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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tonyz on June 19, 2009, at 13:07:11
I had only taken 3mg of Lunesta with 10mg of valium; actually there was one day where I took 30mg of valium and the Lunesta. The valium may have been spaced out during the day. This was last year when I was taking Sam-e, According to my records I got around 4 hours sleep that night.
My current pdoc seems to think I am not giving things a chance to work. He doesn't want to change too many things at once. Keeps insisting on keeping the valium at 20mg.
Posted by Frustratedmama on June 19, 2009, at 13:27:00
In reply to Follow up to Lunesta Question, posted by tonyz on June 19, 2009, at 13:07:11
20 -30 mg ov valium is a lot (for me) ...Hmmm.... I would retry the restoril at nighttime and use the valium during the day if you can... Could you try taking a modest amount of restoril? EIther that or take 2 lunesta..... I found valium and librium to not be fatiguing at all.... That was just me though.... I don't go near the antipsychotics as I have had bad reactions (also happened with Xanax- which was weird but true).... I hope you find some releif soon! I took trazodone for a while but the withdrawals in the AM eventually led to me needing it 24 hours and that became a problem.... Other medications that may help include pairing melatonin with whatever you are taking....
Posted by Frustratedmama on June 19, 2009, at 13:30:43
In reply to Follow up to Lunesta Question, posted by tonyz on June 19, 2009, at 13:07:11
One more thing (which someone may have mentioned) What about a switch to amytriptyline? Similar to All the benefits of nortriptyline without the stimulation! Lots of people use amytriptyine for sleep and migraines.....
Posted by tonyz on June 19, 2009, at 14:33:10
In reply to Re: Follow up to Lunesta Question, posted by Frustratedmama on June 19, 2009, at 13:30:43
Yep I have had the best luck w/ amitriptyline in the past but the side effect profile is much higher with that drug. I didn't think the Nortriptyline was stimulating, but I can't say for sure. Maybe scaling back on the valium and taking the temazepam is an option.
It's strange the anxiety comes and goes, but I would best describe my situation as fuzzy. I was doing better when I was on 175 of the NTP and taking the seroquel earlier in the year.
But it is hard to know because for me the depression tends to accelerate very quickly before the drugs have a chance to build to a proper level and have an effect.
So now if I think about it earlier in the year when I started taking the seroquel it had the numbing calming quality but made focusing difficult. That is the situation now although I would say the depression and fuzziness are worse.
When you start to lose confidence in you doctor it creates a real dilemma as to what you should do. I think the Seroquel has the most potential damage in the long run. I've been on the benzos before and have come off them fairly quickly (much quicker than the Ashton guidelines) with negligible side effects to my knowledge.
Maybe a combination of Nortriptyline and amitriptyline with some lithium would be a better choice right now.
But for the weekend it being 3:30pm now on a Friday I am pretty much screwed in terms of my options. I think I'll scale back on the Seroquel 25mg I haven't been taking it that long. Research the l-tryptophan and see if I can figure out what a good mix of restoril and valium might be. Given the long half life of valium I might be able to go down on the valium by 50% if I add the restoril(temazepam). Or maybe just reduce the valium a little bit and skip the restoril - I don't feel anything when I take it now which suggests that my gaba receptors are kind of in overload ?
Posted by Frustratedmama on June 19, 2009, at 14:47:48
In reply to Adding amitriptyline to the mix » Frustratedmama, posted by tonyz on June 19, 2009, at 14:33:10
Dont forget you can add melatonin too over the weekend ..... and chamomile tea (I hope you get some sleep!!!) Keep us posted!
Posted by Phillipa on June 19, 2009, at 16:23:54
In reply to Re: Adding amitriptyline to the mix, posted by Frustratedmama on June 19, 2009, at 14:47:48
Wouldn't be complete unless I added my 2 cents and that is I feel the benzos have been around so many years what potential side effects are there? Shoot went through nursing school, divorces, raised three kids changing as new ones came out with periods of non benzos use also. I feel too many meds in the mix creates problems seems the less I use the better? Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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