It was kind of weird. I knew the MAOI would be stimulating. When I started it I had gone into the hospital feeling adamant that they would not be changing any other meds. By the time I left I'd happily doubled my Seroquel to 600 mg and switched from ativan to klonopin. Even then I needed valium for a while until I was completely adjusted. I don't think it is stimulating every day now but I do think that it is kind of there waiting for me to get manic and then it adds to it. Mostly I can control that with valium but this time the valium didn't do anything until we added the extra 300 mg of Seroquel.

Right now I'm on 1/2 of the AD and I take my handful of meds about 8-8:30 and then go to bed when I feel a little tired (about 11 usually) after a nice shower. Whenever I feel tired I take 2.5 mg of valium and that seems to help me settle down for the night. When I actually am getting sleepy I take another 2.5 mg of valium and the last few nights that's been enough to get me to sleep. I've been so sleep-deprived the last 2 months that I've been sleeping quite a bit if I can but if I need to get up I can do that. (Friday will be a challenge though; I have to leave home at 9 to go babysit my nieces.). I can't really control when I'm going to sleep right now; I can't decide "I'll take both doses of valium by 2 and be asleep by 2:30"; I have to be really starting to be sleepy and then the 2nd valium dose usually works pretty quickly. Not always though. This system beats not sleeping but it is still not perfect. It's probably as good as it gets for the moment. I do think I'm going to bed pretty soon though; I'm tired from an emotional day and tomorrow will be even more emotional. I have no idea when I'll be asleep and I'll pay for it by not keeping the dogs awake late (I'm dogsitting and they like to wake up not long after I fall asleep but if I keep them awake they sleep a little later) but I have to sleep if I can. I'll be glad when that resembles some schedule.