Posted by Ritch on March 14, 2002, at 22:46:15
In reply to Awake for 7 days (panic, schizophrenia?), posted by xjs7 on March 14, 2002, at 18:46:31
> I was wondering if anyone here could help me with this problem I have. My psychiatrist is not into discussing things like this with me (she just prescribes drugs).
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> My problem is that I remain awake for 5-7 days before I am able to sleep (fitfully and for a short time). During these 5-7 days I am extremely tense, my eyes are wide open, and my heart is racing. I also have psychotic symptoms, including visual and auditory hallucinations. I also become very irritable at around the 5 day mark and start screaming at people.
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> I have been diagnosed with panic disorder and schizophrenia, and I take a high dose of an antipsychotic, a low dose of an antidepressant, and a benzodiazepine.
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> I have never heard of people with panic disorder or schizophrenia staying wide awake for so many hours. I have heard of people who stay awake for so long having psychotic symptoms. Could my sleeplessness explain my psychotic symptoms? If so, is it possible that I do not have schizophrenia? Could an anxiety disorder be so severe that it causes extreme sleeplessness?
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> I have tried to research this subject on the Internet but have found hardly anything! All I want to know is why I stay awake for so long, and what the best treatment is. I have tried OTC sleep aids and they don't do a thing. My psychiatric drugs make it so I can sleep sort of normally (I still stay awake for too long), but I don't especially want to have to take so many potent medications just to sleep!
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> Does anyone have any ideas about this situation? Anything would be much appreciated. I have to admit that I am totally baffled by my predicament.
Hi,How old are you and when were you first diagnosed with all of this stuff? Sleep deprivation can cause seizures, hallucinations all sorts of stuff. Could you tell us what meds you are on and what the dosages are? You seem rather lucid in your writing. Schizophrenia is supposed to be primarily a thought disorder from what I understand-not just hallucinations. My brother developed panic and generalized anxiety due to his medical problems and couldn't sleep for several days-they gave him an antidepressant and it got *worse*. You probably should get a 2nd opinion-especially if you just recently been diagnosed with this stuff.
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:98025
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020313/msgs/98065.html