, and see what he says. I take two klonopin per night, and am to start three, but I don't want to up it. I do not think it helps, even the two. I am taking it, and have had episodes almost nightly for about two weeks now. Only one night of peaceful sleep. I cannot find anything hat lets me feel or know that I will have one of these episodes. I sometimes think it is if I am upset or anxious upon retiring, but that is not always true. Last night, it seemed as though I was dreaming the entire night, poked at my husband, and one time was pulling the bed covers saying I was looking for my coat. Needless to say after two hours of my husband not getting sleep, I went to another room. Does anyone see a relationship to taking ambien to this, because I sometimes have to take it to get back to sleep.....maybe just 1/2? Thanks for reading/listening. I'm tired.

[ToonTownAngel]

Well I've been off Lyrica now for a couple of days now and guess what? You got it...last night I was up and around throughout the night. So I Googled "sleep pattern Lyrica" and found this interesting tidbit buried in a link:

"...The results of the study, which was actually a review of findings from 14 previous Lyrica clinical trials, indicated that 'pregabalin treatment significantly decreased pain and pain-related sleep disturbances by week 1 in patients with all except those with osteoarthritis. These improvements persisted throughout the trial.' In my notes from a visit to the headache specialist last spring, I wrote that LYRICA IS THE FIRST DRUG THAT MIMICS NATURAL SLEEP PATTERNS. This study is the only place I’ve found support for this claim. The article says that HEALTHY TRIAL PARTICIPANTS HAD SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN STAGES 3 AND 4 SLEEP AND WOKE UP LESS IN THE NIGHT WHILE TAKING LYRICA VS. A PLACEBO."

All I can say is it worked for me...but there is a but (isn't there always?). I felt kindva' "out-of-if" for the month I was on Lyrica...not quite myself....almost foggy-headed. I'm going to ask my doctor if taking Lyrica would work on an occasional basis....I'll let you know how I make out.

[patllib]

Your last post on Lyrica was in June. Have you discovered anything more about taking this for REM. I am now taking 3mg. of Klonopin everynight for sleep, and my nightmares have diminished greatly. I still have episodes, but not so drastic. Instead of screaming, I may just yell. I would love to find out what is causing this. I am still wondering if it is taking Wellbutrin which I have been on since before this all started. The sleep events became worse after a life threatening experience.

[ToonTownAngel]

I have an appointment with my doctor on November 17th to discuss my sleep issues. I've been re-injuring and re-injuring my shoulder during sleep and it's not healing....since it's related to RSBD I'm hoping she's going to have something to say. She's probably the best doctor in my town because not only is she a med-lab technician but she's also a licensed pharmacist...so she knows her drugs!! (And she absolutely refuses to put me on Clonazepam as she says it's too addictive.

I'll post an update after my visit...