[highnrg1]

Does anyone have a good system or plan for what to do when your meds wear off for the evening (and you are still awake and alert, but you're now your non-medicated ADHD self) to help you to NOT do (or say) stupid things or make poor decisions?

Also, do you have any strategies (and/or medications) that help you fall (and stay) asleep?

I currently take my 12 hour meds and then take a 4 hour booster med (crossing over in the 11th hour to avoid the rebound of coming of my original meds). But that still leaves me with several hours where I am unmedicated each evening and those are usually my toughest times (where I tend to do and say more stupid things than I'd like). Not always, but enough.

I also take a (prescribed) med to sleep but it takes awhile to work and sometimes I need to take an additional pill to help me fall asleep (prescribed 1-2 per night as needed), but I still usually only sleep around 5 hours total (which is why I had horrible side effects from using the generic version of Lunesta, I think, because I NEVER got the required 7 hours of sleep no matter what I did!)

Thanks for any ideas that you can provide!

I think you need to figure out why you can't fall asleep. Is it because of too much energy? Then take a benzo like Ativan or Xanax. Is it because of chronic insomnia where you're tired and can't sleep? Then take insomnia medication

I think you see where I'm getting at.

Try talking to your pdoc about why you can't sleep. I think s/he will help you more than I can.

[highnrg1]

I have tried several medications and so far, my old standby still has the best results. I go through periods of time when I cannot sleep because I have too much on my mind and I usually try to write down lists, turn off devices at least an hour before bed. I never drink caffeine (interferes with my meds) and I try not to anything sweet or that might keep me up after dinner.

I have had trouble sleeping my entire life. Sometimes it gets better and sometimes worse. Most of my life, I have slept for 5 hours a night, but after I was diagnosed and treated for ADHD, we found the meds I am taking now and I can sometimes make if for 6 hours. Occasionally, I can sleep for up to 7 hours, but that's a rare occurrence.

The Lunesta knocked me out and I heard NOTHING (which has never happened before in my life!) BUT, I woke up 5 hours later no matter what I did. Also, because I did not get the required 7 hours EVER, I ended up having nearly every negative side effect possible when I took that (and it took me several weeks to figure that out and I thought I was going crazy!)

I am guessing this might be hormonal (and I don't want it to be, because I am not allowed to take hormone supplements due to cancer history and issues). I have talked to my primary care physician and he put me on an anti-depressant that is supposed to help people sleep, and it made me feel really weird and tingly and dizzy and it didn't improve my sleep either. My psychiatrist was the one that gave me the Lunesta that did not work. I will check with him at our next appointment to see if he has some other viable solutions. Good idea.

I guess I mostly need suggestions for strategies, then. I try music but that usually activates my brain (even if it's slow and soothing). I used to have a white noise machine and I think I have a white noise app on my phone and I completely forgot about that, but sometimes that helped as well in the past for awhile, so I think I'll try that again.

Thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it!

[PigsMusicAndLove]

I would look into anxiety medications. I can relate to a lot of what you are saying and I have found that low dose anxiety medicine has helped me. Which one depends on you and what medication works best with your body. Personally, I felt Ativan was too strong and made me tired/groggy/etc. the next day, but Valium has helped me and hasn't caused me any side affects.

[Leuna]

I have the same problem, meds wearing off I mean. I've found that spacing them out so my last dose (200mg of the 300 daily dose) is taken about 6 hours before bed. I still feel the impulsively and restlessness come back within that time, but any later and the meds keep me up all night.

To help me sleep, I keep a fan running all night, and it works like a white noise machine. Also, how long before sleep is your last meal? Eating too close to bedtime can have hugely negative effects on your sleep quality. Looking into your diet overall is a good idea. Since becoming vegan (7 years ago) and doing daily intermittent fasting (1 year ago), my energy, weight, and overall health have improved exponentially. Something to consider. As far as the main issue of impulsively, restlessness, and reckless behavior, I wish I could help but I'm still trying to find a solution myself. Best of luck to both of us I guess.