It’s 2:30 am and you awake from a deep slumber. What woke you? A dog barking, a train in the distance, or nothing in particular? You sigh and shift your tired and achy body to try and find a more comfortable position. Falling back asleep is proving elusive. This is what … the 4th time this week? ARGH!
Symptoms akin to insomnia are common for those of us who suffer from fibromyalgia. What is worse is that your daytime energy drains faster and faster. And OTC sleeping medications (and even prescribed ones) just leave you groggy and feeling lousy the next morning.
What can you do? You need sleep … desperately!
Researchers have found how the natural chemicals in our bodies help us fall asleep and stay asleep, MT1 and MT2 receptors in the brain. They have been revisiting an old drug that, when taken at a very low dose, can help deep you asleep throughout the night and with nearly no side effects. There have been reports of little to no ill effects the next morning. The patients had good concentration and motor skills and were able to stay asleep longer during the night. And best yet – this medication is also very inexpensive!
This drug is called: Ramelteon (brand name Rozerem). It has been confirmed that it is able to promote the onset of sleep without causing cognitive function impairment, next-day hangover or rebound insomnia as do other hypnotic drugs. Another significant advantage researchers found is that ramelteon does not appear to produce a physical dependence, which significantly lessens the likelihood of abuse.
In 2005, The FDA approved the use of Ramelteon to treat insomnia. Traditional sleep medications bind to the brain’s benzodiazepine receptors, which may result in impaired thinking, hangover, rebound insomnia and withdrawal symptoms. Ramelteon works in a completely different way by targeting the MT1 and MT2 receptors in the brain. The MT1 receptor is thought to regulate sleepiness and the MT2 receptor is believed to help the body transition between day and night.
If you suffer from poor sleep more than a night or two a week, talk to your doctor(s) about the potential of taking Rozerem. Take the time to do the research on this drug to get all the specifics and take your findings to your doctor to discuss if Rozerem will work for you.
Let’s get the good night’s sleep we, who have Fibromyalgia, deserve!
