Birth Control Pills and Insomnia Meds

[QueenofCorona]

I'm having a yearly physical done in a couple weeks and at that time I'm going to ask to be put on birth control pills again. I've been off for about a year since my bf has a vasectomy. However, every month cramps/headache/stomach issues associated with my period about kill me for good week or more. So I'm hoping to get on Yaz again as I've had good luck with that. I've only ever been on the pill. Never done the shot as that scares me, I like having control to stop something at anytime in case I were to have weird side effects.

Anyone have any good or other pill suggestions or method of b/c that they are happy with? Something that would nip PMS'ing symptoms in the bud. I know my dr will know more but I'm looking for suggestions in the meantime to go in there well prepared. Its a new dr to me so she doesn't know me at all.

Also, I have insomnia issues. Big time. Always have, probably always will. I had really horrible insurance coverage about 2-3 years ago and could no longer get Lunesta which worked well for me. So, I tried taking the over the counter stuff. I had really good luck with....NyQuil. The doxysucinate or whatever it is does it for me. I know its not ideal to take high dosages everynight so should I even mention this to her or just say I really want to go back on Lunesta again? I need her to understand how bad my insomnia is but don't want to come off as a big freak-o either. I guess I just built up a tolerance. It still works for me but I alone keep NyQuil in business at this point.

[dewilliams2]

I have trouble sleeping to....my mind won't shut the **** up.

Sometimes it helps me to go for a run...I mean a really brutal one...don't jog just sprint the whole time.....you get that quick high and then when it burns off you crash.

[QueenofCorona]

I tried that route but after I workout I am so keyed up I feel like cleaning the house or staying up. Doesn't make me sleepy, makes me all energized.

[vashti]

You aren't supposed to exercise in the evenings for exactly that reason...

I personally don't like the idea of taking ANY medications routinely if it can be avoided because of the side effects. BC pills are associated with increased health problems when you get to be maybe mid30s, and sleep aids can be psychologically addictive, even the ones that aren't physically addictive.

Maybe your new doctor can suggest something more holistic for both issues?

I know I suffered a lot of insomnia before I started working 12 1/2 hour days on my feet. Physical exhaustion really helps.

[dewilliams2]

Well on the bright side your always awake for all that sexin.

[QueenofCorona]

:/ sexin by myself only. I don't live with my bf.

Its weird because I'm usually really tired on weekends with no help needed from sleepy meds.

[dewilliams2]

Maybe it has something to do with work then...assuming your off on the weekends....my mom doesn't sleep very well through the week but when she is home on the weekends she sleeps great...all she can figure is that work stresses her out so bad and she loathes going in she can't sleep.

[dono01]

I have chronic insomnia, and therefor prescribed ambien and have been taking it for 2 or 3 years actually.

doxylamine is the chemical in nyquil that is making you sleepy, and you can buy it over the counter in any cvs, rite aid, safeway, or wallgreens. It's just a simle H1 antagonist just like benadryl is, it's just a little bit longer acting.

don't take too much nyquil, you'll end up killing your liver with all of that acetaminophen.

SOURCE: expert on drugs

[QueenofCorona]

I tried Ambien but it made me feel crazy. I would do and say things and not remember them, it also messed with my memory big time. I got lost/confused driving home from work one day. It was bad news bears for me. For some people it really works though, my aunt swears by it. I love Lunesta but they say its like they slept with a turd in their mouth all night.

[Gigabitch]

You need a lifestyle and diet change, not meds. PMS can be handled nutritionally.

[dono01]

You need a lifestyle and diet change, not meds. PMS can be handled nutritionally.

That's what they told me.

2+ years later, diet, exorcise, exhaustion, schedule, routine change, natural remedies... etc. They finally came to the realization that I might have some serotonin imbalances and can't sleep, and I'd better just take the drugs.

And I don't know anything about PMS, other than how the wife acts, and the fact that shortly after blood comes seeping out of the vagina.

[dewilliams2]

I just drink excessively....it works.

[dono01]

I just drink excessively....it works.

I'm not your liver, but I would bet that's not a good idea.

[dewilliams2]

And if you were my liver I would wonder why you were talking to me...and then I would tell you to go make me a sandwich.

[doppelgaenger]

Everybody tends to argue with me when it comes to situations where contraception is necessary. But my argument is that birth control pills shouldn't be used because of all the risks involved. Condoms should and would always suffice.

In your case, there are holistic solutions to your problems.

I suffer from a severe form of insomnia. I have an irregular sleep schedule, where I am awake and conscious for 2-3 days at a time, and then I sleep for short periods of 3-4 hours. Sometimes it's regular and I can go to bed at midnight/2am and wake up after 6-8 hours of sleep, but my schedule is always reversing and sometimes I even sleep during the day and I'm awake all night. My solutions to those problems are alcohol, over the counter drugs with drowsiness side effects, and exercise.