Posted by Ritch on September 25, 2002, at 23:21:46
In reply to Night Shift - How can I manage my meds?, posted by AnneL on September 24, 2002, at 22:29:11
> Hi everyone,
>
> I am an RN and will be starting 12 hour nights in ICU. I currently take Effexor XR 225 every morning and 1 mg. of Klonopin at night for sleep.
> I have been on this combo for about 18 months. Several months ago, I did not take my usual bedtime dose of Klon because I had two glasses of champagne (New Year's eve) and went to sleep at about 2AM. By 4AM, I was extremely anxious, and remember feeling so horrible that I thought, "Now I know how someone hooked on Heroin must feel". (Of course, I do not know how this feels, so pardon me). But all I know is that I knew that in order for the horrible feelings to go away that I had to take my 1 mg. tablet at that very moment. It worked. . . Klon is extremely sedating to me, I can't keep my eyes open. How do I change my meds around when I go to nights? I am so afraid that while at work I will go through withdrawls or is this unrealistic? How do any of you who work night shift (3 nights a week)
> deal with sedating meds? Thank you very much.
> AnneLAnne,
Whatever you do, *don't* stop your Klonopin when you switch over to the different shift. The first time I ever experienced panic attacks was when I had to change from 2nd shift to 3rd shift at a factory (to cover for a vacation). Just take your meds offset by the amount of time your sleep will be delayed (by the new workshift). So, if you get off work at 7am, take your Klonopin at 8am when you get home (that is if you are intending to go to sleep then). Take your Effexor when you get up in the mid-afternoon i.e.
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:120996
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020922/msgs/121082.html