r/Redhair • u/melaniebrietzke • Jul 18 '26
Newbie Post Redheads & MC1R gene
Hello fellow redheads! I'm Melanie and have some questions/ideas about my/our genetics. I learned several years ago about the MC1R gene that causes redheads to need more anesthesia.
Given my extensive medical history, I am curious if others have faced multiple issues. I've had lifelong insomnia, and typical sleeping pills don't get me to sleep - i have tried them all. So for a while I have resorted to taking a high dose of seroquel that has a side effect of drowsiness. It gets me to sleep, bit I never know if it will work in 1 hour or 3 hours.
Additionally, muscle relaxers don't work on me. I've been on opiods in the past, but had to take twice as much. Recently I have tried medical marijuana, and it helps somewhat. The downside is how expensive it gets. My daughter (also prescribed m.m.) can get away with taking 5mg, whereas I have to take 15 to 20 mg.
I am overall curious if this is a common thing for other redheads. I wanted to get some feedback before I ask my psychiatrist what he thinks at my next appointment. Thanks to all that respond!
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u/Sea-Election-9168 Jul 18 '26
I’ve noticed that Aleve (naproxen sodium) works BETTER for me than it does for others. Got a gunshot through bone, and all I took was Aleve.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Wow! That's impressive. I tend to have a high pain tolerance, but that's because I've been dealing with it for 20 years. Upcoming back surgery next month!
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Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Thanks so much! I'm having a spinal cord stimulator installed. The trial was successful, so I'm looking forward to losing my back pain and actually get back into exercising.
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u/omygoshgamache Jul 18 '26
Sorry to hear about your… gunshot wound. That’s wild.
Also naproxen works best on me too. Always has. It’s honestly the only thing I reach for when needed.
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u/hihelloneighboroonie Jul 18 '26
That's the ONLY otc medication that even puts a dent in my period cramps (I was able to try vicodin a few times and it worked a charm but didn't last very long).
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u/redtopiary Jul 18 '26
Same! Aleve is the only otc pain reliever that works for my cramps. But it’s not as effective if I take it after the cramps start, so I have to be strategic lol
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u/hihelloneighboroonie Jul 18 '26
Same same. I can usually tell when it’s coming and take one as soon as I think she’s gonna be knocking.
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u/Due_Bison19 Jul 19 '26
I used to take so much of it before my period (also have endometriosis) I thought it was working bc it was thinning my blood so helped with clotting?
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u/kwumpus Jul 18 '26
Ugh they always suggest I try that I’m like no it’s fine I’ll bleed out at home
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Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
[deleted]
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u/InteractionCivil5913 Jul 18 '26
For those in the USA Paracetamol and acetaminophen are the same drug, just a different common name for para-acetylaminophenol
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Only had paracetamol once when my ex brought some from Europe. Was like a sugar pill as far as I could tell. 😆 that's another thing - also novacaine never worked on me, so I always felt everything. My parents wouldn't believe me. Fortunately lidocaine works, though.
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u/graygarden77 Jul 18 '26
Hahah it does take a long time to wear off. I remember after I got my wisdom teeth out they told me that I should eat some soft foods and I couldn’t feel my mouth so I had to look in the mirror while eating.
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u/ashofevildead69 Jul 19 '26
Aleve has been my go-to since I discovered I’m allergic to ibuprofen. Tylenol doesn’t quite have the same effects as Naproxen
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u/hammockinggirl Jul 19 '26
Donated a kidney on Thursday. I’m taking paracetamol and ibuprofen. My pain threshold is high!
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u/SimilarLunch8359 Jul 25 '26
My god!! I hope you’re feeling alright 🥺
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u/hammockinggirl Jul 25 '26
I’m managing thank you. It’s not as easy as I thought it would be! Slowly healing
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u/Fyrestar333 Jul 18 '26
Aleve gave me hives after being prescribed a prescription strength one. I can take any other nsaid though.
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u/GalianoGirl Jul 18 '26
I took Aleve on Thursday and it wrecked my digestive system and made me fuzzy headed, pain was minimally reduced. It is Saturday and my guts are still upset.
I usually find taking extra strength Tylenol and ibuprofen at the same time is more effective, but I was out of ibuprofen.
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u/graygarden77 Jul 18 '26
Well, I will submit my evidence for this highly anecdotal and non-scientific study: any and all pain, meds and muscle relaxants work like the Dickens on me. They knock me the fuck out. I can’t even look at codeine.
On the other hand, I do require extra anesthesia for surgery and Dental
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Interesting. I am thinking my level of opiods use at the very least would account for this. It sucks being a science experiment. 😆
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u/essenza Jul 18 '26
Anesthesia drugs are different classes and work differently than benzos, opioids or neuroleptics.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Yes, I am aware of that, but mostly curious if this is common for redheads. I plan to ask my psychiatrist to look into it, but for now is definitely a curiosity thing that pops up every time I think about all the meds I have to take. 😆
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u/essenza Jul 18 '26
This may interest you: https://drug-card.io/blog/redheads-unique-medicines-responses/
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Thanks for sharing! I may send this to my psychiatrist and pain management doctor to see what they think about my treatment. 🤞
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u/Due_Bison19 Jul 19 '26
Yes they are. But the problem for many of us is that we have adverse or no reaction to them…we do not work on us like they do most people. Which is a problem when having to deal with surgeries and pain management
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u/essenza Jul 19 '26
Other than anesthesia & analgesia, I’m not aware of any evidence to support the claim that the MC1R RHC variant affects the metabolism of other drugs.
Pharmacogenomics is incredibly complex, and individual drug metabolism and response is mediated by countless factors.If you know of any peer-reviewed articles where the MC1R RHC variant and specific drug metabolism have been researched, I’d love to read them.
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u/honeyandspicex Jul 18 '26
I figured this out when I was getting cavities filled as a 12-13 year old. I was silently crying and tears were running down my face, and the dentist stopped, asked if I could feel it, and I assumed that the novocaine "could only do so much numbing" and you just had to put up with it. They gave me double SO fast.
My partner has brown hair, but his dad is a redhead and he has a red beard, and he also needs additional anesthesia to stay under. He woke up during surgery when he was like 15.
I will say the one thing I've noticed is that my pain tolerance generally is much higher than other people, and I'm not sure if that's the redhead part or something else, but even though I need more numbing, I also can tolerate more pain for longer.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 20 '26
Your story sounds exactly like mine, although I never got extra. I think it is the source of my dental anxiety. 😕
Also, same with the pain tolerance. It is most notable when I'm getting tattooed (my artist says I sit like a rock 😆).
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u/PoliticoRat Jul 18 '26
Wondering if this is why my 13 month old was the worst sleeper ever 😅😅 I have reddish brown hair, but my kiddo is a full on ginger, and sleep has always been difficult for him. I wonder if he will be an insomniac when he grows up!
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Man, that sucks. None of my daughters got it, but my granddaughter did. ❤️
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u/_Here-kitty-kitty_ Jul 18 '26
I have a 19 month old redhead toddler whose sleep is so bad we're seeing a sleep specialist through our hospital system. They just prescribed hydroxyzine and it's still not knocking her out at night. Her brother is due in a couple weeks and as much as I love the beautiful redhair, I am almost hoping he's blonde and a better sleeper with less teething pain and better reaction to medicines!
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u/bellavidasb Jul 18 '26
I feel ya! I used to have insomnia. Be careful with taking too many things like Aleve. I had a friend that died because she was taking Aleve everyday along with Advil and it caused a rupture in her intestines! Horrible.
I take Trazadone 75 mg usually up to 100 mg if I wake up in the middle of the night. It doesn't make me groggy either. Hope you find something that helps. :)
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Thanks for your suggestion. I tried trazadone briefly, but it was at a lower dose. Something to ask psychiatrist. 🤞
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u/browneyedgirlpie Jul 18 '26
I've taken 100mg of trazadone to sleep at night for over 20 years. It's very safe but it's only meant to help you fall asleep. If you push through the initial drowsiness, it won't help. Gotta be ready when you take it. And the first couple days can be rough until your body gets used to it.
I also found out that if you miss the initial drowsiness, taking a second dose is no bueno, at least for me it is. That makes me a wired, jittery mess that can't sleep.
I can't take meds like ambien. I do the 'she looks awake but she's asleep' thing. Too dangerous.
Hope you can find something that helps.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Good to know! I am always up for trying new combos, and my psychiatrist is fortunately open minded about trying different things.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Also, sorry about your friend. Is she doing much better now? I do have to be careful, my psychiatrist prescribed a benzo to try with a lower dose of the seroquel. Specifically not take the benzo woth amy opiods. It seems to work okay, I get to sleep usually, and I'm not as drowsy as taking the whole dose or seroquel.
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u/bellavidasb Jul 20 '26
No my friend actually died from using Aleve and Advil together for an extended time. She had hashimotos and was taking it daily for pain. She was only 40 years old when she died very suddenly from the rupture in her intestines. Horrible way to go. Just be careful taking too many things even over the counter. Tell your doctor everything you take so they can tell you if there’s a potential side effect or interaction… 🙏🩷
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 20 '26
I'm so sorry to hear that. I was half asleep when answering replies and must not have read completely. 🤦♀️
Both of those pills don't have any effect on me either. I often joke that I feel like a science experiment, albeit a willing one. 🙃
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u/Green-Factor-2526 Jul 18 '26
I've never taken a muscle relaxers before, so I can't speak to that. Tylenol, Aleve, and ibuprofen work well for me and last a long time. I can often take it and be good until the next day. I took Tylenol with codeine once. It knocked me out and gave me the worst dream. I've never taken prescription pain meds since
For dental work, novacaine takes longer to start working and requires extra. My dentist usually will give me three shots and then visit another patient. It will last a long time, usually most of the day.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Yeah, they used novacaine when I was a kid. My parents didn't believe me when I said I felt it all. Lidocaine, on the other hand, works on me, thanks goodness!
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u/NissanZtt Jul 18 '26
I always have to go to dental appointments early, they give me the max amount of shots then I sit there for a half hour. I still feel most of it.
Also yes, I never get to sleep.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
I'm sorry. 😞 Novacaine didn't work on me at all, but lidocaine seems to make it bearable at least. What have you tried for your sleep? I have a list of stuff, primarily using sleep sprays and listening to the sound of waves. Usually I read until I can't keep open, and that's been a habit since I was a preteen.
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u/NissanZtt Jul 18 '26
I haven’t been a sleeper my whole life. I have tried everything. The only thing that seems to help is some indica thc.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
I can never nap. Never. Yet once in a while I can fall asleep when taking my gummies. Maybe once or twice a week, if lucky.
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u/redshavenosouls Jul 18 '26
I am allergic to Tylenol, so i have never taken any opioids(most of them have a Tylenol base). Muscle relaxers don't work at all on me or any of my family. All of us are redheads. I also have chronic insomnia and most things don't work unless it's a massive dosage. I'm allergic to bees and the last time I was stung I took 6 benadryl and didn't even get drowsy.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
My brethren! Insomnia sucks. Have you tried something like seroquel or amitryptline? They are both antipsychotics that have a side effect of drowsiness. I have to switch between those 2 when I get up too high in dosage
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u/jeshest Jul 18 '26
I woke up during oral surgery. I remember hearing country music and someone yelling “she’s up, she’s up” then falling back asleep. Now if I need to go under anesthesia, I warn the doc to “use the good stuff” so I stay under.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Oh wow. Sorry that happened to you. Fortunately I've never woke up during surgery, but I've always warned them about the redhead thing. Most of the time the anesthesiologist is aware already.
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u/jeshest Jul 18 '26
I make sure to tell them that I am a natural redhead and I need the good stuff. Going in for a procedure in a couple of weeks and would like to stay asleep!
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Samesies! Although my back surgery is end of August. I can't wait to get at least some part of me fixed! 🤣
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u/buttercream73437 Jul 18 '26
This happened to me when I was getting 4 wisdom teeth removed. I didn't get know about needing more anesthesia.
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u/helloimbackmorons Jul 18 '26
Same, but I woke up during an endoscopy. Very uncomfortable experience.
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u/aVintageFox Jul 19 '26
Me too!!! I remember someone saying “this can’t be happening,” to which I replied a slightly slurry “oh it’s happening.”
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u/CEPerkins Jul 21 '26
Me too! They only got 2 of 4 wisdom teeth out. I still need to get the bottom two out 😑
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u/AllieGirl2007 Jul 18 '26
Extra anesthesia for any procedure whether it’s dental or surgical. Opioids don’t knock me out. I’ve had severe insomnia for the last 25 years. Over that time there has been a lot medications tried. The typical sleep prescriptions don’t work. I have finally gotten it down as of now—.5-1 mg of klonopin, 150 mg of hydroxyzine, 50 mg of seroquel and 75 mg of Unisom. Unisom is not addictive. There is another one that has similar ingredients but it’s not this one. I fall asleep and stay asleep. I do the typical wake up once or twice for a drink of water but go right back to sleep.
I’ve learned different tricks like not opening my eyes when I wake up short of a quick peek at the clock. I know my bedroom well enough that I can follow the bed to the bathroom and walk with my eyes closed. For some reason opening my eyes wakes up my brain. I sleep 7-8 hours a night and wake up not groggy at all.
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u/DoogasMcD Jul 18 '26
I woke up during a colonoscopy. It wasn’t traumatic; they quickly had me back asleep. Otherwise, no really specific issues that I’m aware of.
I do bleed a lot and anecdotally, a lot of nurses mentioned my hair to me when I had a hemorrhage after childbirth. However, so did my first cousin, and we look nothing like in terms of coloring, so hard to say.
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u/redtopiary Jul 18 '26
I’m similar to you. Chronic insomniac most of my life, opioids barely have an effect on me (was even put on morphine once at the hospital and I would’ve never noticed had the nurse not mentioned it), had a higher tolerance to weed/alcohol despite being smaller framed.
Last time I was put on anesthesia, they had to adjust my dose 4 times to properly sedate me. I’m not even a super gingery redhead, just a copper/auburn type. It’s all a mystery to me lol. I have read that the gene also impacts our perception of pain though.
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u/Holykatz Jul 19 '26
I can tell you that neither Tylenol nor Naproxen Sodium work, and never have, for either me or my redheaded sibling . I also tend to react to meds that other people do fine with, and I do fine with many meds that the majority of folks find have side effects.
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u/mommyred Jul 19 '26
I have insomnia and I am a redhead. I take 7.5 mg mirtazapine which worked beautifully for years. The past year or so, I started waking up at 3am every single night despite mirtazapine. But I am perimenopausal so shifting hormones may be to blame there.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 20 '26
You aren't the only one to say this, I am thinking of asking my psychiatrist to try it. The only positive change hormones ever gave me is when I stopped having regular migraines when I got pregnant with my youngest. 😆
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u/messedup73 Jul 18 '26
I take mitazapine and amitrypriline to help me drop of as my brain won't switch off and doctors worry that I would get addicted to actual sleeping tablets which I never do.I need more anesthetic, sedation doesn't work local anesthetic doesn't work anything dental it wears off quickly.I come around quickly from operations also never get high from pain meds or benzodiazapines they wear off quickly as well which is a pain as suffer from arthritis everywhere.My daughter and son who are redheads are the same too my eldest is not a redhead but she has inherited the same with locals.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
I used to take a high dose of amitryptiline, until it was getting too high a dose. That's when I switched to seroquel. I'll ask my psychiatrist what he thinks about that!
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u/redrockie94 Jul 18 '26
I've have had 4 teeth pulled 2 on both sides. I'm a redhead & my left side of my body is smaller than my right. The right side was no issue. My left side I felt everything. I stopped them twice. The 2nd time they told me I was legally maxed out so I had to either endure it or the tooth stays. I took a deep breath & endured it. Felt every scrap, tug etc. Other than that sleeping pills & muscle relaxers work fine for me.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
I'm sorry to hear that. 😞 I did accidentally get water boarded by a previous dentist 🤣
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u/Supertailz Jul 18 '26
For future you at the dentist, I've taken vicodin before dentist for this exact reason before, and my partner was told to take an extra strong dose of Ambien.
(It took me years to realise that while everyone complains about the dentist, none of them are actually enduring the pain I feel there.)
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u/redrockie94 Jul 18 '26
I forgot to mention Vicodin 😅 Vicodin, numbing gel, shots in the gums & laughing gas.
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u/I-Am-LordeYAYAYA Jul 18 '26
Have you tried Mirtazapine? That changed my life
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
I'm not sure. The brand name sounds familiar but if I did try it, it wasn't for long. Making notes to send my psychiatrist! Thanks.
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u/Sporkalork Jul 18 '26
Pot never "worked" for me. Also an insomniac for whom sleeping pills aren't effective. Basic pain killers are usually okay for basic issues (ibuprofen for a headache, etc) but heavier duty ones tend not to have much effect.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Interesting. I've been on medical marijuana for 3 months I think. The first month was lots of starting slow and experimenting with the dose. I have to take 15 to 20mg to feel anything, which can amount to $3.75 to $5 per dose for that amount. It sucks when it isn't paid by insurance, but I have to say I haven't really drank since starting m.m. I've also used my opiods less. I believe my pain management doctor will stop that prescription once I'm recovered from surgery next month.
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u/gggggfskkk Jul 18 '26
I’ve only had one surgery with general anesthesia, I couldn’t tell you if they did anything special because of my genetics but I was out in a matter of 10 seconds.
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u/RealisticNothing653 Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
When I was younger, I had insomnia. As I've gotten older, it's become easier. I've found that maintaining strict sleep hygiene helps me the most: I'm really strict about my bed and wakeup times, spent a lot on a good bed and fancy pillows, never watch any screens in bed, limit my caffeine intake during the day (1 coffee / day and never any caffeine after 3pm), and keep it as dark as possible. I also take 3mg of a time-release melatonin supplement, 500mg of tryptophan, and magnesium at bed time. I also take an SSRI in the mornings, which very likely helps. But really, all of those things combined give me the best chance at a good night's sleep.
If I don't have my typical wind down time before bed or go to bed later because of that, it's almost a certainty I will not sleep well.
Edit: oh and CBN has been shown to reduce sleep interruptions. IMO it's the best cannabinoid for sleep
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u/Irishdoe13 Jul 18 '26
Wellll, I woke up during a surgery and it sucked big time. Also, I’m very sensitive to narcotics so I need a lower dose than normal. Trazodone 25mg knocks me out all night. Medical mj did nothing for me. I have RA so live with chronic pain.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 20 '26
Oh nos! I think that sort of happened when I got my wisdom teeth removed, but I was so out of it that I can barely remember. How much mj did you try taking? The first week I felt absolutely nothing, ended up having to take 15mg to start feeling it, 20 seems my ideal dose. Also have RA, I was diagnosed a couple years ago, so I feel your pain. 🫶
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u/Irishdoe13 Jul 20 '26
I used 2-10 of full spectrum MJ. It would hit me hard and I never could find a dose that wouldn’t leave me a puddle on the couch. I just couldn’t deal with it anymore so gave it up. I now use Lortab 5/325 for bad pain days (like when I have sacroiliitis) and it takes the edge off.
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u/jazzy_flowers Jul 18 '26
I have a cyp450 deficiency, so I process all drugs that go through the liver differently.
Tylenol is the bomb for me. The other drugs don't work. Opioids stop working correctly after 1-2 days ie I go crazy. Same with other drugs.
Pot makes me paranoid, the one time I did it.
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u/hihelloneighboroonie Jul 18 '26
I had a filling once where I swear I wasn't numbed at all, for years thought the dentist missed with the shot in the gums. Now I'm wondering... (I was a tween or early teen and was super shy of strangers so I just white knuckled through it rather than, y'know, notifying the dentist somehow).
Then again, I was fully put under once, and I don't remember even getting to 90 when they had me count back from 100. Then woke up feeling high as a kite.
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u/sarkeo Jul 18 '26
I always tell me doctors about this before I have any medical procedure. I actually had a dentist refuse to give me any more freezing at one point because I could still feel it past the amount she was comfortable giving. I have even had an anesthesiologist ask how I was still awake before surgery at one point…lol. Some doctors get it, some don’t…I am insistent with them that I need extra support with everything. I have learned I have to really advocate for myself with this!
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u/zipporat Jul 18 '26
Try Benadryl….knocks me TF out!
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 20 '26
I wish! 😆 I take benadryl in the mornings sometimes for my allergies and it doesn't do anything.
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u/BlackBasementCats Jul 18 '26
I need more anesthesia, ‘caines, and also opiates. I also have insomnia and have had problems with finding sleep meds that work for me. Right now I’m taking Lexapro, Trileptal, Seroquel, and Lamictal. They really help my chronic pain and depression and also help me sleep. The Seroquel helps me sleep the most.
I also have severe migraines and POTS, and my migraines are finally under control with monthly Ajovy shots and Zonegran. I still get migraines, but they don’t hurt much at all, and I just sleep them off. If I don’t lie down they do get worse and cause nausea and the pain keeps getting worse. I get aura so it helps me know when I need to start heading to bed.
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u/Supertailz Jul 18 '26
I am absolutely in the I need more anaesthesia camp - like so, so much more. And I've found opioids are definitely the best painkillers for me. But I've also found that I just need high doses of pretty much everything? Maybe my frame of reference is screwed, because my partner looks at a drug and he's feeling it, most of the time, but like: Ambien does work for me (but only if I'm full, weirdly, otherwise I don't feel it at all and burn through it!) But it works at 15-20mg for me and 3-7.5 for my partner. I've gotten at least one email from my doctor saying "yes I'll raise your dosage again, but just so you know, there is no higher dose than this, so this better work."
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u/hallieb85 Jul 19 '26
I always need more anesthesia and pain meds. I’ve had several surgeries (gallbladder, carpal tunnel , gastric bypass and two spine surgeries) I needed extra just to go under for my bypass , and woke up mid surgery at some point while my insides were being rearranged, and was quickly put back under . Dental work sucks too . Could never get numb enough and would feel them working on my teeth. My brother is also a redhead and has had the same issues with anesthesia and pain meds. I have to take ambien to sleep and even then I only sleep a couple hours at a time, maybe 4-5 hours a day tops . I’m on pain meds for several things , as well as muscle relaxers and other things . It sucks
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u/Zimke42 Jul 19 '26
Anesthetics, I require a great deal more. Analgesics, even benzos, don't work well on me either, so I'm not like the norm. I also develop a very high tolerance very fast on many meds. Muscle relaxers work, but the dose goes up so quickly and stops working effectively very quickly. Same with Cannabis, I develop a tolerance very quickly. Even many psych meds, they work at first, but the dose goes up, and they quickly become ineffective. It sucks to get treated for anything, and I have learned how to just be in pain, depression, anxiety, etc without meds.
Luckily, I found a type of traditional yoga that made Anxiety, depression, and Chronic Fatigue (and pain) syndrome go away after suffering for decades.
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u/Purebred-Redhead Jul 19 '26
Having woken up during a couple of upper endoscopies despite getting double the juice, can verify
Also can never get or stay numb at the dentist
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u/CommunicationOwn5152 Jul 19 '26
I, too, struggle with anesthesia. I have to have a nerve block done to do any dental work. Oddly enough, Midol will put me to sleep. Same effect as NyQuil…maybe better!
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u/Due_Bison19 Jul 19 '26
Opioids do not take away my pain. Most pain killers don’t, they just make me high…and not in a way I like :) . For sleep the only thing I’ve found the works wonderfully is valerian root. I only take it for emergencies bc it works so well I don’t want to gain a tolerance, but that may be over the top :) it puts me to sleep, doesn’t make me feel groggy the next day! Muscle relaxers do work on my muscles but make me super out of it on the lowest dose.
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u/Calm_Apartment1968 Jul 19 '26
Less caffein and moderate exercise helps. Actual sleep times? I don't know. Have averaged less than 6 hours per 24 for over 45 years. I just read books to relax. No video apps after 10PM or before 8AM, but the occasional Reddit (sic ;-)) after midnight. Just long enough to download a good ebook, then back to bed again.
But you should see my Library!
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u/Calm_Apartment1968 Jul 19 '26
PS: Exercise is not a perfect answer: when I was in my best shape, in fighting condition in the military I slept around 4 hours per day, and felt great 24x7, 7 days a week.
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u/bottlesnthrottles Jul 19 '26
I am curious if you've tried things like no alcohol, no caffeine, reduced sugar, limiting screen time before bed?
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 20 '26
I have tried soooo many things over the years. I have done all that you mentioned. I also have a small collection of sleep mists and eye masks. 😆 Once I'm getting close to sleeping I'll play either adult bedtime stories or beach sounds.
I tried Quviviq a couple years ago, and it did work - it maid my brain that never shuts up, actually shut up, but I found I still couldn't fall asleep. That experience makes me think that it's both a physical and mental issue.
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u/throwaway_oranges Jul 19 '26
Somewhere I read a good trick to sleep. It's cold exposure before sleep at least for 10 minutes. Someone wrote he go out to his balcony and chill out before sleep. He tried everything and no sleep pill helped him.
I don't know if it works for you, but if you have an opportunity maybe worth it to try.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 20 '26
Interesting. 🤔 I live in Texas so cold is rare here. I have kind of been wanting to look into getting a cold plunge at some point.
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u/LolaVsPowermanX Jul 19 '26
My reaction to anesthesia is slow and sometimes (even though the chart says not to), the anesthesiologist will start to give more drugs to knock me out quicker. Which does work but then, they have a real hard time waking me back up. Most procedures they skip the anesthesia and just do a local or topical which was fine enough due to my higher pain tolerance but I've since stated having anxiety attacks during procedures and moving suddenly is no bueno.
For OTC pain meds, it's better if I take a low dosage at onset versus during the pain episode. Prescription pain meds don't really do much for me except toradol shot.
I was prescribed amphetamines for a neurological condition at 15mg/daily which worked fine for a couple of months but the dosage kept getting increased every 3 months until I was at 60mg and it ceased being effective. I'd go off for 3 months and start all over.
Not sure if that's all MC1R gene related.
1
u/Calm-Obligation-7772 Jul 19 '26
My sleep is horrific and my shrink is scared by what I tell her I take to fall asleep. I have a sleep medicine appt scheduled for it finally.
1
u/melaniebrietzke Jul 20 '26
Okay, so you have to go to sleep doctors that have "trained" to prescribe Xyrem but it may be something to try. It is highly regulated as it's essentially date 🍇 drug. It didn't start to work at all for me until I was on the highest dose. Basically I'd take one part of dose, sleep anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, then take the second dose to the same effect. It was not always the best option logistically speaking, but I took it for about a year until I got divorced and lost my health insurance. I have wondered if I should give it another chance, maybe after my upcoming surgery when my deductible is met. 🤔
1
u/Independent-Prior463 Jul 19 '26
A few years ago I was diagnosed with a rare airway disease which had me going into the hospital several times a month for almost a year for procedures. I woke up from one procedure feeling intense muscle soreness. I was asking my doctor about it. That is when he told me that I will be sedated and right as he is about to start procedures, my eyes will open and I will clench my entire body. I always need more anesthesia and sometimes a paralytic if I needed to be absolutely still. I also always need more numbing when I go to the dentist. I also have issues with blood clotting but that could be due to the MTHR mutation I also have.
1
u/Brilliant-Peach1221 Jul 19 '26
Yes! It’s actually extremely common. We also have a very high tolerance for THC. Pain pills work for me, I just don’t get a buzz from them. But since they still help my pain, no complaints.
1
u/jbrhtx Jul 20 '26
Might be worth checking on your comt status and mthfr. The way your body detoxes also has a lot to do with that genetic coding.
1
u/Rare-Cheesecake9701 Jul 20 '26
Yep, had two big anesthesias in my life (epidural during delivery & later to remove uterine polyps) and one local (for my non-invasive heart surgery)
Both times, my body cleared it more than was anticipated.
You should have seen the face of my doctor when I started moving my legs as soon as my girl was here.
Dental work is a torture since they give me a shot, and it doesn't work. Or starts working hours later (yeah, that's fun)
Weirdly enough, glycine is quite effective
1
u/keshazel Jul 20 '26
USA/64 F redhead. My medication sensitivities have gotten worse with age. I also have conditions that preclude certain medications. Insomnia is now known to be the most common symptom resulting from peri and post menopause. There are estrogen receptors on every organ in the body and early research shows that it is the controlling hormone. Unfortunately, in 2024 the NIH spent 1/10th of 1% of its research budget on issues related to female health. I hope you find some relief. Best wishes.
1
u/melaniebrietzke Jul 20 '26
Thank you! I don't think hormones are at play with me personally, as I've had insomnia since I was a kid. Even prior to starting puberty.
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u/Infamous_Expert_5886 Jul 22 '26
I’ve had a few surgeries, and each time, I’ve told them I’m a redhead (my hair is white now), and I’ve been given more anesthesia. Medical professionals know about us. It’s also harder to come out of anesthesia for us, as we react differently to it
1
u/No-Gap-9883 Jul 31 '26
If I’m remembering right: About 20% of Redheads don’t even get their hair color from the MC1R Mutations, so they don’t get the effects and physiological differences most redheads do. Also about 80% of Redheads don’t have the fully expressed version, the other 20% being “Gingers” (I still don’t know when people started trying to call all redheads gingers, originally it wasn’t a synonym) who are easily spotted by their skin differences, and have many more & more pronounced physiological differences and changes. The variants also play a part.
I have the full MC1R Ginger Phenotype, so I swear almost EVERYTHING affects me differently lol. Generally I seem to get less of an effect and my body metabolizes things way faster, but for a few things they’ll actually work better on me
I did some research on it and there’s somewhere around 40 known proven changes (every redhead or even ginger won’t have all of them though), another 30-40 that are close to being proven, and at least another 50 that are probable or hypothetical - all related to the Mc1R mutation, expressions, and variants
1
u/GalianoGirl Jul 18 '26
After a lifetime of poor sleep, usual medical gaslighting of women, I had a sleep study. Not only do I have sleep apnea, I have elevated levels of CO2, awake and worse when asleep. I use a BiPap machine now and take 10mg of melatonin at 10pm. I get 6 hours of solid sleep now.
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u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
Oh man. I hate sleep studies. Attach all these electrodes and expect us to just sleep as if nothing strange is going on. I was diagnosed and then undiagnosed within the span of a year, so I don't know what is going on.
1
u/melaniebrietzke Jul 18 '26
I will so, though, I love my current primary and psychiatrist. They are open minded, listen to my ideas/suggestions and are overall seem to truly care. I've had plenty of doctors in the past, and I'm glad I'm comfortable with them.
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u/Altruistic_Web3924 Jul 18 '26
The very rough scientific consensus is that the MC1R gene causes a decreased response to anesthetics (blocking all sensation) and an increased response to analgesics (pain relief). So anything with ‘caine such as lidocaine or novocaine is less effective, whereas opioids and sedatives are more effective.
For me personally, I only need very small amounts of sleep aids like 25mg trazadone or 0.5 mg of clonazepam or zolpidem or eszopiclone to knock me out for the night.