Posted by Ritch on December 2, 2002, at 23:14:11
In reply to ? about Ativan and/or Serzone--long, but please, posted by BeardedLady on December 2, 2002, at 15:10:09
> Questions:
>
> Does Serzone poop out? I've been on it four years with only a few short-lived problems that were situational. My doc said it is one of the few meds that doesn't poop.I can't answer that one-only tried very low dose Serzone in the past (not for depression but for anxiety).
>
> Does Ativan stop working so soon? Or did my anxiety just break through this huge dose?
>
> How long can I take Ativan without bugging out?Some folks have paradoxical reactions to benzos with regards to sleep trouble. It looks like a non-benzo sleep solution is what you need.
>
> Will Sonata ever work for me again--say, if I haven't taken it in several months? It was really a dream come true for me, literally!I tried Sonata once and it seemed to work wonders to get me to sleep, but my problem is like yours-EMA's!- and it did quite poorly for that problem.
>
> WHY DO PEOPLE WAKE UP THE SAME TIME EVERY NIGHT OF THEIR LIVES AND HAVE TROUBLE FALLING BACK TO SLEEP?
>
> And why, when it goes away, do I still wake up at that exact time and have luck falling asleep?
>
I *ALWAYS* get this problem during seasonal bipolar depressive episodes. You are tired earlier than usual-get to sleep OK, but then wake at 3am or 5am (whatever) every morning, and then have some trouble falling back to sleep from the EMA, then start to really snooze right before the alarm goes off! Then, a tendency to feel unrested and fatigued the rest of the day.> My doc wants me to up my Serzone (we upped it a few weeks ago to my old dose, 300, from 250) to 400. I'm afraid, but I don't know why. I think it will help my depression but worry that it won't help my sleep.
>
> Any wisdom?
>
> beardy
I would be hesitant as well to up the dosage. SRI meds have always tended to disrupt my sleep (either making the total duration too short, or triggering EMA's). I even had a sleepwalking episode due to taking Effexor at bedtime recently (WRONG!). My gut instinct is to *suggest* keeping Serzone at the same dosage and possibly *reduce* the bedtime dosage somewhat and tinker with an antihistamine/antiserotonergic agent at bedtime. Thoughts come to mind such as OTC Benadryl or possibly doxepin (a cheap TCA).--Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:130274
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021127/msgs/130331.html