sleep apnea and nyquil

[araris]

I have always heard that its not good to take this medication if you have sleep apnea because it will negatively affect your AHI. I don't like taking any sort of drugs anyhow.

However, the other day I came down with a cold and couldn't sleep. I take the recommend dose and I had the best night of sleep that I have had in years. I didn't wake up once. I felt great the next morning and all day long(aside from the cold). The next night I take a dose again and same thing, I feel great. My AHI is typically in the 1-2 range with leaks well in the acceptable range. With taking the nyquil, my AHI was exactly one both days.

I am not suggesting that I should take nyquil every night, nor will I, but my gosh it's nice to sleep through the night without waking up. I wake up so many times throughout the night. Be it pain, Aerophagia, or many times for no reason whatsoever. With the nyquil I was able to sleep with my chin close to my chest, so I got very minimal gas.

The last three nights I haven't taken any nyquil and I'm back to my old routine. Waking up two to three times and an hour (i'm guessing), and not super restful sleep. I keep my cpap on for 7.5 hours a night. I somewhat recently got a fitbit surge to track my sleep as well and according to it I'm only getting 3.5 to 4.5 restful hours of sleep. the caveat to this though is when I took the nyquil, I slept for 8 hours and 8.5 hours with cpap on and I have nearly 8 hours of restful sleep each night.

I'm only going to take nyquil if I have a cold and can't sleep, but there has to be something out there that can help me sleep more soundly. I should say that I feel better now that I did without cpap. However, I still have too many bad days where feel like I didn't sleep.

[adipasqu]

NyQuil has doxylamine succinate in it, an antihistamine/hypnotic that is the main ingredient in Unisom. You could always try Unisom by itself to see if it has the same effect. Unisom is claimed by the manifacturer to be non-habit forming, but who knows.

[JV1967]

I'm on a low dose of Clonazepam, and it makes NyQuil seem like candy sauce. I miss not being on this drug, and I miss having a beer. The menopause anxiety monster decided to pay me an early visit, and he taunted me in my sleep.

Now, two sleep studies later, I'm scheduled to receive a ResMed ASV AirCurve 10, tomorrow, for sleep-onset centrals mixed with mild to moderate OSA. Not happy that I need it, but also thankful that help is on the way; mixed feelings.

Anyhow, enough of my complaining. I hope things work out for you, and your sleep is good. (((HUGS)))

[JV1967]

PS. Speaking of Aerophagia, I had so much of it at my titration study that I sounded like a Whoopie cushion for a half an hour after I woke up. I was giggling in the bed, but I know it actually sucks to have it, especially if it becomes a long-term problem.

[Twelve12]

I sometimes take Nyquil when I can't sleep. Even my doctor said it was ok to do every once in a while. For me, it's not just the antihistamine. It's the combo of antihistamine and alcohol (even though it's a small bit of alchohol). They do sell Nyquil as a sleep remedy, but there is not alcohol in it. I use the "cough" formula of Nyquil. There are several other versions. I don't use the one with acetaminophen or decongestant. I only use these gummy melatonins that I got from Target. I've used lots and lots of brands, but this one is the one which works very well for me. I am pending my CPAP machine and do not sleep well. I fall asleep easily enough but don't stay asleep.

[Sir NoddinOff]

My experience is that cold and cough meds like Nyquil (and OTC sleep meds) can be helpful for short term use, but once you start to use them on a nightly basis they can lead to increased sleeplessness, suppressed respiration and other health problems.

[Luthie2006]

To Chime In if I can:

I thought having CPAP therapy would help my waking up 4-5 times a night for "no good reason." Unfortunately, it has not. Sometimes I do have to take 1-2 bathroom breaks and sometimes my cat wakes me up. But for the most part, I have just chalked up my waking up frequently, to just that. My doctor gave me Hydroxyzine (prescription) for an allergy I had on my arm from a "bad" flu shot reaction. I noticed it kept me asleep that night! I asked for more and she said that it is very "safe" and better than Benadryl because it does not cause grogginess in the morning (which she was right about that) and when I do wake up, I tend to be groggier in the middle of the night and can get back to sleep most of the time instead of staring at the wall for 2 hours. However, now I noticed extreme nasal dryness and difficult to breath through the nasal pillows on many nights. But if you would like to try this medication, if your primary will let you have it, I would highly recommend it. Much better than Nyquil!

[Justnote]

I would encourage you to go to an Ent. You may have some allergy issues that are causing your sleep disturbances. NyQuil helps with that, but you might need to discuss a permanent solution with an Ent.

[SunnyBeBe]

I would follow up to see what is causing the nighttime arousals, if it's not your breathing. I had my first sleep study years ago that found I had numerous arousals during the night, but they couldn't say why. I guessed it was anxiety and just lived with it. Recently, I've seen a commercial on tv for some medication that says frequent night arousals may be due to a faulty signal in the brain. I would look into that.

[Julie]

You may be responding to Apap changes that take place when apneas happen, and while that's not a bad thing of course, some people are sensitive to the changes and it wakes them. If you have software that shows the level of pressure you normally hover around for 90-95% of the night, you might try setting your machine in Cpap mode just at or below (1 cm) that level and see how things for a few nights. Not everyone is cut out for Apap mode.

[palerider]

I would encourage you to go to an Ent. You may have some allergy issues that are causing your sleep disturbances. NyQuil helps with that, but you might need to discuss a permanent solution with an Ent.

talking trees can help with allergies?

[TangledHose]

Study links long-term use of many common over the counter sleep aids with Alzheimer's

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=103493&p=973272#p973272

[surf]

I just picked up some Zzz Quil, anyone ever tried this? I got on a CPAP mach for the first time 6/1/15 and can't seem to find the right settings. Have only sleep 6 hours in 4 nights, I am a Zombie! I turned my mach off last night and said to hell with it for a few days. Going to a take a Temazepam tonight, ( hate the drug hang over) but must have some sleep. I will go back to my CPAP once I figure out some adjustments. My Physician says to play with the settings range, but admits he does not know much about it. Thinking I will try Zzz Quil after I get some sleep.

[Krelvin]

Using Nyquil for sleep on a long term basis is a really bad idea. Same goes for ZzzQuil. They are for short term use.

ZzzQuil is indicated to relieve occasional sleeplessness. Stop use and ask a doctor if your sleeplessness persists continuously for more than two weeks. Insomnia may be a symptom of a serious underlying medical illness.