Another Sleep Medication Post

[KuanYin]

Chava regarding the antipsychotic, I don't know if it's something that needs to be taken daily to be effective as a mood stabilizer/antipsych. My diagnoses are severe depression and PTSD and I take other medications to help treat them. In fact, I was originally put on seroquel so that I would eat, bc at the time I was also suffering from anorexia. As I use it today, it's for its sleep aid effect. I don't think that it needs time to build up in the system like an antidepressant. I don't notice any ill effects if I miss a dose, other than you guessed it, not being able to sleep. I need meds to sleep, I just do. I've tried going without and I end up lying wide awake until the birds are chirping. I can't maintain that kind of routine lol. I'd rather take them and be able to sleep, than not take them and not be able to sleep. Another one that I found that worked well was Zyprexa. I hope you and your doc can find something quickly, I know how gawd awful bad sleep is.

 

[Ellabella44]

I'm taking Zoloft. And for sleeping my aprn put me on vistaril. She said its one of the meds for anxiety given to recovering addicts to help with anxiety and sleep. It is what benedryl is derived from. It does help me sleep pretty well so far. Getting back to sleep after a nightmare is easier than before I started taking it. Hope you find what works.

 

[City Slicker]

Early in my recovery from a head injury I was prescribed Gabpentin for a mild acquired seizure disorder. The Gabapentin seems to have done what it was supposed to and after a few months the seizures stopped I didn't require it any more.

The thing I found was that taking the dose at bedtime allowed me to sleep through the night. If you are already familiar with Gabapentin and your doc sees no problem with the full dose at night, perhaps you can discuss it with your dr and see if switching the dose to night time has the desired effect.

Hang in there - every day you are here represents another potential day for healing. Do what you need to do to stay here.

 

[Neverthesame]

I'm pretty sure you can take Prazosin as you need it. I did, worked fine for me.

I have read that seroquel works best for sleep at low doses. Doses below the therapeutic threshold. So I would think it would fine for intermittent use. (Insert standard take your doctors advice over mine disclaimer)

I know what you mean, muscle relaxants don't do diddly for me either.

 

[Chava]

My doctor responded....her ideas are increasing my gabapentin and/or temazepam. That's a benzo. She wasn't going to give me benzos. ?? Is this like a lightweight benzo or one that just knocks you straight out and lets you sleep vs hang out in dreamy hypnotic fun land? Anyone have experience witht this one?

I feel like I've taken zyprexa and Zoloft for sure. Seroquel maybe when hospitalized because that was also given to me for anorexia. I slept ALL DAY.

I'm willing to try temazepam (cautiously). I need something. On tramadol for cramp pain (endometriosis) and I will not sleep without sleeping meds.

 

[joeylittle]

Our brains are capable of making all of the chemicals they need ".

Being capable doesn't mean they do it. Capable, in the general sense, yes - in the specific, no - there are things that can interfere with that process.

can that be taken as needed or is it daily?

I was prescribed prazosin PRN, and used it that way. My doc is good, I trust her - but maybe theres something about my case that made that OK, so Id check with yours.

I have read that seroquel works best for sleep at low doses. Doses below the therapeutic threshold. So I would think it would fine for intermittent use. (Insert standard take your doctors advice over mine disclaimer)

I also took seroquel PRN. 150mg. That is some strong med.

 

[KuanYin]

I've found that the immediate release is good for helping me fall asleep, but the extended release is better at keeping me asleep. 50mg (XR) is enough for me, 100mgs makes waking up more difficult. 150mg, well clear my schedule for the day! Last time I was hospitalized I was prescribed IR and ER simultaneously.
Hoping you can get some much needed rest!

 

[Neverthesame]

I can't say much on benzos, I avoid them. I don't want to be a drug addict. I am speaking strictly for myself in regards to this though. No judgement from me.

I have to say, I am a little dismayed that your doctor wants to prescribe a benzo for chronic insomnia. Though I don't think any of the benzos are capable of just knocking someone out beyond the first few times you take them. The body builds tolerance to those very quickly.

 

[Sammyiam]

I am on 200 mg Seroquel XR at night plus it helps calm me durning the next day. I just went off it cold turkey a few weeks ago and I wouldn't ever do that again. I went to hell and back. I also take venlafaxine 225 mg. I tried prazosin but it affected my breathing ( a rare side effect my pyschaitrist told me ) so I couldn't take it. But in the couple of weeks I took it, it started to make a difference. The seroquel gives me 25 mins after taking it then I am toast as they say and most of the time sleep through unless I am having loads of troubles with nightmares then I still wake up but can drift off back to sleep after a while. Seroquel put on loads of weight with me that's a downside I found.

I hope you find something to help you with sleep

Take care

Sammy

 

[Chava]

Thanks again for some ideas. I'm communicating with my MD (I see her because she's an eating disorder specialist...I don't have a psychiatrist) so not sure if she could prescribe these things? But I can ask. I looked into temazepam a little more and sent her a message saying NO THANKS. She knows I'm an alcoholic but maybe forgot since it's not written in my chart. ?? It looks like a horrible med for me. Sister of sorts to valium, high risk for stupid death for someone who responds to hypnotics the way I do. It even has a load of street names, including "drunk pill", and "knockout".

I can do sedating but I can't seem to do sedating + hypnotic, or anything that feels a little bit like drunk. Not sure how I'll manage this weekend but it will beat hanging out in the ER or having a stupid death. I skipped a dose of gabapentin this afternoon to bump the rest into the evening (that was the other option). It should help. And if I'm awake and going nuts, I can hang out in the bathroom and hold my pocket knife. Just feels settling.

 

[Bees Are Awesome]

Sorry about your insomnia. It really sucks! For sleep I am taking Clonidine. I've tried a bunch of different drugs for sleep and this has been the best. It helped with my nightmares too. I also recently started taking Luvox for my OCD but it is also used for anxiety and it makes me really sleepy. I still wake up a few times a night but I usually can get back to sleep.

I hope you and your doc can come up with something that will help. Sending you some peaceful vibes.

 

[Kailani]

I like Melatonin. Makes ya feel like a cozy curled up kitty. Have been prescribed Ambien and Lunesta and seroquel. Heard sleep routines are helpful; only sleep and have sex in bed, warm chamomile tea, warm bath, reading or soft, calming music, no exercising several hours before bed but exercising during the day. I used to put in a movie that always put me to sleep. Heard Kava root is calming ...just ideas