Night time wakefulness

starwood

I’m looking for any suggestions about how to deal with my DH’s newly developed night time waking. I know many of you have dealt with similar issues and hope you can provide some ideas. My DH is wheelchair dependent and cannot get in or out of bed independently. I have a hoyer lift and can get him into bed by myself using it…although I have been advised by the medical staff that it really isn’t safe for me to do alone (I have a back problem). Getting him out of bed using the lift is very difficult for me to do alone since it’s a more complicated. His hospice caregiver comes M-F to get him out of bed, and I have a private caregiver that comes on weekend mornings and one that comes M-F at night to get him into bed. He is always tired and ready to go to bed very early, usually around 6-6:30 pm. Here’s my problem. He has no difficulty going to sleep but he has started waking anywhere between 1 and 4 a.m, (last night at 1:30) insisting that he must get up. Sometimes he’s confused about where we are, usually thinking we’re traveling and sometimes he’s not. I’ve been able to calm him some of these times, but not all. He gets quite loud and very insistent, wants to call 911 for help, etc. Of course, I try to redirect him to get his mind on something else but that doesn’t work and logic (it’s the middle of the night, it’s pitch black outside, we can’t go anywhere cause I can’t get you in the car) doesn’t work. Last night I just gave up and against my better judgment, used the lift to get him out of bed and get him in his chair….where he’ll probably doze off and on all day. Does anyone have ANY suggestions about how to deal with his insistent demands to get out of bed?

Jeff H

I take it he is not doing it for a bathroom break.

If you have a neurologist ask them. My DW was prescribed Trazodone as a sleep aid and Xanax for anxiety. She goes to bed around 6-6:30pm also and she sleeps until 6am. I hope you find relief.

Biggles

I am also interested in this. My DH, although he is mobile, is often up from 1.40 onwards and prowls around the house, he then baggers me to get up at around 5.30 it makes for a very long and exhausting day. He doesn’t take new medications well and he’s still continent and I don’t want to upset that.

ronda b

my DH was started on trazadone and it really help. He wakes up but does go back to sleep.

persevere

My wife has been on 30 mg Temazepam for several months. I usually give it to her between 7 and 7:30 and she sleeps completely through the night. Might think about giving it a try. At first she was a bit groggy when she woke in the morning but that subsided after a few days.

Jeff H

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/266742#Comment_266742

Temazepam is usually prescribed for 7-10 days, sometimes up to a few weeks. Is your DW still doing okay with the extended prescription?

persevere

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/266747#Comment_266747

yes, she has. It was originally prescribed by our primary doctor when we were reaching critical mass on sleep. Hospice has continued to support its use. It might be that she could sleep without it but I’m too afraid to try.

Jeff H

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/266800#Comment_266800

Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize your DW was in hospice care. Forgive me.

starwood

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/266734#Comment_266734

Dr. Just prescribed Trazadone, and he’s been on it now for 3 days. The first night he took it he was awake 3 hours later…and stayed awake. The last two nights he didn’t call out for me, but his sleep was pretty fitful and he still woke early, about 4-5 am. How long did it take for you to see consistent change?

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/266696#Comment_266696

ronda b

How many milligrams is he on? They usually start any where from 50 to 100. My Dh is on 175. It didn't take long probably less than a week.

RetiredTeacher

My DH is on 100 mg Trazadone and it has made a big improvement. He still gets up to pee several times a night but at least he gets to the bathroom. Dr had him on 150mg but tge higher dose seemed to give him scary vivid dreams at night. 100mg has helped that.

ronda b

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/266854#Comment_266854

Im sorry I miss spoke he is on 150 mg not 175.

persevere

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/266812#Comment_266812

no need to apologize. I’m not sure that should change your evaluation of what I’m suggesting. If sleep is an issue this can be a possible solution. It comes in smaller doses. Anyway, hope you find something that works.

starwood

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/266854#Comment_266854

Dr. started him at 50 mg. I ¨think¨it may be making a difference. He is waking early 5-6 a.m. but hasn’t called out or gotten agitated during the night.