Med Options For Sleep?

[Panda Bear]

What is available, in a low dose and non-addivitve(is that even possible?) to help with sleep?
Do they take the nightmares away?

I've had sleep/nightmares and disturbances for 20ish years. Varies depending on time of year, but it gets bad.....is bad now. I've always been afraid of medications, but the lack of sleep is killing me and my family.

Thinking of asking for some help from my primary.

Eta: you may be wondering how I let this go for so long! I honestly thought it was normal and common.

 

[Sighs]

My vet finds Imovane 7.5mg helpful. Its supposed to be less addictive than benzodiazapines, but I think it can still be addictive. He uses it only when he is really desperate for sleep because he's worried that the effects will wear off if his body gets used to it and then he will not have anything to turn to when he is desperate. Not sure if that helps reading it back...

 

[Seasounds]

Due to my different needs over time, I've either used natural supplements or medications. I have benefited from making sure that I get sleep.

Neither the natural or prescription meds took away the nightmares. What did? 1. Relating to the truth and feelings that the my dreams revealed, 2.sharing my revelations with a therapist or group, 3. Developing the antidote /skills needed to give me what the nightmares showed me that I lost.

For example, from strangulation, I studied voice for 2 years. From being held at gunpoint, I took a handgun safety class; from being beaten for moving, I studied movement; from having my sleep disturbed from my best friend yelling at her kids, I found new friends.

It took time, to figure out the dream, and it took practicing the solution long enough to make a new pattern in my system.

 

[Panda Bear]

What did? 1. Relating to the truth and feelings that the my dreams revealed, 2.sharing my revelations with a therapist or group, 3. Developing the antidote /skills needed to give me what the nightmares showed me that I lost.

Sigh....yes, this is what I'm told. My T asks me weekly about the nightmares, flashbacks etc. Especially when I'm struggling, some weeks I can go there and others, it's just to much to retell. I can't always do it, I'm sure you understand? I realize my nightmares are my brains way of trying to deal with the pain and events. But in the meantime, I'd like a little sleep too.

 

[hodge]

I take some OTC meds to help with sleep. Either benedryl or Unisom (the store brand version). Both help . . . after awhile; witness I'm up again already, haven't yet entered that stage where I can really get some sleep. I've talked about my nightmares in therapy a lot. It hasn't seemed to help. My psychiatrist gives me clonidine to help with them. Ideally, when I wake up, the nightmares fade away so they don't haunt me all day. I know my issues and the nightmares just grind them in, so it's not like I need to remember them, though I remember a lot of them, because I can only take so many clonidine a night.

 

[Ocean5]

I struggle with sleep, staying asleep, night terrors, and nightmares. Sadly on Klonopin. My new p-doc knows I want off, and supports. He gave me this mix of Valeriana and Melissa Leaves (lemon balm.) But I struggle with medicine as many do. I don't think they mix well Klonopin. At least for me.

I've taken Lemon Balm for anxiety in past with no issue. So I think it's the mix or Valeriana.

But everyone is different how they react. And being on Klonopin daily complicates everything.

But maybe Valeriana and Melissa Leaves (lemon balm) can help you.

 

[Neverthesame]

You could try asking your doctor about Prazosin. It's not an antidepressant or an antipsychotic, non addictive, non narcotic. It's used primarily to treat hypertension, though it is also prescribed off label for the treatment of anxiety related insomnia and nightmares. It also does not lose effectiveness with use. The body does not develop a tolerance to it, so it should work fairly consistently for however long one is taking it.

Unfortunately I can't take it because it gives me tachycardia. Pity, it actually was helping.

Besides sleep this drug is also reported to alleviate nightmares. Didn't do that for me but I was happy to feel at least half rested for a change. I also remember it being fairly inexpensive. The 30 day supply I was given cost less than $40. I don't have a prescription plan either, that was the full cost.

The only other thing I can think to mention is, if you do end up being prescribed it. When they tell you stand up slowly after taking it, they aren't kidding. First time I took it, went to get out of bed, made it about 10 feet, then had to lay down on the floor for a couple minutes. Damn near fainted, lol. It wasn't so bad after a couple of days. Still had to be careful but I could get up safely.

 

[Saria]

I use Vallergan (Alimemazine). My doctor told me that it's both low-dose and non-addictive, and that she often prescribes it for sleep disturbances even though it actually is an antihistamine. It works well for me, though I do get really tired and drowsy the next day.

 

[Friday]

- Antihistamines... aren't addictive, and are usually found in OTC sleep remedies (Tylenol PM, Unisom, etc.), but can also be purchased on their own (Benedryl, chlortrimatron, etc.), or in allergy or cold med combos. It's generally best to avoid the combo meds, and stick with single ingredients. NyQuil pioneered combo meds ((I still have a VHS from the 80s with a NyQuil ad on it! Lol "You used to have to take all these medicines, but just 2 NyQuil contains the same medication, with only 1 dose!")). Be very careful/read active ingredients on both single and combo meds, so you don't end up taking the same medication in 3 different forms. Diphenhydramine is Diphenhydramine, whether it's in Benadryl, NyQuil, TylenolAllergy, UnisomMini, Sleep Promoting Teas, etc.

Stronger & different antihistamines are available by Rx.

Note : While most people get drowsy or knocked out on antihistamines? For every medication, the opposite side effect exists. Aka antihistamines make some people very hyper, instead of very drowsy. Also, some people will react one way on one antihistamine, but the opposite on another.

- Prazoin... Isn't addictive. It's a blood pressure medication, mode of action unknown (although it may work as an alpha-adrenoceptor blocker). Causes drowsiness, and has a weird side effect of reducing/eliminating nightmares &/or dreams altogether. This is the only med I know of that does that (instead of the far more common: causes vivid dreams), that isn't an anesthetic or date rape drug.

Note : Same as above. For some people prazoin will cause hyperactivity & vivid nightmares or vivid dreams, instead of drowsiness & no nightmares &/or dreaming.

- Melatonin... Is a hormone supplement. People who are sensitive to hormones should be very careful. While commonly used as a sleep aid, it can also cause wild mood swings & other hormonal imbalance issues in some people (from hallucinations to suicidal ideation, weight gain/loss, paranoia, missed or extra periods, etc.) in addition to the hyperactivity & insomnia all sleep aids can cause instead.

- Dietary... Most commonly, L-Tryptophan (what's in turkey & warm milk), but there are other herbs which have chemicals in them which can cause drowsiness (or hyperactivity & insomnia). Just like checking active ingredients on OTC meds? Check active ingredients in herb names, as well as other side effects. Some which are great for sleep, and perfectly fine otherwise, can cause miscarriage, for example... Or react very very strongly with OTC or Rx meds. Either never-mix-these-two-substances, or by doubling the dose! (Llike taking digitalis, and drinking foxglove tea will kill you... Because the active ingredient in foxglove is... Digitalis. That's where we get digitalis from!)

Natural doesn't mean safe... Natural means it's chemical content unregulated and impure. Whether it's basically harmless (like turkey & milk), or FFS there is belladonna (aka Deadly Nightshade, which contains a very deadly neurotoxin, that produces feelings of euphoria & numbness as it paralyzes the central nervous system) in Hylands teething tablets. Ahem. There have been times where I have been unable to see the dentist I've calculated for my weight and been High as f*ck on Hylands. Yeah. There's a damn good reason why babies like it. Just like they like whiskey & sugar on their gums, or a bottle of sugared wine? That'll fix a colicky baby being unable to sleep :rolleyes: So if you're looking into natural remedies? Prepare for research!!! Some stuff is fantastic. Others? Less so.

- Everything else that I know of that is used specifically for sleep? Is either addictive, or well known for causing vivid dreams/nightmares, or both.

 

[Rumors]

I use prazosin when it gets bad, melatonin when it is not terrible, Benadryl when it gets in the middle. Sucks. Sorry. I can so relate.

 

[Panda Bear]

Thank you for all the input.

Called my primary, she told me she won't prescribe anything, she would send me out, which I won't go near another doctor or specialist....not right now, I'd rather suffer. No way in hell in going to see a psyc!

I can take antihistamines for a few nights, but the nightmares don't improve. I do get a few hours of sleep, but still have dreaded dreams. Same with melatonin. Exercise helps most out of anything.

My T really just like me to stick out processing the memories, as they are what my nightmares are all about. If I process the nightmares and memories, the dreams should ease up. Deep down, I know he's right.

 

[Kayle]

PRAZOSIN 100%. I take it nightly for nightmares/terrors. Every so often I have one, but it disables my body from having the typical reactions. No waking up sweaty, panicked, or crying.

Non narcotic, cheap, non addictive.. lots of research about it out there.