Radically New Sleep Drug (surovexant) Could Help ME/CFS and FM Patients This Year

[CortJ]

Sleep Help on the Way for ME/CFS and FM? Promising Sleep Drug Expected to Hit the Market This Year

Experts are predicting the FDA will approve its first new drug for insomnia in over thirty years. Faced mostly with using anti-hypnotics that basically hammer the brain to sleep, people with ME/CFS/FM may welcome the first drug to specifically target the sleep centers of the brain.

Find out how better sleep may be in your future in

http://www.cortjohnson.org/blog/2013/07/22/help-for-sleep-me-cfs-fibromyalgia-coming-suvorexant-expected-to-hit-market-this-year/

 

[mbofov]

Thanks, Cort - looks interesting. I am a little puzzled though when your blog states that most sleep drugs work by turning off GABA neurotransmitters and receptors. I always thought it was GABA which helped us sleep (e.g., l-theanine is very calming and relaxing and helps the brain produce GABA)

Anyways, a drug that does not bludgeon us into sleep and does not cause dependence sounds promising!

Mary

 

[CortJ]

Did

Thanks, Cort - looks interesting. I am a little puzzled though when your blog states that most sleep drugs work by turning off GABA neurotransmitters and receptors. I always thought it was GABA which helped us sleep (e.g., l-theanine is very calming and relaxing and helps the brain produce GABA)

Anyways, a drug that does not bludgeon us into sleep and does not cause dependence sounds promising!

Mary

Did I say that? Ouch! I meant the opposite....They turn on GABA - you're right....

It certainly does sound promising

Thanks

 

[IanH]

GABA receptors are post-synaptic receptors ie they have an influence after synaptic transmission thereby exerting "fine" control over neuronal transmission. They act at different levels and their function is not simple.
Basically there are 3 different gaba receptors:
GABA-A: ion channel control by tonic inhibition and tend to be agonized by the barbiturates etc so favoring decrease waking, increased slow-wave sleep and enhanced intermediate stage sleep
GABA-B: increase brain-activated behavioral states, waking and paradoxical sleep or dreaming stage sleep
GABA-C: increases waking at the expense of slow-wave sleep and paradoxical sleep. Also highly present in the retina and the visual brain.

Basically these receptors vary depending on the area of the brain and sometimes function as "activators" while in other areas function as "inhibitors".

While there are individual differences the GABA-C receptor is more sensitive to GABA. Some animal research has shown that spinal gaba-c antagonism increases pain threshold. Possibly having some bearing on the widespread pain syndromes.

The interplay between these receptors is an area of very new research but the value of GABA supplementation has not been scientifically studied other than from function of the sleep drugs.

 

[IanH]

This is also related:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-08/uotm-ptb080513.php

 

[IceRaven3]

No one could use this more than I could! I have been on Ambien for 5 years. I have a closet full of stuff I don't remember ordering online. I cook whole meals at night and don't remember a thing. I have tried weaning off, but my insomnia is so bad, I get sick from sleep deprivation. Herbals don't work at all, and I have tried all natural, meditation, sleep tapes, homeopathic and every other thing known to mankind. I'm a slave to this damn drug and I hate it! I am hoping that the clinic in Atlanta can help me when we move next month.

 

[AimeeAT]

No one could use this more than I could! I have been on Ambien for 5 years. I have a closet full of stuff I don't remember ordering online. I cook whole meals at night and don't remember a thing. I have tried weaning off, but my insomnia is so bad, I get sick from sleep deprivation. Herbals don't work at all, and I have tried all natural, meditation, sleep tapes, homeopathic and every other thing known to mankind. I'm a slave to this damn drug and I hate it! I am hoping that the clinic in Atlanta can help me when we move next month.

 

[Ansari443]

Well, we made the move and are now in Atlanta. Today I saw a new PCP, who informed me that hid job was to keep me alive. Pain doesn't kill you, so not his thing. So he farmed me out to EMORY Clinic. They referred me to Physical Therapy. Oh, and a hemotoliigist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist and Pain Management Specialist, ophthalmologist. And every other "ologist" you can think of! The only one I don't have is a zoologist. Sometimes I think I would be better off!

 

[Silvermist80]

Ansari, you sound just like me. I'm brand new at being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Most days are really tough to get through, I'm still waiting to start treatment. I never sleep through the night, I wake up in pain every night. Also, I've been seen by so many "ologists", I've seen some I didn't even know existed. My Rheumatologist just dismissed me from the clinic stating they're too busy to treat a Fibro patient. In the mean time, I'm still seeing other Specialists and none of them move quickly! I do think we'd be better off with say a Veterinarian... they don't have to refer you to every other kind of doctor for each part of your body

 

[jkennedy]

I take 15 MG of Belsomra every other day and find it very helpful. I don't take it every day because I become habituated, and it's not effective then. I alternate Belsomra with Trazodone.

From what I've read, Belsomra is very hit or miss. When I first took it, I had some extremely vivid dreams and felt a little spacey for 2 days, but those effects quickly went away. I've read many reports of the drug not helping people at all, but it could be worth a try.

I don't remember the details, but there are coupons for insurance your prescribing doctor can give you. It's expensive because there is no generic.

I'm with Cigna, and Belsomra is in the top tier. I pay $40 for it, but since I take it every other day, it lasts 2 months. My doctor's office had to jump through some stupid required hoops for step therapy to get it approved.

 

[NaturalNancy]

I take 15 MG of Belsomra every other day and find it very helpful. I don't take it every day because I become habituated, and it's not effective then. I alternate Belsomra with Trazodone.

From what I've read, Belsomra is very hit or miss. When I first took it, I had some extremely vivid dreams and felt a little spacey for 2 days, but those effects quickly went away. I've read many reports of the drug not helping people at all, but it could be worth a try.

I don't remember the details, but there are coupons for insurance your prescribing doctor can give you. It's expensive because there is no generic.

I'm with Cigna, and Belsomra is in the top tier. I pay $40 for it, but since I take it every other day, it lasts 2 months. My doctor's office had to jump through some stupid required hoops for step therapy to get it approved.

Please tell me more about Belsomra. Do you also take Fibromyalgia Meds. I am on Lyrica and Trazadone. Having
alot of trouble with daytime fatigue so need to get off one of these Meds. Did your Rheumatologist order it or your PMD? I also have Cigna Ins secondary to Medicare. Thanks for your post. NaturalNancy

 

[jkennedy]

Hi, @NaturalNancy. I don't take fibro drugs. I mostly use supplements to try to control symptoms. I'm one of the lucky ones who can exercise without crashing, so exercise and stretching help me a lot as well as cold packs for inflammation.

The Meriva form of turmeric helps my pain although it's not a knock-out blow. The thing that helped me the most with fibro pain is edible marijuana, but it's not legal in TX, so I can only use it when I'm visiting family in Seattle, where it is legal and available through state-run stores.

My sleep doctor ordered the Belsomra for me and gave me a coupon. Good luck!