Help! I need advice

I am able to fall asleep easily but then I wake up about every 2 hours. I fall back asleep around 20 mins later but It's keeping me from reaching my REM sleep so I always wake up feeling like I hadn't slept at all. This happens every single night and is beginning to wear me down. I've tried everything from drinking chamomile tea, PMs, Unisom, and aromatherapy. This is so frustrating and I'm out of ideas I'm pretty sure it is being caused by my meds because I didn't have this problem before. ANY advice would be much appreciated!

Maybe try a prescription sleep aid?

melatonin really helps me at least 5mg works or I up it to 10 on bad nights. Hope you can get better sleep soon .

I had trouble sleeping last night and only slept from 5 a to 7 a. I took a 1 1/2 hour nap and am trying to get to sleep soon myself.

Good luck staying asleep tonight. I normally get up to pee 2 or 3 times a night.

I would try melatonin or a sleep aid if that doesnt work. Alternatly you said it's because of meds..any way you could take the meds earlier? Like if you normally take at 10 am..try taking it at 7am instead...so it gives you more time for it to wear off.

Welcome SweetAdeline!
You say you think it is might be caused by your meds? What are you on?
(I personally don't have much in the way of sleep issues...tg!.. there's enough else...), but there are many people here who have both med and sleep things going on...

Since I've been on Wellbutrin, I stay up much later at night, and i take it first thing in the morning.
If I need a proper, deep sleep, I take a sleeping aid

Check your meds out carefully, exspecially if you have started any new ones. Most of the pmeds cause sleep problems..those that make you drousy and those that keep you more alert. Check with the pdoc about that. Sometimes changing medication rotation (when you take them) can make a big difference. Some general non-medical stuff that keeps your mind more alert is smoking, watching tv, or playing on the computer right befor trying to go to sleep. You should avoid these activities at least an hour befor trying to sleep. Also clock watching is a big no-no if your trying to sleep, it adds stress which keeps the mind from relaxing. If it helps, the average time it takes a person to "fall sleep" ranges from 5 to 30 mins. I know it feels like forever. These arent always the "perfect" answer as there never is one, but maybe these will help.

Lemon balm, lime tree leaves, thyme. This is the base of my sleep tea. You can also add mint, valerian or hops.

I don't know if you've tried seroquel but they use it for insomnia as well and I sleep like a rock on seroquel. If you are happy with your meds other than sleep and want to try a few things first before switching I have a couple ideas....reading helps my hub, always make your bed (it's hard to get comfortable with tangled sheets), take a shower/bath before to relax yourself, take deep breaths. Other things I found include:make sure your pjs are comfy, if you have a pet (if your not married) sleep with your pet for the comfort of another being in the bed, if you can't sleep due to worry get out of bed so you don't form an association between the two. I'd also suggest maybe putting some plants in your room. I find plants very soothing. Keep your bedroom decor with mellow colors and keep the room clean. Good luck sleeping!

Seroquel works wonders for me, if I am not on a sleep aid I will toss and turn for hours worrying about stuff I don't need to worry about and just thinking/mind racing usually about any & everything.

My sister also has problems with sleep and she was just prescribed Ambien and she loves it, helps her get to sleep and stay asleep and wake up feeling like she had a great nights sleep, not groggy etc...!

I use Zopiclone.
I've also used Trazodone in the past

Hi Innerzone,
I am on Effexor, Lamictal, Abilify, and Klonopin.

Hi Kymaro,
I generally fall asleep right away..thank goodness LOL. I definitely have a issue with smoking right before I go to sleep. My tdoc told me also I shouldn't but It's a habit for me that's so hard to break Thanks for the advice.

I broke the habit of smoking right before bed by slightly changing my routine so it got earlier every night. Now I smoke, then take meds (or visa/versa) then shower, then bed. It did help.