For those that have insomnia from PTSD/hypervigilance... did taking an SSRI improve your sleep?

[raw472]

I was threatened by someone with a gun and ever since then I've been stuck in a hypervigilance state (where all my movements are subconsciously "jerky"), as if my body and mind are stuck in alert mode... even though I consciously know there's no longer a threat, it's like my subconscious mind thinks there's a potential threat everywhere, and since I can't control my subconscious I'm (seemingly) unable to fix this problem...

For others that have this "hypervigilance"... did taking an SSRI help your sleep/insomnia from it? I already take Remeron but it only helps for a few days at a time, and am wondering if adding an SSRI to it would help...

 

[TTC18]

Nothing has helped my insomnia.

 

[Friday]

I can’t take SSRIs unless I want to be dealing with crushing despression, severe suicidal ideation, and virtually no impulse control (on the upside, the way I attempt suicide is fairly convoluted, I have to die doing something useful rather than simply eating my gun, or I’d be long dead by now). My brain reeeeeeally doesn’t like certain kinds of medications. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics are all on my “absolutely not under any circumstances” list.

The medications which do help my sleep -and or other things- are all super addictive, so they’re things I can use as a reset for a few days, or a brief break, but not are not things I can use long term or as a maintenance medication.

Have you taken SSRIs before? Had good results?

 

[raw472]

I can’t take SSRIs unless I want to be dealing with crushing despression, severe suicidal ideation, and virtually no impulse control (on the upside, the way I attempt suicide is fairly convoluted, I have to die doing something useful rather than simply eating my gun, or I’d be long dead by now). My brain reeeeeeally doesn’t like certain kinds of medications. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics are all on my “absolutely not under any circumstances” list.

The medications which do help my sleep -and or other things- are all super addictive, so they’re things I can use as a reset for a few days, or a brief break, but not are not things I can use long term or as a maintenance medication.

Have you taken SSRIs before? Had good results?

I was taking Effexor (an SNRI) and it didn't seem to help, so now trying Zoloft. So we'll see... Remeron works for a couple of days, then stops working for a fews days, then works again for a few days, and so on... so with Remeron, I get about a 50% chance of waking up rested.

 

[EveHarrington]

Why antidepressants for sleep and not other classes of meds?

Are you seeing a psychiatrist?

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Nope! SSRIs did zero for me. But, they really aren't for sleep.

 

[blackemerald1]

Hey @raw472 - justing reaching out to see if your sleep improved?

And to answer your question, for me, those are a class of drug I cannot tolerate.

I hope you are getting refreshing sleep.. :)

 

[Powder]

Clonidine is generic for Catapres that I have had a good experience with, without any side effects.

Simple: I rec'd it from a regular family Doc for my Chronic PTSD.
Effective and Fast Acting: I think it was the best med for my PTSD that I ever had.
No Daytime Drowsiness: This is big. You want sleep, but you also need to be able to get going in the morning for work or your day. Xanax can kill motivation, but Clonidine is gone after one cup of coffee.

Clonidine is a blood pressure drug used off-label for PTSD. In one group of studies, Clonidine was the only drug to show significant reduction across all PTSD symptoms, including heart racing, nightmares, shakiness, anxiety-avoidant axis, and insomnia. I don't remember it completely reducing my shakiness, but I know when I was on it, that was still sometimes happening to me during the day from triggers at work. I think that sleep deprivation is probably a primary concern, with shakiness being secondary to that deprived state of affairs.

SSRIs have sexual side-effects, as well as suicidality as a risk. Clonidine does not. A side benefit is that with long-term PTSD in adults, there is usually high Blood Pressure so you only would need one med.

The downside is that when it kicks in, you really have to go to sleep. I remember my kids trying to come talk to me after my bedtime, and me just saying, "Sorry, I can't talk right now." I did not like the lack of flexibility, but if you don't have people trying to extend your waking hours or last minute late-night work, it's cheap copay and works well.

Best of luck in finding solutions for sleep.

 

[rosey]

these drugs have a different effect on different people. So you are unlikely to get an answer that works for you here I am afraid.
My experience was a real trail and error. After 6 different meds finally found one that worked, this was not a good time with horrible side effects. But bingo one finally worked, and the biggest difference has been on my sleep. I tried to come off it a while ago and the first thing that happen was not sleeping again.

So for me yes it helps with sleep but this is not a one fits all type of thing.