Insomnia

Shan1979

hello…me again..so my mother has been tried on Mirtazipine and Celexa and Melatonin and she is not sleeping at night with anything given to her. Her doctor is trying to find a medication that will work, I really would like to keep my mother at home because she always told us that she did not want to be put in a nursing home. What are some things that you all have tried besides medication that helps get them to sleep at night? Any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks

tonyac2

What kept my DH from not sleeping through the night was incontinence. Once we got it figured out he’s been sleeping.

SDianeL

Mirtazapine made my husbands insomnia worse. Many have tried Seroquel with more success. Insomnia is a common symptom in people with dementia. It can significantly impact their quality of life and caregiving burden. Causes of Insomnia in Dementia: 

• Disrupted circadian rhythm: Dementia can disrupt the body's natural sleep-wake cycle. 
• Cognitive decline: Difficulty with decision-making and memory can lead to confusion and restlessness at night. 
• Physical discomfort: Pain, urinary incontinence, and other physical problems can interfere with sleep. 
• Behavioral changes: Agitation, pacing, and hallucinations can make it difficult for people with dementia to fall asleep and stay asleep. 

SDianeL

Management of Insomnia in Dementia: 

• Establish regular sleep-wake patterns: Stick to a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, even on weekends. 
• Create a relaxing bedtime routine: Take a warm bath, read a book, or listen to calming music. 
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed: These substances can interfere with sleep. 
• Use light therapy: Exposure to bright light in the morning can help regulate the body's circadian rhythm. 
• Consider sleep aids: Over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids may be helpful in some cases, but they should be used cautiously and under medical supervision. 
• Address underlying physical and psychological issues: Treat pain, incontinence, and other physical problems that may be contributing to insomnia. 

Michele P

My husband and I are using timed release Melatonin. It has helped both of us get more sleep on some nights.

ronda b

Trazadone might work. It did for my husband. Not all night but at least 6 or more hours.

Scooterr

It sounds like your not wanting to use medication (which I don't blame you as long as you can get by with it). I tried not medicating DW for awhile. Using other methods which became exhausting. We went though a lot of meds until I got her on seroquel and melatonin mix at night. We went from 3hrs sleep to a good 8hrs. We did try mirtazapine at one point and it did make the insomnia worse. good luck

Timmyd

Like others, I really wanted a non pharmaceutical approach to improved sleep. Eventually I changed my opinion and found success with seroquel.

In the early phases I was determined to not use "sedation" as a tool to deal with the disease.

Symptoms eventually progressed and caused me to adjust my perspective. I really feel the medications DW is on today, make life better for both of us and are key to keeping her in our home.

Shan1979

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/256204#Comment_256204

hello, how many mg of Trazadone does your husband take? The doc wants to start my mother on Trazadone 50mg and I was thinking that was a high dose to be starting her on. Thank you.

Jazzma

My DH was on 100mg at night. It worked well. I know of people who have been prescribed up to 200mg.

ronda b

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/256355#Comment_256355

100 mg