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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on March 1, 2007, at 20:05:50
I just start to get to feeling a better, then for some reason I miss a night of sleep, and it always triggers a horrable and prolonged relapse of depression anxiety which can throw me off for days and days.
I don't know how to stop the cycle. Perhaps I am asking too much, but I need to sleep every night.
What do people find is the best way to take charge of sleep?
I mean, if I know that I am not going to sleep, what is the best course of action?
Insomnia makes me feel so helpless.
Linkadge
Posted by psychobot5000 on March 1, 2007, at 20:45:14
In reply to Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev, posted by linkadge on March 1, 2007, at 20:05:50
If you can manage it, I think exercise, 20-30 minutes or more, 3-7 hours before bed, is one of the most helpful remedies for sleeplessness. It can be good for the mood, too.
Posted by Phillipa on March 1, 2007, at 22:35:39
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruin » linkadge, posted by psychobot5000 on March 1, 2007, at 20:45:14
Link you know I will say benzos. Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on March 2, 2007, at 0:41:59
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruin » linkadge, posted by psychobot5000 on March 1, 2007, at 20:45:14
> If you can manage it, I think exercise, 20-30 minutes or more, 3-7 hours before bed, is one of the most helpful remedies for sleeplessness. It can be good for the mood, too.
>
>I would agree with the above.
Also, the place where I would say melatonin is most valuable (as opposed for Rozerem which is a bit more targeted and far more powerful) is for "resetting" the clock.
Posted by kelv on March 2, 2007, at 3:39:40
In reply to Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev, posted by linkadge on March 1, 2007, at 20:05:50
> I just start to get to feeling a better, then for some reason I miss a night of sleep, and it always triggers a horrable and prolonged relapse of depression anxiety which can throw me off for days and days.
>
> I don't know how to stop the cycle. Perhaps I am asking too much, but I need to sleep every night.
>
> What do people find is the best way to take charge of sleep?
>
> I mean, if I know that I am not going to sleep, what is the best course of action?
>
> Insomnia makes me feel so helpless.
>
>
> Linkadge
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> Vodka + 2-4mgs Xanax+10mgs+ Valium, usually knocks me.
>
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Posted by Crazy Horse on March 2, 2007, at 9:03:19
In reply to Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev, posted by linkadge on March 1, 2007, at 20:05:50
> I just start to get to feeling a better, then for some reason I miss a night of sleep, and it always triggers a horrable and prolonged relapse of depression anxiety which can throw me off for days and days.
>
> I don't know how to stop the cycle. Perhaps I am asking too much, but I need to sleep every night.
>
> What do people find is the best way to take charge of sleep?
>
> I mean, if I know that I am not going to sleep, what is the best course of action?
>
> Insomnia makes me feel so helpless.
>
>
> Linkadge
>
>
> Insomnia sucks. I recommend plenty of exercise during the day, caffeine only in the A.M., and a long hot bath before retireing. Good Luck.-Monte
>
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>
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Posted by linkadge on March 2, 2007, at 11:52:46
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev » linkadge, posted by Crazy Horse on March 2, 2007, at 9:03:19
My brain is messed up. I am drinking no coffee. I am exercising 30-45 minautes.
The exercise helps sometimes, but not all the time.
Melatonin sometimes works, but when it doesn't for some reason I freak out even more the next day than if I didn't take it at all.
I guess I can't have everything. The reason I am so concerned about sleep is just in how loosing sleep can mean bad relapses.
Thanks though,
Linkadge
Posted by TheMeanReds on March 2, 2007, at 11:59:55
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev, posted by linkadge on March 2, 2007, at 11:52:46
I take seroquel for sleep. It literally knocks me out. I would be careful of the vodka+tons of benzos advice....you dont want to NOT wake up the next day. Plus I think alochol doesnt do a thing for REM sleep.
Posted by linkadge on March 2, 2007, at 12:09:48
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev » linkadge, posted by TheMeanReds on March 2, 2007, at 11:59:55
I've tried seroquel upto 50mg. It sometimes works, but more often than now I am just left sedated but still half awake.
I suppose I could try more, but to me it just seems like an antihistamine. I don't want to insult it though as it works well for some.
Linkadge
Posted by TheMeanReds on March 2, 2007, at 12:47:11
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev, posted by linkadge on March 2, 2007, at 12:09:48
I had a friend who could take a benzo for sleep, and it would work. But, when he took 50mg of seroquel he would wake up in the middle of the night in a stupor. In the mornings it would 'hang on' for around 5-6 hours. He was a 'natural' fanatic. Ever tried anything 'natural' other than the melatonin? He took alot of whey before bed.
PS I used to take 3 capsules of hops at night, and it worked for a month or so.
Posted by bulldog2 on March 2, 2007, at 15:22:20
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev, posted by TheMeanReds on March 2, 2007, at 12:47:11
Rn320 uses trazadone with her 12 millgrams of emsam which was causing bad insomnia. She said that has worked well.
Posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2007, at 18:33:46
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev » linkadge, posted by TheMeanReds on March 2, 2007, at 11:59:55
My best sleep ever was when I drank 4-6 beers nightly. Always felt well and full of energy the next day. Love Phillipa ps no Rx either
Posted by yxibow on March 2, 2007, at 19:36:47
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev » TheMeanReds, posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2007, at 18:33:46
> My best sleep ever was when I drank 4-6 beers nightly. Always felt well and full of energy the next day. Love Phillipa ps no Rx either
You have to realize that's not the best idea, Jan, that's why sleeping medications were made. Its hard on the liver, not to mention that its 150 calories (or 100) for light beer, so thats 600-900 calories extra added to your diet, per day, that's more than a pound of body fat per week unless you burn it off. Plus the hangover. Maybe it worked for you for a time, but that's, and I'm not trying to implicate you, sending someone down borderline alcoholism.Any sleeping medication, benzodiazepine, doxylamine succinate, Ambien, etc, has less liver profile.
-- Jay
Posted by polarbear206 on March 2, 2007, at 20:26:28
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev, posted by linkadge on March 2, 2007, at 11:52:46
> My brain is messed up. I am drinking no coffee. I am exercising 30-45 minautes.
>
> The exercise helps sometimes, but not all the time.
>
> Melatonin sometimes works, but when it doesn't for some reason I freak out even more the next day than if I didn't take it at all.
>
> I guess I can't have everything. The reason I am so concerned about sleep is just in how loosing sleep can mean bad relapses.
>
> Thanks though,
>
> Linkadge
>
>
>Link,
Do you notice if your insomnia worsens prior to daylight savings time? I cycle twice a year with this. It's not as bad as it used to be since I've been on Lamictal.
polarbear
Posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2007, at 21:11:00
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruin » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on March 2, 2007, at 19:36:47
Jay I know but I didn't need benzos then and I was perimenopausal could eat or drink anything and not gain weight then. Not it's a different story. Hence the benzos sleep meds. But seriously I rather have ten years of happiness then 20 years of misery. But don't worry won't start drinking again. Love Jan
Posted by rjlockhart on March 2, 2007, at 23:30:10
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev, posted by linkadge on March 2, 2007, at 12:09:48
Ok, i know im not suppost to post this, but if you doctor doenst give you anything to sleep.
Ok, There is valerian root, kava kava, here it is.......maybe a little bit of Rum, or Burgandy before bed?
I know alcohol is not suitable really to talk about here, but i understnad that maybe your doctor doesnt believe in tranquilizers.What about trileptal? can you ask about increasing the dose because i know at higher doses it puts my stepdad to sleep. My stepdad takes 750mg at night.
Link i know im not suppost to ask this, but are you BiPoler, you have NO worries i am too, but i take things to help me sleep at night.
Some doctors are just "its another patient" or number i hate it when they do that. And if nothing works...just throw em into a mental ward. My teeth are starting to show im serious.Alcohol would be the last thing i would do, but you know the egiptians used to use it i think. But that was like what 3000 years ago?
Mmmm well then there was a 2500 year period of no knowlage of psychiatry until finally in 1800's when they first came out with sedatives like Choroal Hydrate...and other stuff.
Well i hope you get some sleep.
Take care
Rj
Posted by Sandra62 on March 3, 2007, at 15:18:56
In reply to Re: ok....lets think, posted by rjlockhart on March 2, 2007, at 23:30:10
I take 300 mg of Seroquel now and it knocks me out.I thought Zyprexa was good for sleeping, but this stuff is powerful.
Posted by laima on March 4, 2007, at 7:48:46
In reply to Re: Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruin » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on March 2, 2007, at 19:36:47
In adition, alcohol is said by some to become more of a sort of stimulant about 4-5 hours later, ie, in the middle of the night, messing up sleep. That is exactly why drinking too much in the evening can give one a really restless night.
> You have to realize that's not the best idea, Jan, that's why sleeping medications were made. Its hard on the liver, not to mention that its 150 calories (or 100) for light beer, so thats 600-900 calories extra added to your diet, per day, that's more than a pound of body fat per week unless you burn it off. Plus the hangover. Maybe it worked for you for a time, but that's, and I'm not trying to implicate you, sending someone down borderline alcoholism.
>
> Any sleeping medication, benzodiazepine, doxylamine succinate, Ambien, etc, has less liver profile.
>
> -- Jay
Posted by laima on March 4, 2007, at 7:56:41
In reply to Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev, posted by linkadge on March 1, 2007, at 20:05:50
Linkdage, have you considered seeing a sleep specialist, discuss having a sleep study in order to determine what exactly might be going on?
Some meds can interfere with sleep, and perhaps a medication switch could help. My first sleep study, for example, confirmed psychiatrist's suspicion that too much seratonin from the ssris I was on was messing up my sleep, the lack of proper sleep was making me tired- and more depressed. He switched me to another med, not so likely to interfere with sleep (wellbutrin-less seratonoin action)- and my sleep started to improve a bit, and my depression did too. Maybe you could have some kind of thing like that going on?
And of course, the study could tell if you are waking up during the night, how often, if you are breathing properly at night, what your sleep architecture is actually looking like- that sort of thing.
Maybe you can end up with both sleep and mood improved, especially if the two doctors discuss the results and treatment strategies together.
Good luck, and best wishes!
> I just start to get to feeling a better, then for some reason I miss a night of sleep, and it always triggers a horrable and prolonged relapse of depression anxiety which can throw me off for days and days.
>
> I don't know how to stop the cycle. Perhaps I am asking too much, but I need to sleep every night.
>
> What do people find is the best way to take charge of sleep?
>
> I mean, if I know that I am not going to sleep, what is the best course of action?
>
> Insomnia makes me feel so helpless.
>
>
> Linkadge
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Posted by randermin on March 4, 2007, at 19:24:29
In reply to Feeling great, then one night of insomnia ruins ev, posted by linkadge on March 1, 2007, at 20:05:50
> I just start to get to feeling a better, then for some reason I miss a night of sleep, and it always triggers a horrable and prolonged relapse of depression anxiety which can throw me off for days and days.
>
> I don't know how to stop the cycle. Perhaps I am asking too much, but I need to sleep every night.
>
> What do people find is the best way to take charge of sleep?
>
> I mean, if I know that I am not going to sleep, what is the best course of action?
>
> Insomnia makes me feel so helpless.
>
>
> Linkadge
>
>
>
>Insomnia sucks, it makes me paranoid, irritable, just sh*tty. lets see, seroquel had the same bad effect on me.
trazodone is not nearly as bad, but still a similar effect so I dont use it. I've tried miratazipine, ambien, lunesta,
chloral hydrate, etc. In the end I've found that the best I can do is establish an "old faithful" benzo, and then
work on non-drug methods and try not to take it so hard when I still dont get sleep. my main weapons now are
a huge lightbox, occasional chronotherapy, and getting out of the house as much as possible, and klonopin.
my back ups are "snooze-in" which is a bunch of herbs plus melatonin from a vitamin store or ativan,
but I try and stay away from both of them. hope that helps somewhat. -o
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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