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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fachad on March 14, 2002, at 20:40:36
I had been taking Ambien for a long time and it always worked for putting me to sleep, but I had many early morning awakinings, plus even with insurance it was costing me big $$.
I tried temazepam up to 30mg this month and it did not do much at all for me.
My pdoc appt is comming up and I am wondering if I should just take the Ativan that was his first suggestion or if I should ask for Klonapin or ProSom or ??
I can't tolerate TCAs or Remeron becasue I am very sensitive to the weight gain. Trazodone and Nefazodone don't work for me - I just wake up a few hours later with a headache. OTC H1 blockers like benedryl don't last long enough.
Any suggestions? Do PSBers prefer Ativan or Klonapin for insomnia?
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on March 14, 2002, at 22:01:39
In reply to Klonapin or Ativan For Insomina?, posted by fachad on March 14, 2002, at 20:40:36
I would try Ativan first. Klonopin doesn't even start working until 60 mins after you take it, and usually peaks between 2 & 4 hours, with a duration of about 12 hours. Therefore, it is a better anti-anxiety med than a sleeping pill. I take 2 mg per night for insomnia & can do homework or watch TV etc 3 hours after I took the Klonopin- In other words it doesn't "knock you out" like Ambien- Klonopin is pretty subtle- sometimes I can't even tell if its working or not.
I've read that Ativan is fast acting & since its duration of action is long but less than Klonopin you are less likely to have an early morning hangover. It is probably more prone to abuse though ("immediate gratification"). I also read that Ambien "knocks you out like you got hit in the head with a shovel" while Ativan is more of a warm fuzzy feeling- good for sleep, but not as good as Ambien.
If you are really low on money you could always take 50-75 mg of Benadryl brand Kapseals. Benadryl kapseals (diphenhydramine) work pretty well but unfortunately, tolerance develops quickly.
Posted by fachad on March 14, 2002, at 22:10:03
In reply to Ativan for sleep, Klonopin for daytime anxiety, posted by 3 Beer Effect on March 14, 2002, at 22:01:39
With my health insurance, if something is generic, and both Ativan and Klonipin are, it is even cheaper than over the counter meds like benedryl.
I'll probebly just go for the Ativan. The Klonapin would stay in my system all the time which is probebly worse if you are only trying to treat insomina.
> I would try Ativan first. Klonopin doesn't even start working until 60 mins after you take it, and usually peaks between 2 & 4 hours, with a duration of about 12 hours. Therefore, it is a better anti-anxiety med than a sleeping pill. I take 2 mg per night for insomnia & can do homework or watch TV etc 3 hours after I took the Klonopin- In other words it doesn't "knock you out" like Ambien- Klonopin is pretty subtle- sometimes I can't even tell if its working or not.
>
> I've read that Ativan is fast acting & since its duration of action is long but less than Klonopin you are less likely to have an early morning hangover. It is probably more prone to abuse though ("immediate gratification"). I also read that Ambien "knocks you out like you got hit in the head with a shovel" while Ativan is more of a warm fuzzy feeling- good for sleep, but not as good as Ambien.
>
> If you are really low on money you could always take 50-75 mg of Benadryl brand Kapseals. Benadryl kapseals (diphenhydramine) work pretty well but unfortunately, tolerance develops quickly.
This is the end of the thread.
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