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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by qbsbrown on April 15, 2005, at 13:56:05
Doesn't seem to matter when I take it, I'll be up all night. Any other ways besides taking klonopin or other sleeping agents?
Posted by JKL on April 15, 2005, at 17:28:52
In reply to LAMICTAL INSOMNIA: any advice?????????, posted by qbsbrown on April 15, 2005, at 13:56:05
I remember lamictal insomnia. My sleep was pretty bad with it and got worse with dosage increases. My doctor said it was because lamictal actually has some action on dopamine.
If lamictal is helping you in a way that is meaningful to you, then I would say you'll probably have to think about a sleeping med to go along with it. If lamictal is not helping, then I would say switch to something else. No sense in trying to battle insomnia if the med isn't helping much anyway.
The good thing about hunting for the best sleep med is that you don't need any long trials. Just one or two nights trial is all you need. So you could theoretically try out a lot of options in a short time if your doctor will help.
The antidepressants remeron and trazodone can work, but usually come with a morning hangover and bizarre dreams. The atypical antipsychotics can work great, zyprexa is my favorite...deep restful sleep and no hangover. There are the benzos and sleeping pills too. Amitriptyline very low dose is good.
I doubt increased exercise, cutting back on coffee, adding sedative herbs or supplements would have enough effect to overcome the lamictal insomnia.
Posted by Maxime on April 15, 2005, at 23:22:31
In reply to LAMICTAL INSOMNIA: any advice?????????, posted by qbsbrown on April 15, 2005, at 13:56:05
> Doesn't seem to matter when I take it, I'll be up all night. Any other ways besides taking klonopin or other sleeping agents?
You might want to check out the alternative board. You might find some answers there if you really don't want to take benzos.
Amitrypline and Surmontil are two TCAs that will knock you out without a hangover effect.
Maxime
Posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 13:02:29
In reply to Re: LAMICTAL INSOMNIA: any advice????????? » qbsbrown, posted by Maxime on April 15, 2005, at 23:22:31
What dosage are you on? Maybe you could go back down for a while until your body adjusts and go up very slowly?
Posted by Phillipa on April 16, 2005, at 16:00:54
In reply to Re: LAMICTAL INSOMNIA: any advice?????????, posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 13:02:29
I hear so much good about this drug as long as you don't get a rash. I hadn't heard about the insomnia. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by BP2TreadingWater on April 16, 2005, at 20:05:32
In reply to Re: LAMICTAL INSOMNIA: any advice?????????, posted by Phillipa on April 16, 2005, at 16:00:54
How about just waiting? I remember first starting out on Lamictal. It gave me some pretty severe insomnia -- and an on-all-the-time sex drive -- for about two to three months.
It can very 'exciting', until your body catches up with it. It may take you the better part of two to three months. Unfortunately, subjective effects far outpace the experience of overall improvement with psychiatric treatments.
Hang in there,
Cheers
Posted by Lushkins on April 17, 2005, at 8:07:05
In reply to Re: LAMICTAL INSOMNIA: any advice?????????, posted by Phillipa on April 16, 2005, at 16:00:54
I don't really have any advice to give. But I have experienced really bad insomnia on this drug. I was an insomniac anyway but this drug made it worse. This is a shame as my mood is inproving lots the higher I go. Hopefully the insomnia will decrease given time. I'm trying not to take sleeping meds as it will end up complicating things in the future.
Lushkins
This is the end of the thread.
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