Insomnia When Glutened

[Guest BERNESES]

I'm wondering if anyone else has this problem and what they do. When I first started to really have my gluten intolerance symptoms, all I did was sleep when I was glutened. But I would say after I went gluten free, somehow it flip-flopped. Now when I'm glutened, I wake up at like 3 am. and cannot go back to sleep for like three hours. It makes for an absolutely miserable day on top of a glutening. And even if I'm free that day, I can't nap.

I do have some success with phenergan which my doc gave me for nausea (my worst symptom when glutened) but I hate to take it because it gives me major C. I thought about Benadryl, but that's anti-histamine as well and would probably give me C.

Ever since I got glutened about two weeks ago and then ended up with C Diff, it's been happening almost every night. Luckily I'm on summer vacation so I can be yucky, but it sucks.

What do other insomniac Celiac's do (normally I sleep pretty well)? It's bad enough that you feel hideous but then you can't even sleep it off! And I'm just getting more run down.

[ravenwoodglass]

I'm wondering if anyone else has this problem and what they do. When I first started to really have my gluten intolerance symptoms, all I did was sleep when I was glutened. But I would say after I went gluten free, somehow it flip-flopped. Now when I'm glutened, I wake up at like 3 am. and cannot go back to sleep for like three hours. It makes for an absolutely miserable day on top of a glutening. And even if I'm free that day, I can't nap.

I do have some success with phenergan which my doc gave me for nausea (my worst symptom when glutened) but I hate to take it because it gives me major C. I thought about Benadryl, but that's anti-histamine as well and would probably give me C.

Ever since I got glutened about two weeks ago and then ended up with C Diff, it's been happening almost every night. Luckily I'm on summer vacation so I can be yucky, but it sucks.

What do other insomniac Celiac's do (normally I sleep pretty well)? It's bad enough that you feel hideous but then you can't even sleep it off! And I'm just getting more run down.

I don't know if it would be suitable for you but my DS and I will use Nyquil.

[jerseyangel]

I don't have a solution, but if it's any comfort, I have the same problem. When I'm glutened, I fall asleep fine, but then I'm awake every couple of hours all night. I can't seem to get comfortable, get very hot, and just toss and turn a lot. I'm also worth nothing the next day--just tired and out of it. I have not tried taking anything for it--I'm kinda scared of the "PM" type medicines.

[penguin]

The active sleepy ingredient in nearly all of the OTC sleep meds (nyquil, excedrin pm, simply sleep, tylenol pm, etc) is benadryl. Seriously, check out the labels. It's ALL benadryl

[jerseyangel]

The active sleepy ingredient in nearly all of the OTC sleep meds (nyquil, excedrin pm, simply sleep, tylenol pm, etc) is benadryl. Seriously, check out the labels. It's ALL benadryl

I didn't know that! I guess as long as I hadn't taken a Claritan that day, it would be ok to try. I wouldn't mind something to take the edge off.

[penguin]

I didn't know that! I guess as long as I hadn't taken a Claritan that day, it would be ok to try. I wouldn't mind something to take the edge off.

Claratin and benadryl don't interact, they work on the body differently

[jerseyangel]

Claratin and benadryl don't interact, they work on the body differently

Ok---Cool!

[Byte Me]

Just be aware that eventually benadryl will have a rebound effect if you take it too often, and tolerance to it can build quickly. I was using it to sleep and for my anxiety for a while, and without realizing it, after a few weeks it was just making everything 100x worse. I actually went through withdrawal symptoms when I realized what was happening and stopped taking it... shakes, tremors, crying, dizziness, nauseated, my limbs would jerk inadvertently while trying to fall asleep.. I sort of felt like I had my finger stuck in an electrical socket all day long. It was horrible.

Of course, I must mention that I was really, REALLY stupid about taking it.. I called my pharmacist first to find out if you could overdose on benadryl, and when she told me no, I took the amount I needed to get to sleep, which was WAY higher than anyone has any business taking. I was up to about 12 pills a night just to get a little drowsy so that I could fall asleep.. but I did start out just taking 1.

Anyway, all that was before going gluten-free. Since, I still get occasional insomnia that lasts for days sometimes. If you have an understanding GP, s/he may prescribe temazepam aka Restoril. It's a short-acting benzodiazepine. If that doesn't work, or stops working, Klonopin should do the trick. Right now, I'm using Klonopin for my insomnia, and I only need it about 3-4 nights a month and I get good, DEEP sleep.

[elonwy]

I take Sonata. I get really bad insomnia when glutened, had it my whole life really, nothing worse than being exhausted and unable to sleep. Sonata is a prescription sleep aid that is non-addictive and very mild. Unlike other sleep aids, as long as you get four hours on it, you don't wake up groggy. You take it 20 minutes before you want to sleep and then try to relax, and you're out for the night.

I can tell when I'm not going to be able to sleep, I get this tight feeling around my eyes and my head feels detached but busy. My insomnia is pretty much gone except for the accidental gluten episode, so I rarely use it anymore, but its great. I don't like the way Pseudoephedrine products make me feel. I'd rather not sleep.

Elonwy

[Sarah8793]

I know this sounds simplistic, but I find that if I eat a banana and something with protein, like almonds, right before going to sleep, it helps. And if I wake up and then have insomnia, I just eat then and go back to sleep.

[drjmarkusic]

I'm wondering if anyone else has this problem and what they do. When I first started to really have my gluten intolerance symptoms, all I did was sleep when I was glutened. But I would say after I went gluten free, somehow it flip-flopped. Now when I'm glutened, I wake up at like 3 am. and cannot go back to sleep for like three hours. It makes for an absolutely miserable day on top of a glutening. And even if I'm free that day, I can't nap.

I do have some success with phenergan which my doc gave me for nausea (my worst symptom when glutened) but I hate to take it because it gives me major C. I thought about Benadryl, but that's anti-histamine as well and would probably give me C.

Ever since I got glutened about two weeks ago and then ended up with C Diff, it's been happening almost every night. Luckily I'm on summer vacation so I can be yucky, but it sucks.

What do other insomniac Celiac's do (normally I sleep pretty well)? It's bad enough that you feel hideous but then you can't even sleep it off! And I'm just getting more run down.

Before I went gluten-free I could sleep all night long with no type of Insomnia. However, since I've been gluten-free I have sleeping problems such as not going to sleep at all. I'm on 100mg of Trazodone and it works great, I take the medication about 9 1/2 hours before I am to awaken and when I wake up I feel completely rested. I have no side effects of the medication. Somewhere in this thread it was mentioned that if another medication doesn't work use Klonopin. I don't suggest it. Klonopin is for anxiety and yes it will help one to go to sleep but is hightly addictive and when it's time to come off of it because it no longer works for sleep there are many irritating, agitating, frustrating side effects that renders individuals not being able to stand up straight let alone drive. Klonopin is not a sleep medication its purpose is for anxiety disorders. Jim

[glutenfreeme]

I have had chronic sleep issues for most of my life. I believe it is due to the anxiety caused by getting the flu symptoms related to gluten intolerance. Being a Celiac, I now follow a pretty strict gluten-free diet, but do get derailed whenever I eat out. On those nights I take 5-10 mg of Ambien. I don't know if it would work for you b/c if you are taking it at 3 AM You'd most likely still be groggy when waking for work as it needs a good 6-8 hours. I feel your pain though! Whatever you do, don't watch TV news. Try a book, a classic, a really really boring one and keep a hot bottle on your tummy.

Best of luck, Heather

[Tay]

I have the same problem when glutened. I feel like there is a toxin in my body so that cytokines are produced and they are irritating so that I cannot relax. Lately, I have been getting up and drinking warm milk, eating a cookie and reading, then going back to sleep. This helps. Sorry and I too feel your pain! Taylor

[Megan B]

I have the same problem when glutened. I feel like there is a toxin in my body so that cytokines are produced and they are irritating so that I cannot relax. Lately, I have been getting up and drinking warm milk, eating a cookie and reading, then going back to sleep. This helps. Sorry and I too feel your pain! Taylor

Thanks for mentioning this. I am new to gluten-free living. I don't test for Celiac but I have HORRIBLE insomnia and buzzing hyperactivity when I eat gluten stuff. (and a mess of other symptoms too) I had not seen this listed as a symptom on anything I had yet read, but it is one of the first and possibly most irritating symptoms in my gluten reaction.

The "buzzing" starts slowly, is noticable in about 2 hours after dinner at the offending restaurant, peaks at about 10 hours and then drops out quickly. Then I start getting cramps and gas. At this point I can sleep. (Now that the sun is up!) If I don't sleep, I'm irritable and emotionally exhausted. (Even if I take the sonata I still feel the mood effects.) It is very predicatable although the amount of gluten seems to change the severity and the time of things.

I havn't found anyhting better than Sonata. From other posts on this site I am going to try Magnesium which i take anyway. I have also found Calcium to be helpful. Sometimes jumping jacks help. No, I am not kidding!

--Good night all

[Viola 1]

I get up, have a glass of wine and read for awhile, then sleep the rest of the night.

[Rebecca47]

I too can't sleep if i have glutened myself This is terrible as you know because it drives me crazy.

Infact last night I did not sleep well at all !!! I just toss and turn and check the clock and only a little time passes.

[blueeyedmanda]

I try Tylenol PM, most of that time it helps, I tried this "fast-acting" sleep pill but I was still WIDE awake hours later plus I got very jumpy and it made my heart race, it was enough for me to never try it again.

[jacqui]

Hi, this is my first time using the forum. I was dx'd Celiac April 2006, but Labor day weekend is when the poop hit the fan so to say(that Friday). I woke up walking like a drunk, absolutely brain dead and beyond tired. I actually slept from Sept. through ~February 2006 more than 20 hours a day. If my husband didn't wake me to eat I would keep on sleeping. Saw many doc's by this time and all either said it's related to my age and slowing metabolism (I was 37y/o and I am on Levoxyl for controlled Hashimoto), severe depression, lack of exercise, IBS...I went from 120 pounds to 153 Jan. 2006!!!(I'm 5'). I joined weight watchers and basically cut out gluten b/c carbs use too many points, WITHOUT knowing I had celiac disease. Once I was on WW for a month or so I was able to stay awake, but tired and definite BRAIN FOG. Did not relate the 2. I am still very tired and did a sleep study that says I have insomnia. I go from sleeping average (for me) to not sleeping. I wouldn't mind advice on sleep aids. I already do the non-medication stuff and my doc will not prescribe anything. Also, I am strict with the gluten free diet and still have lots of junk going on. Insomniac/William Tell