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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tom Twilight on September 3, 2005, at 15:37:30
Hey everyone
Sorry I haven't been around much lately, it’s because I'm so tired!I'm doing ok on Marplan 40mgs now despite all my previous complaints about it, I'll post a full account of my experience with it soon
Unfortunately the insomnia I'm experiencing is making my life a misery!
I'm always dog tired by the end of the day and I get plenty of excersise
I can usually fall asleep without to much difficulty, but I invariably wake up between 3-4AM, it takes me hours to get back to sleep.I'm so tired that sooner or later I'm going to make a mistake at work.
I work at a hospital so it could be serious!I’ve got some Remeron/Mirtazapine and some Zopiclone
They are helpful, but I quickly develop tolerance to Remeron’s sedating effects, so I can’t use it too often.
Zopiclone gets me to sleep like a dream, but it doesn’t help me stay asleep, I don’t like to use it to often incase I get dependent.
Amitriptyline helps a bit
Antihistamines like Benadryl don’t work; Trazadone gives me a horrible hangover, that lasts all day!
Magnesium calms me down, but doesn't help me sleepI ordered some Trimipramine online two weeks ago, but the company just emailed to say that they haven’t yet processed my order (!)
I’ve found another online company that does Doxepin quite cheaply, so I think I’ll order that.I’m going to ask my GP for Trimipramine, but as I’m in the UK and taking an MAOI he’ll probably say no.
What I want to know is does anyone have any other ideas for sleep meds, or supplements?
Benzo’s are out because it’s the UK
I’d like to try Zyprexa, but it’s to expensive :(Any input much appreciated, I really need to sleep!
Posted by willyee on September 3, 2005, at 15:47:31
In reply to Horrible Insomnia! Any ideas?, posted by Tom Twilight on September 3, 2005, at 15:37:30
Just an idea,High dose neurotion or gabitril,and for otc l-theanine a half of tab under ur tongue,too much and its a little stimulant.Klonopin would be great here as well but u said no benzos
Posted by TheMagicPill on September 3, 2005, at 20:19:32
In reply to Re: Horrible Insomnia! Any ideas?, posted by willyee on September 3, 2005, at 15:47:31
only 25mg
Posted by Phillipa on September 3, 2005, at 20:29:41
In reply to Re: Seroquel will turn u into Rip Van Winkle, posted by TheMagicPill on September 3, 2005, at 20:19:32
From past experience chloral hydrate will put you to sleep and won't cause a hangover. just don't drink. Mickey finn then. And my memory is so bad what was your old posting name again? I should have written it down. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by MoparFan91 on September 3, 2005, at 21:53:12
In reply to Re: Seroquel will turn u into Rip Van Winkle, posted by TheMagicPill on September 3, 2005, at 20:19:32
> only 25mg
Rip Van Winkle? Not me.
I was prescribed it one time to help me sleep (due to a bipolar mixed episode).
I took 25mg, and I still woke up 2 hours later. Wide Awake. Ruminating on bad thoughts really bad. I took another 25mg and went back to sleep. But. I continued waking up every 30 minutes. When I got up for the day, I wasn't tired at all.
Next night, I tried 50mg Seroquel to try to get me to sleep. No go. I still woke up 3-4 hours later wide awake. I had to take 3mg Melatonin to finish sleeping for the night. I woke up not feeling very tired.
Then the night later, I took 100mg of Seroquel and woke up 5 hours later and continued to wake up every 30-45 minutes for the rest of the night. thereafter. No hangover in the morning and during the day.
GABA supplements (bonded with Inositol and Niacinamide) put me to sleep even better than Seroquel ever did. And I stay asleep longer.
Hmmm.
Posted by yxibow on September 3, 2005, at 23:15:02
In reply to Horrible Insomnia! Any ideas?, posted by Tom Twilight on September 3, 2005, at 15:37:30
I noticed on Prodigy / NHS some indications for Insomnia, you might want to pass this along to your doctor(s)
http://www.prodigy.nhs.uk/ClinicalGuidance/ReleasedGuidance/DrugList.asp?guidanceID=340
> I'm so tired that sooner or later I'm going to make a mistake at work.
> I work at a hospital so it could be serious!Are you seeing a GP or a Psychopharmacologist ? It should definately be made firm that you could be risking other's lives by sleep deprivation and that something else needs to be done.
>
> I’ve got some Remeron/Mirtazapine and some Zopiclone
> They are helpful, but I quickly develop tolerance to Remeron’s sedating effects, so I can’t use it too often.There can be some tolerance to Remeron -- I had more tolerance to Trazodone.
> Zopiclone gets me to sleep like a dream, but it doesn’t help me stay asleep, I don’t like to use it to often incase I get dependent.
Zopiclone (only in Canada)... the isomer released here eszopiclone, Lunesta, besides its metallic taste, I observed no long term dependency, in fact it was approved for long term. It takes longer to take effect in my opinion than Ambien (see below) but is similar in action. I suspect zopiclone is similar.
> Amitriptyline helps a bit
> Antihistamines like Benadryl don’t work; Trazadone gives me a horrible hangover, that lasts all day!
> Magnesium calms me down, but doesn't help me sleep
>
> I ordered some Trimipramine online two weeks ago, but the company just emailed to say that they haven’t yet processed my order (!)
> I’ve found another online company that does Doxepin quite cheaply, so I think I’ll order that.
>
> I’m going to ask my GP for Trimipramine, but as I’m in the UK and taking an MAOI he’ll probably say no.
>
> What I want to know is does anyone have any other ideas for sleep meds, or supplements?
> Benzo’s are out because it’s the UKI wish they were more open to this, but the NHS list above includes some benzodiazepine drugs that aren't even approved in the US, for chronic insomnia, such as lormetazepam and loprazolam.
> I’d like to try Zyprexa, but it’s to expensive :(
I would try other routes besides antipsychotics unless there's a reason for their use in depression or other aspects of your treatment.
Here, Ambien (zolpidem) is also prescribed long term. I take 20mg (usually prescribed at 10, but I'm an insomniac), and have taken it for quite a length except for a short break to try Lunesta.
I hope your insomnia can be quelled somewhat, I know how horrible it compounds psychiatric disorders. I would try to push for Ambien.
Cheers.
Posted by DoYouKnowHim? on September 4, 2005, at 2:38:23
In reply to Re: Seroquel will turn u into Rip Van Winkle, posted by MoparFan91 on September 3, 2005, at 21:53:12
well, i am glad you found something to help you sleep. and as we know, every medicine affects everyone differently.
it is, however, hard for me to imagine anyone having problems sleeping if they take seroquel every day for a few months. i started out at 100mg per day and now i can barely stay awake at 25mg/day. it is sorta new for anxiety.
my pdoc said seroquel was first used for ppl who really get jacked up and out of control, and they take like 600-800mg at one time.
all i know for sure is that it has been a miracle for me.
Posted by Colleen D. on September 4, 2005, at 7:58:00
In reply to Horrible Insomnia! Any ideas?, posted by Tom Twilight on September 3, 2005, at 15:37:30
Hi! I take doxepin nightly, 25mg, and it works well to keep me asleep all night. It IS inexpensive and that's a plus!
Good luck,
Colleen
Posted by Tom Twilight on September 6, 2005, at 11:03:48
In reply to Re: Horrible Insomnia! Any ideas? » Tom Twilight, posted by Colleen D. on September 4, 2005, at 7:58:00
Thanks for the advice everone
I slept better last night, with the help of Zopiclone
It was also partly because I've stopped drinking so much water before bed.
I drink a lot of water because I find it slightly calming, but I keep having to get up in the night to pee!
I have better sleep continuety now
This is the end of the thread.
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