Is 5-htp plus Chantix and dilaudid safe

[julesy]

Hi, I don't know if this is the right place to post, but hopefully someone can help (not really finding info via google). I have terrible insomnia, which is probably made worse by the dilaudid I take for pain. I've also just started Chantix to stop smoking. My dr will not prescribe anything for sleep because of the dilaudid (which foes not make me sleepy). I've tried several otc things which don't work, as well as melatonin. I read 5-htp can help but am wondering about interactions. I don't really understand dopamine seratonine stuff.

If anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it. I am cutting down on my dose of dilaudid to see if that helps, which also means my pain is worse, and that affects my sleep. I'm a little desperate at this point. Thanks for any help.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

5-HTP is fine to take with hydromorphone (Dilaudid), but I'm not so sure about varenicline (Chantix). Varenicline is a nicotinic receptor partial agonist - it stimulates nicotine receptors more weakly than nicotine itself does, but Varenicline also acts as an agonist at 5-HT3 receptors. 5-HTP is a precursor to serotonin and melatonin. Because taking 5-HTP would give you more serotonin, I'm not sure if it is safe to take with varenicline since it affects serotonin receptors. It probably depends on how much you are taking of each. I would ask your doctor before taking it. Personally I didn't find 5-HTP that helpful for sleep, but everyone's different.

Varenicline can cause or worsen insomnia.

How much melatonin did you try? The dose makes a big difference (too much can worsen insomnia strangely).

Other ideas for sleep:
- lots of magnesium with calcium
- kava
- valerian (or hops + valerian)
- sleep music/binaural beats

I would try these before OTC drugs, but I'm wondering which OTC drugs you've tried?

 

[jpgrdnr]

Basically its a double whammy with cigarettes and champix in terms of sleep. You could not take champix and quit cigs by tampering. I've done it. Champix prescribed?
If a doc is prescribing you Champix then you are a heavy smoker. Consider rehab? The only thing I could see to quit cigs is heavy exercise and possibly acupuncture.

I wouldn't reduce use of morphone. Basically if you are serious about quitting smoking GL, withdrawal from nico is a bitch, you are in for weeks of insomnia/vivid dreams nightmares, and borderline psychosis. IE talk to your doctor

 

[julesy]

Hey, thanks for the info. I've actually never tried kava so am going to look into that. Since I'm on chemo I just have to make sure there are no interactions. I've actually tried valerian but no results. Otc stuff I've tried - benadryl (makes me wired), advil and tylenol pm, and nyquil. None of them do a thing for me.

I also have a condition called hyperparathyroidism and my endocrinologist believes it's causing the insomnia. I'm going to have surgery, soon hopefully, but in the meantime he's going to try me on a new drug and see if it helps some of the symptoms. Just going through all the insurance approvals and such now for it. Oh! And I've been taking 30 mg melatonin. Do you think that's too much?

And do people really go to rehab just for smoking cigarettes? I'd never heard of such a thing but I guessbit's an addiction like any other.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

How much diphenhydramine (Benadryl) did you take? Low doses (like 20-50mg) are best for sedation, high doses are stimulating.

30mg melatonin would definitely be way too much for me, that would make me wake up lots through the night and have crazy intense dreams. The amount that works best varies from person to person, but try like 2-3mg.

I didn't find valerian to do anything either, but mentioned it because a lot of people seem to. I think my insomnia is caused by my endocrine problems too.

There is a quitting smoking thread here you might want to check out.