[adeline]

Are primarily dictated by how much sleep I get... which makes me tend to sleep deprive myself, since I become all euphoric and driven the next day. Early this week I stayed up for three days. It was the first time in a L-O-N-G time that I was completely anxiety free and confident. And complete mental clarity, as well.

Why does this happen?! Last night I got 8 hours of sleep, and woke up in a haze. I couldn't think straight, I had no motivation, and was anxious all day. I didn't feel physically exhausted, but just like I was in a light fog. I stayed up late studying, and as usual at about 12:30am my energy/motivation started up again.

What can I do?

[DaveyJones]

All I know is that one of the keys to managing bipolar is to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Most doctors insist that you should do this at night, in other words a "normal" circadian rhythm. I have been having sleep troubles recently, but I have moved east one time zone and been DST'ed up another, so I'm two hours ahead of myself still.

Your 3 day period of wakefulness with clarity sounds like theclassic description of a manic episode. It could be that you are in the middle of one, and the night of sleep just messed you up. Have you seen your pdoc? Though mania feels good when you're in the middle of it, it is definitely NOT good in the long run.

I hope that you can find the balance that is right for you...it takes some discipline to manage this disease effectively. Good luck, and do call your pdoc to talk about this.

DJ

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
adeline said:
Are primarily dictated by how much sleep I get... which makes me tend to sleep deprive myself, since I become all euphoric and driven the next day. Early this week I stayed up for three days. It was the first time in a L-O-N-G time that I was completely anxiety free and confident. And complete mental clarity, as well.

Why does this happen?! Last night I got 8 hours of sleep, and woke up in a haze. I couldn't think straight, I had no motivation, and was anxious all day. I didn't feel physically exhausted, but just like I was in a light fog. I stayed up late studying, and as usual at about 12:30am my energy/motivation started up again.

What can I do?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

wow, thats just like me!

Im newly diagnosed and am still finding it a shock how much the symptoms are just like me.

I definetly know how you feel.

[PlanningtoLive]

Before my meds stabilized me, I used to sleep very little too. I had energy, tons of it. Got stuff done, felt like I could run around the block...........then I crashed and slept constantly. The fog in my head was horrible and everything was in a haze. Then it started all over again. What a roller coaster it was.

Are you on medications? If so, which ones?

Mary Alice

[adeline]

Thank you all for responding.

I really do need to get a normal sleep schedule. I guess I've had mild insomnia for all of my life, since it has always taken me about an hour to get to bed. I really hated going to bed as a child, I was almost never tired... same now.

I'm getting to the point where I'd like to just give in and take sleeping pills. When I was a kid I would make up stories until I got to sleep (which could take up to 3 hours) but now my mind starts racing at night, so It's like trying to put a 2 year old to bed. it's so weird, I seriously get a drug-like rush from staying up at night.

My meds are Lamictal and Adderall. I've taken the both for six months, and prior to that I had the same level of insomnia -- but since I'm taking Adderall, I don't think my doctor would give me any kind of sleep med. I know Adderall makes mood swings increase, but it's the only thing that keeps me out of a residual depression and stops my bulimia.

I probably started the episode because I went down from 300-->200mg of Lamictal in one day (the high dose was causing excessive anxiety, & I felt sedated). I feel better overall, but I know that the sleep thing is crucial for stability. Would any of you recommend trying a med for it?

Thanks!

Jessie

[DaveyJones]

I have taken Trazodone for sleep with very good results for years...it takes a bit of getting used to (I felt drunk when I got out of bed for a while for the first couple of weeks), but I generally get 7 - 8 hours of sleep no problem.

DJ

[PlanningtoLive]

I agree with DJ.........Trazadone is my choice as well. It helps calm my mind and lets sleep take over. I always make sure that I don't have to go to work early the next morning, that way I'm not so groggy.

Mary Alice

[adeline]

Well, I've had really bad experiences with anti-depressants, so it probably wouldn't be very good for me to try it. A few of my friends take Ambien, but one of them has had sleep eating while taking it which is the last thing I want since I'm recovering from bulimia. Maybe Lunesta? I'll try the drug forum to see if anyone has experience with it.

Thank you for all of your advice!

Jessie

[DaveyJones]

I agree about your experience with antidepressants...I've had bad probs with them also. The doses they give trazodone for sleep are much smaller than they give for depression. For instance, I take 100 mg for sleep. For an antidepressant effect, I believe that the dose is closer to 400 mg/day. Secondly, trazodone is in a completely diffent class of drug than any of thew other AD's, not related at all, as I understand. Just passing along what has worked for me. Good luck!

DJ

[adeline]

Hi DJ,

Thank you for more information about the trazodone. I'll certainly keep it as an option.

As for other sleeping meds, I took about a quarter of a tab of Ambien last night and was out as soon as my head hit the pillow... unfortunately I was also out of it all day, and slept for 11 hours. I'm assuming that these side effects would wear down over time, but I don't think it's something that I can deal with right now.

Even worse, I think that it may have made me anxious and irritable... but then again I had a manhattan last night, so at least the irritability was due to that.

[crazymusiclvr]

I'm glad I am not the only one who batles with sleep. I take seroquel and it helps a lot but my sleep still "cycles" to where I'll sleep beautifully for one week and then it is a challenge the next. I know it's very hard for us now adays to have a consistant sleep schedule with the way the world is but I think it is so important. A routine helps a lot. This includes going to bed roughly at the same time every night, Even bigger is getting up at the same time every night. I have a ritual of things I do before i go to bed such as brushing my teeth. A ritual as small as this tells my body "okay get ready for bed now". I also find that as long as i'm in bed before midnight, I have a better chance of falling asleep. THe later i'm awake, the harder it is to fall asleep. This is just my personal experience. Best of luck to everyone!

~Lia

[Rebound]

Wow. I wish I had posted about sleep problems before now. There seem to be a lot of us. I guess part of me wonders whether there's a bipolar person anywhere who sleeps well regularly.

I have an awful time. I work nights now and it's been really bad but I had similar trouble when working during the day. I can never seem to sleep for more than a few hours at a time now without medication. The other morning I came home exhausted and went to bed at 8am and I was awake again by 9:30.

I took seroquel for a short time, but it made me sleep so long (14-16 hours) that I could not function. Temazepam, aka Restoril works well for me but this may not be appropriate given the other meds you are taking and I can only take it for short periods since it is habit forming and I ain't headin' down that road. The only problem I have had with it was about a year ago when I was having a really bad mixed episode (and not taking it for some crazy reason) and I started thinking a lot about the bottle and counting how many were in it and so on... I got scared and when the prescription finally ran out I didn't refill it again until just recently. For a long while I just had to get rid of anything suggestive like that so it wasn't that particular med that was the problem for me.

Certainly, a regular sleep schedule is important, but (for me at least) impossible to obtain. If you can do it though, I think it will help you a great deal.

[adeline]

Yeah, a consistent sleep schedule is impossible to attain... and meds with any sedative qualities knock me out. Even when I take Adderall the following day, my heavy fatigue manages to prevail. Has anybody found any really really light/mild sleeping pills, sedatives, or benzodiazepines? I occasionally use Vistiril (benzo) for anxiety, but even at the lowest dose I lose all concentration. But I can sleep as long (and whenever) I want to.

I got some kind of nighttime tea at the health food store a few days ago, but have yet to try it. Does anyone know about drug and herb combinations? I know this one has some St. John's Wort (very little, I think) and some other stuff that I wasn't quite sure about. I'm taking Lamictal and Adderall...

Jessie

[niko851]

Jessie -

First, ensure that the Tea you are drinking does NOT contain any caffeine - this can (obviously) mess around w/sleep bcuz of caffeine's natural chemical properties....

I take Xanax for my panic as well as to help sleep... I did start new meds (Seroquel) that is keeping me VERY wired as if I need that!!! during the day, on many occasions, I have split the pill (they are 2MG tabs) so I'm only getting half the dosage whenever my panic disorder/anxiety is not that high. Did you check to see if you can split the Vistiril? If you can, maybe you should try that - and also contact your P-doc and inform him/her of the problems wtih all the meds; one of them could be causing the 'extra' fatigue so to speak...

Be cautious about mxing herbal remedies or OTC stuff as well.... I know some meds do NOT work well with OTC's or herbal supplements...I can't remember if St. John's is one of them, but alot of the meds contraindicate the use of natural supplements. Again, best bet is to check with the doctor or even call the pharm. and ask them about it. They are the pro's when it comes to the meds, more-so than doctors in my opinion.

For me, particularly bcuz of the new med(s), I am VERY wired mentally but in a MASSIVE fog physically.. Concentration is pointless and I'm slipping into a depressive state after 2 days of 'normal' (cam out of my manic state 3-4 days ago - if that isthe correct # of days that is - can't remember!!)... Despite the 'going down' aspect right now, me being all wired up is killing me... I was told this is a side-effect and 'should' start subsiding soon.... ALL i keep asking is WHEN!!!!

I know how rough this can be - but we're here and talk as much as you need. Just ensure that you get a hold of either the doc or the pharm. today to find out what the combination of meds could be doing to you...

Take it easy,

[cherybery]

I have insomnia too and my pdoc has me on Restoril. With my up days I sleep very little but when I go into a low I could literally stay in bed for days. Maybe you slept for so long cause your body was just exhausted?Niko I use Xanax off and on for sleep and that with the Restoril does a great job knocking me out after so many days of little sleep.
Now I know why there are other people besides myself visiting the forum at 2am!
HUGS
Cher

[SilverGirl]

Right now I am in a manic episode. I had problems with my meds on monday and ended up in the hospital, but when I took them before I did great. I got 6-7 hrs of sleep and was great most days. I am not taking any meds right now as of sunday night and I think I have slept a total of 6 hrs since then. I took Seroquel and Lexapro. I hope you get things worked out. I know what it is like when things get *****. I will keep you in my prayers.
Amy