Atlanta Facility has recommendations for Sleep Issues in Patients with Addiction
Blog for Aug. 13 2009
Susan K. Blank, MD
Foundations Atlanta
Americans in general do not get enough sleep. Every night during prime time TV you will see innumerable commercials for sleep aids. The National Center for Sleep Disorders research suggests that 7-8 hours of sleep per night are required for maximum functioning, yet, according to the National Institute of Health, 70 million Americans do not get enough sleep on regular basis, with 40 % of adults in the USA sleeping less than 7 hours per night.
Sadly, patients in early recovery suffer even more. Some estimates are as high as 9 out of 10 patients in early recovery suffer from sleep deprivation. Symptoms of withdrawal, post-acute withdrawal coupled with the continued use of nicotine and caffeine make sleep problems even worse.
It is important that you talk with your healthcare provider about both your addiction and your sleep disorder. In the past, we used to tell folks to “just tough it out.” However, we now know that patients in early recovery do much better when they get adequate sleep to help with the healing of both their bodies and their minds.
It is very important that you be clear with your doctor about the type of sleep disturbance you are having.
- Do you have trouble falling asleep?
- Are you able to fall asleep without difficulty, but find yourself waking up every 60-90 minutes?
- Do you wake up earlier than you want and cannot go back to sleep?
- Are you waking up because you have to go to the bathroom?
- Are you having nightmares?
- Are talking or walking in your sleep?
- Does your partner complain that you snore?
Sleep disorders stem from a variety of causes, and, therefore, have a variety of solutions. It is very important that your doctor understand that you should not receive habit forming medications. Sedatives and hypnotics, as well as some of the newer sleep medications such as Ambien (zolpidem ) and Lunesta (eszopicione) are contraindicated in patients with the disease of addiction. Fortunately, there are still many other options.
What can you do to improve your sleep?
- Talk with your doctor about your symptoms
- Reserve the bedroom for sleeping
- Do not exercise too close to bedtime
- Avoid the use of caffeine and nicotine (and of course, no alcohol or other drugs)
- Have a light evening meal several hours before bedtime
- Try to increase your body temperature with a hot bath or exercise about 5-6 hours before bedtime
- Avoid watching the news, having stressful conversations or reading disturbing material before bedtime
Knowing that you require a good night’s sleep is important for your good mental and physical health. Getting that sleep often requires planning and medical assistance. Do not hesitate to discuss this issue with your doctor.
Good references for more information:
http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/howto.html
http://www.sleepeducation.com/Hygiene.aspx
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-hygiene