Nothing puts me to sleep

[Dizzygirl]

I've had PTSD for over 25 years A couple of months ago my sleep meds and all of my meds just stopped working after being pretty stable for about 11 years. Now,nothing will put me out. I'm on 400 mg of Seroquel, 20 to 25 mg of Ambien and 300 mg of trazodone, and 2 mg of clonidine. I only slept two hours last night and that's pretty much more or less the norm. I'm desperate to find something else to help me sleep. We tried mirtazapine but I had night terrors with it. I'm feeling somewhat desperate. I can't believe how fast everything went bad. Has anyone else ever tried all of these meds at once and still can't sleep? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Deadman]

We tried mirtazapine but I had night terrors with it.

That really sucks. Mirtazapine is the one thing that has worked well for me.

A couple of months ago my sleep meds and all of my meds just stopped working after being pretty stable for about 11 years.

Most meds show diminishing returns over time. Has anything else in your life changed about the same time as the meds stopped working?

 

[Deanna]

My meds are totally different except the trazodone and I don't take as much as you do... but nothing on your list of meds ( that I can see) equals a muscle relaxer. I take a muscle relaxer, trazadone.. Lorazmepam and Effexor( 3 times a day)...for my issue ( ptsd) and Gabapentin, anti-inflammatory with a mild pain pill (when needed) for another problem.

I work full-time. ( PS Ambien does nothing for me, That would have to go if it was on my list)

 

[Deleted member 37085]

Now,nothing will put me out. I'm on 400 mg of Seroquel, 20 to 25 mg of Ambien and 300 mg of trazodone, and 2 mg of clonidine. I only slept two hours last night and that's pretty much more or less the norm.

I'm sorry @Dizzygirl you're having such trouble with sleep and I am as well. I was on Seroquel for misdiagnosed bipolar which is now diagnosed cptsd and it never helped me and caused me to excessively gain weight (have since lost the weight). I've recently tried LorazePAM for anxiety with no luck; and like @Deadman said drugs over time seem to lose their efficacy as system gets use to them(?) as this has also been my experience as well with most all mood, anxiety, etc. medications @Dizzygirl. They simply just stop working.

I too am having a tremendous amount of trouble staying asleep now (was earlier having trouble simply falling asleep but at present that's not the case) and I tried generic Sominex sleep aid and it quit working shortly after about three nightly doses grrr, so I'm back to trying and utilizing Melatonin with L-Theanine (OTC), and also taking a Magnesium (OTC) tablet, as well. Then @bedtime I dissolve under tongue a quick-dissolve Melatonin as well. and do manage after about an hour fall asleep. Staying asleep is quite a different story as I am up/down about four times most nights at present. And I have not had any long-term luck with any prescription medications to date. I am sorry your meds quit working to help you sleep, and I so do hope you find sleep resolution soon! I wanted to post and let you know that you are not alone! with sleep issues. No.

 

[Deadman]

I strongly support @JadesJewel 's suggestion of Melatonin, L-Theanine and Magnesium.

As far as waking up in the middle of the night goes I just learned to accept that. The whole 8 hours of sleep idea is relatively new. For a long time, before electric lights, people would sleep twice a night. They would have a 'first sleep' and a 'second sleep'. It was common for people to spend and hour or two between these two sleeps having sex, praying, writing or even visiting friends. These days I do the same. Minus the sex, unfortunately. :P

 

[Friday]

What were you taking, before?

Some medications have a withdrawal side effect of sleeplessness (in various forms; can't fall asleep, can't stay asleep, can't hit certain cycles of sleep, etc.). Those side effects usually wear off in 6-12 months... And some docs will bridge that time period with other medications... But it can get really tricky. If you've been taking any kind of sleep medication for a decade? And are within 2 years of your stop-date? That's very much my first thought, is that you're in withdrawal or post-acute withdrawal from your old meds, combined with the new ones aren't working for -roughly- the same reasons your old ones weren't. So it's a bit of a double hit.

 

[Dizzygirl]

Thanks so much everyone for your comments. It seemed at the time that my meds stopped working due to a very deep depression. After trying several things I am back on the meds I was taking before, however, now I take them in a completely different way and I have to take higher doses. My fear is that these are going to wear off soon again. Thanks for all of your suggestions. I really appreciate hearing from all of you. I lost my ability to sleep completely in1994 from severe trauma. Every time I start to fall asleep I jerk up screaming for help and it will go on for hours unless I'm heavily sedated. I will try your suggestions and see what happens. Thanks!

 

[Deanna]

As far as waking up in the middle of the night goes I just learned to accept that. The whole 8 hours of sleep idea is relatively new. For a long time, before electric lights, people would sleep twice a night. They would have a 'first sleep' and a 'second sleep'. It was common for people to spend and hour or two between these two sleeps having sex, praying, writing or even visiting friends. These days I do the same. Minus the sex, unfortunately. :p

Ive had trauma since I was three or four years old and I still don't know how the docs are planning to treat me ( one trauma after another) but I found your post most interesting. I did withdraw from sex for 7 years because I had a comment thrown at me, during the act. It hurt me so bad, that I said, this was it! ( and we lived together, he passed away which would take every line on this board to explain).But, my current partner knows what happened because I told him about it.. and we've been sexually together for 18 months, I think. So, I was able to heal in some way with him.

( Never say never) Seven years was a long time but I was completely shut down by my own choice. Neva'- eva'- evar" ( totally true)

 

[jade53]

My fear is that these are going to wear off soon again.

Good luck. Mind if I suggest that in the meantime as others seem to concur look into augmenting the meds with "recommended daily doses" of things like Magnesium, Calcium and D3. I'm happy to see I haven't been as alone as I thought, at least in my thinking.

 

[Deleted member 37085]

Thanks so much everyone for your comments. It seemed at the time that my meds stopped working due to a very deep dep...

You are welcome that is what we're here for...and I'd still think like @jade53 suggested about looking into augmenting your Rx's with the calcium, even b12, also the magnesium and the melatonin, and L-Theanine. Make sure (pharmacist) and/or on-line that no adverse issues or drug interactions with mixing any drugs whether OTC or Rx's.

Also boiling a banana skin (organic) in water then drinking the liquid banana is boiled in is an aid in sleeping for liquid is loaded with magnesium, potassium, B6, B12, and other nutrients and some of these nutrients aid in sleep. Also eating hard cheese (only hard) and drinking a glass of milk at bedtime also helps me to fall asleep as well.

So good to hear @Dizzygirl that you are sleeping better now knowing you're dealing with depression (so sorry about this) and with the taking of your Rx's in different format. Hope these drugs continue to serve you in sleeping. Peace and Love.