[Joed]

Just saw a spot on TV last night about this, and was hoping some of you could give me some feedback if you've tried it.

I couldn't get their "Buy" link to work, so I don't know how much it costs. Maybe someone else will have better luck with it.

http://www.alteril.c...lterilworks.htm

My sleep patterns have been so whacked since my surgeries/paralysis...not sure how much has to do with the pain meds and/or pain levels, and I'm currently titrating from the methadone, so that may be playing into things too. Although my sleep cycles were not normal before taking pain meds.

But now it's getting to where I'm concerned. I stayed up all one night and the next day, even up to 4am the following day, and wasn't one bit tired. That was last week, and it happened again last night.

Any insight/info is welcome.

[kanga2433]

Well, Joed, as one who doesn't get off to sleep very well and often have bad night, that looks quite interesting. I am off to Canada next weekend so might need something to get off to sleep there so I might try it. Chamomile is also supposed to aid sleep and I have tried chamomile tea; it isn't that great for sleep but helps, but I didn't like the taste much.

The site you mentioned is not complete so ordering is not available, but if you have a look around at a health food shop you might find something with Valerian root in it that you could try and it will probably be cheaper than the product you mention.

[kanga2433]

Joed,

I went to our local chair pharmacy today, Boots, and found a selection of products contaiing valarian root and bought one to try out. As I said, I have some trouble getting off to sleep, often because of spasms in the legs and buttocks. Since we are going to Canada next Saturday, I will need to be able to sleep. I'll give them a try tonight and see what happens.

[car]

My c5 guy has insomnia. He would stay up for days at a time. I do not know ow he functioned. His doctor order Seroquel (an antipsychotic) that induces sleep as a side effect and it works well for him. Maybe ambien would be a good start or that lunectra.

[Joed]

Thanks so much for the replies and suggestions. I like the fact that the Alteril is natural, and purportedly doesn't cause many of the side effects that some other sleep aids have.

Kanga...I'm very interested in hearing how it works for you while in Canada. Hopefully, it'll give you some good deep and restful sleep. I don't even know what that is anymore!

Some of my friends have even asked me if I'm doing crank/meth or something. Who needs street drugs when you can accomplish the same thing without spending a cent?

But what may look like a good party for some, is quite maddening for those who cannot achieve restful sleep on a chronic basis.

[car]

Interesting. I went to the web site and had no luck with the purchase button eitjer. Interesting to find out if it works. Will have to see if any natural food stores carry it. I only found that one site on the internet.

[kanga2433]

Well, guys, I am off to Canada next Saturday so I have a few days to try it out. I find that getting off to sleep in the first place is the hardest so I will give the tablets a go before Friday to see if they work at all.

Meanwhile, I suggest anyone interested have a look in your local health Food Store; valarian root tablets ought to be there.

[kanga2433]

OK, I bought some tablets from our local pharmacy chain, Boots the Chemists. They are called Natrasleep. If you live elsewhere than the UK I am sure something similar will be available. The key ingredients are: -

Hop Extract 33.4mg
Valerian Powder Extract 62.5mg

The suggested dose is 1 to 3 tablets.

After a bad night a couple of nights ago I decided to see if these tablets worked. I am not concerned with pain when I can't sleep; it is usually the legs and hips jerking a bit and itches too (atopic Eczema) and sometimes juts not sleepy though tired. Anyway, I took a dose of three tablets ot see what happened. I must have gone off pretty quickly after lying down and woke a couple of times though went straight back to sleep so in the end I had a great night's sleep.

As a test, this was about as scientific as Scientology but it did seem to work so if you are having trouble with sleep, have a look round and give it a go; it might well work.

[Joed]

Thanks for your post, kanga. I'm glad it worked relatively well for you, and I hope it helps to make your trip to Canada more enjoyable.

I'll be sure to check it out whenever I venture into the 'big city'. (We have no health stores locally....I'm a 'boon-docker'. ) And I'll report back on my results.

[Joed]

Well, I finally purchased some valarian root tablets and tried them last night. I only took one, but it says you can take up to two.

Circumstances kept me up longer than I had hoped to be, but I was able to function just fine. When I finally did lay my head down, I went to sleep quickly and only recall waking two times through the night, and they were very brief moments, enough to reposition and fall back to sleep.

This morning I felt rested and clear-headed (now there's a breakthrough!)

The pills sure do stink though! Like something scraped from a barn floor.

[Chris injured in Montana]

Joed, on Jun 2 2006, 03:45 PM, said:

Just saw a spot on TV last night about this, and was hoping some of you could give me some feedback if you've tried it.

I couldn't get their "Buy" link to work, so I don't know how much it costs. Maybe someone else will have better luck with it.

http://www.alteril.c...lterilworks.htm

My sleep patterns have been so whacked since my surgeries/paralysis...not sure how much has to do with the pain meds and/or pain levels, and I'm currently titrating from the methadone, so that may be playing into things too. Although my sleep cycles were not normal before taking pain meds.

But now it's getting to where I'm concerned. I stayed up all one night and the next day, even up to 4am the following day, and wasn't one bit tired. That was last week, and it happened again last night.

Any insight/info is welcome.

Dear Joed, I just read your message about sleep problems and have some critically important information for you. You may be in a dangerous situation that can have very serious effects on your health - your life may even be in jeopardy. It's important that you deal with this as soon as possible; here is the reason for my opinion, based on my own experiences. I will try to make this brief. I just registered for this site today. If you know how to get my message posted for general viewing, please do so.

I received serious injuries to my spine in October, 2003 during a construction accident. I underwent 2 surgeries in 2004, which were only partially successful. The pain became unbearable and I was put on a variety of medications including oxycotin, neurontin and many others. I eventually started on methodone because my Vietnam Vet brother had many army buddies who had sustained life-long injuries and had good results. With me, the methodone did have some positive results but the side-effects became quite serious and life-threatening. Insomnia, constipation, bladder dysfuntion were among the most serious.

My insomnia became complete and permanent and I have not enjoyed a natural nights sleep since February, 2005. I eventually attempted suicide 3 times starting in May of 2005 because the doctors could find no solution to the insomnia. I DID NOT SLEEP FOR 8 MONTHS AND WAS EVENTUALLY COMMITTED TO THE STATE HOSPITAL FOR 3 1/2 MONTHS. FINALLY, NEAR THE END OF MY HORRIFIC STAY IN THE HOSPITAL, MY DOCTORS PRESCRIBED 25 MG OF SEROQUEL AND IT WORKED IMMEDIATELY!. I have now been taking seroquel every night since then and this medicine works miracles; it literally saved my life. In the meantime, I lost my home, my business and my 2 children almost lost their father. I have partially recovered financially only because I received a cash settlement from the state workman's compensation board, because my injury occurred on the job. I now take seroquel every night for insomnia, the only problem being that it is very expensive and it now takes 300 mg nightly, to work. I am purchasing Alteril in hopes that it can at least reduce the amount of seroquel required because the cost is now prohibitive. Methodone is very dangerous and you should get off of it as soon as possible. I now take hydrocodon and ibuprofen for pain, plus a number of other medications for side effects.

Constipation can also get quite serious and I have tried numerous over-the-counter and doctor prescribed medications, which required extreme doses to work. HIGH DOSES OF VITAMIN C IS AN ABSOLUTE SOLUTION TO CONSTITPATION AND IS HEALTHY FOR YOU, TO BOOT. I NOW TAKE 4000 MG OF VITAMIN C DAILY AND IT IS STILL WORKING. Your body knows how much Vitamin C it needs and will reject any excess in the form of good bowel-movements.

Bladder dysfuntion is also quite serious and I underwent a cathyder (sp) in the hospital, which was extremely painful. In 2006, I discovered a cure for this also. BROWN SEAWEED IN CONCENTRATED HIGH DOSES HAS BEEN WORKING FOR ME EVER SINCE. A company named [u]Larson Century Ranch, in Clarkston, Washington sells a brown seaweed product called "U-FN (FUCOIDAN)". Their phone number is 509-758-5445. Talk to the owner, Rick Larson, and tell him Chris from Hamilton, Montana recommended him. Again, it is pretty expensive for me as it requires high doses, but it is much better than the alternative.

If you wish to talk to me about any of this, send me your phone number to my e-mail address and I will call you back. I will also keep your phone number confidential unless you say otherwise. My e-address is clinkenhok@yahoo.com

Good luck, Chris Injured in Montana