Dear Dr Rosenberg,

I have a chronic sinus condition. I started taking an over the counter medication called Sudafed. It works great, but I find I am having trouble falling asleep. Can Sudafed cause insomnia?

Yes, most definitely! Sudafed contains Pseudo-Ephedrine. It is a synthetic form of Ephedra. The natural form having been removed from the market. It is very stimulating and can cause Insomnia. It is present in numerous OTC sinus and cold preparations. I would advise, that you stop it for a few nights; allow your body to metabolize it and see if your sleep returns to normal.

Dear Dr Rosenberg,

My 9 year old son wets the bed about four times a week. Our Pediatrician suggested we try a medication called Imipramine to help him. I am not happy about putting him on medication. Are there other ways to deal with this problem?

Yes indeed. First, be aware that the majority of Bed Wetters stop by the age of 12 years old. There are other treatments available that do not require medications. Motivational therapy where the child get a star on a calendar for every dry night and a book after one week is an example. There are also bladder training exercises that increase the bladders capacity to hold urine. Finally, there are alarms available that wake the child when bed wetting is first detected. Talk to your health care provider about these options.

Dear Dr Rosenberg,

I have Sleep Apnea and cannot wear one of the CPAP mask. I have tried, but just cannot tolerate it. I was told that an oral appliance was a reasonable alternative .My doctor wants me to see a Dentist in town who is trained in fitting people for these devices. However, I saw a oral device on the Internet for less than $100. Should I give that a try and save money?

The Oral Dental Appliances on the Internet are made of thermoplastic material. Basically, you boil them yourself and bite down to secure a fit. This is done by the individual without any professional guidance. In a recent study, these were compared to the custom made Oral Dental Appliances. The failure rate to improve Sleep Apnea in the non custom devices was in excess of 80%. The custom devices however, succeeded in over 80% of patients. Therefore, it was the conclusion of the authors that these devices are not acceptable alternatives for the treatment of Sleep Apnea.

Dear Dr Rosenberg,

I have had nightmares, since childhood. What is considered abnormal in terms of frequency of nightmares?

Chronic Nightmare Disorders is defined by a frequency of one or more nightmares per week. It occurs in about 5% of the population. It is defined by the dream being so disturbing, that it awakens you. In many cases, it leads to so much anxiety about sleep; that it results in Insomnia. If this sounds like you, then I recommend you bring it to the attention of your Health Care Provider

Dr. Robert Rosenberg, Board Certified Sleep Medicine Specialist, will answer readers’ questions by incorporating them in furture columns.  Contact him at askthesleepdoc@yahoo.com or via mail at the Sleep Disorders Center of Sedona, 210 S. Sunset drive, suite A-1, sedona, AZ 86336.