[Eloise42]

It is totally possible I've asked about this before. It's totally possible I've posted on this more than once. My memory has been effectively shredded by Lamictal and Clianapin.

I have been on Remeron for almost fifteen years. The other meds I can deal a couple days without but sans Remeron I do not sleep and cannot function the following day. I went three days without it and hallucinated little lights zipping around the room, which I think had more to do with sleep deprivation.

I've been on it so long I'm prescribed %130 the maximum recommended dose. But when it's five am and I haven't slept I take another 45mg which would put me at, well, a lot more than that.

I obviously need to find an alternative but in researching that I found that one of the listed side effects of Remeron is mania. I've been on Remeron since I was about nineteen. I was diagnosed with BPD at around 23. If on the off chance that my few manic episodes could be attributed to Remeron my whole world view and self-perception fall out of whack. Especially because I am now halfway convinced my great-grandfather (from whom I had assumed I inherited this) may not have been bipolar, I'm now fairly convinced that his "symptoms" only emerged in his late years which could be a lot of other things.

Without Remeron I need a hammer to knock me out at night. I never tried melatonin because I thought it would interfere with everything else I was taking. Has anyone had a positive or negative experience with Melatonin?

[ChristySpirals]

I have heard that it doesn't do the trick. I am to start rameron tomorrow and am terrified based on my withdrawals of the last antidepressant as well now with what you have said. I thought melatonin was more natural so can't see any prob with at least trying it as long as there are no interaction concerns. Best of luck and please keep u posted on your findings.

[Eloise42]

Remeron has been my magic bullet, my golden arrow. It is what makes me feel normal. I would give anything to be starting it for the first time without the tolerance my body has built up. If it is as good a match for you as it has been for me, expect stunningly beautiful dreams in vivid colors. A lot of mine were underwater, which sounds scary but they were gorgeous and happy. And be aware of how fast it takes effect. Make sure you have a nice, comfy bed first and anyone you live with is aware of how clumsy, and out of it you may be after taking it before bed. If I was you knowing what I do I wouldn't be afraid, I would be excited. And if you don't go springing out of bed well rested after a few days you may want to see if you aren't on too high a dose. When I first was on it I felt GREAT the next day.

[cocoabeans]

Seroquel! Melatonin doesn't work for me. Zopiclone is good too and makes you feel high for awhile before sleep which is always fun/relaxing.

All antidepressants can cause mania in people with or without bipolar disorder.

[cybermember]

I don't take Remeron but take Ambien CR as well as melatonin so I can speak of my experience regarding melatonin.

I was starting to have an issue where I was waking up too early in the morning, especially while taking timed release Ambien CR, so I started researching melatonin and read that our natural sleep regulator declines with age thus increasing the potential for insomnia. When I tried the timed release brand "Source Naturals" melatonin it did absolutely nothing and I even went as far as doubling it and still nothing. Then I read that melatonin brands vary in efficacy and that people were having good results with the timed release brand "Natrol" so I decided to give melatonin a try again. I must say I have noticed a difference with the Natrol brand as I don't wake up early as often as I used to. Also, in addition to efficacy of different brands, I've read melatonin dosages vary with age.

Like all medications, it's hit or miss. Either it works for you or it doesn't. Only going through trial an error will you know for sure.

[TRNRMOM]

Originally Posted by cybermember

I don't take Remeron but take Ambien CR as well as melatonin so I can speak of my experience regarding melatonin.

I was starting to have an issue where I was waking up too early in the morning, especially while taking timed release Ambien CR, so I started researching melatonin and read that our natural sleep regulator declines with age thus increasing the potential for insomnia. When I tried the timed release brand "Source Naturals" melatonin it did absolutely nothing and I even went as far as doubling it and still nothing. Then I read that melatonin brands vary in efficacy and that people were having good results with the timed release brand "Natrol" so I decided to give melatonin a try again. I must say I have noticed a difference with the Natrol brand as I don't wake up early as often as I used to. Also, in addition to efficacy of different brands, I've read melatonin dosages vary with age.

Like all medications, it's hit or miss. Either it works for you or it doesn't. Only going through trial an error will you know for sure.

just wanted to add my 2 cents worth. i'm bp2, primarily manic and the last couple of years have struggled w/not being able to sleep. ambien used to work. now it doesn't. p/doc suggested low doses of seroquel for sleep and tho i'm fearful of weight gain, decided to try. (i cut a .25 mg. seroquel in fourths so i'm taking about .6mg nightly). asked the pharmacist about taking seroquel and she informed me that ambien will not remove the racing thoughts but seroquel will. so far it works like a charm and haven't seen any weight gain, tho i'm at the gym daily working out and have worked out for 30+ yrs.

[cybermember]

Originally Posted by TRNRMOM

just wanted to add my 2 cents worth. i'm bp2, primarily manic and the last couple of years have struggled w/not being able to sleep. ambien used to work. now it doesn't. p/doc suggested low doses of seroquel for sleep and tho i'm fearful of weight gain, decided to try. (i cut a .25 mg. seroquel in fourths so i'm taking about .6mg nightly). asked the pharmacist about taking seroquel and she informed me that ambien will not remove the racing thoughts but seroquel will. so far it works like a charm and haven't seen any weight gain, tho i'm at the gym daily working out and have worked out for 30+ yrs.

I thought of asking pdoc to switch me from Ambien Cr to Seroquel, but like you am worried about weight gain. I went to bed 10pm last night and got up at 5am this morning. Would have liked to have slept longer. Most nights I go to bed at 11pm but waking up varies between 4-8am on Ambien Cr and timed release melatonin.

Do you wake up groggy?

[Justbyou]

I tried regular melatonin and the slow release tablets. Both helped me fall asleep quickly, but I didn't sleep through the night. I checked with the pharmacist before I bought it. Just to make sure it was ok with my meds.

[TRNRMOM]

Originally Posted by cybermember

I thought of asking pdoc to switch me from Ambien Cr to Seroquel, but like you am worried about weight gain. I went to bed 10pm last night and got up at 5am this morning. Would have liked to have slept longer. Most nights I go to bed at 11pm but waking up varies between 4-8am on Ambien Cr and timed release melatonin.

Do you wake up groggy?

No, don't wake up groggy on .6mg but need 9 hrs.sleep and get that. if i'm stressed before bed, i'll take a 1/2 seroquel to sleep and find it's better than ambien, which was like eating an m&m. pharmacist said it's usually the person who's depressed and not motivated is the the one who'd gain wt. but because i exercise daily, and at such a low dose, i prob. won't gain any weight.

[lb84]

I've been taking melatonin off and on for a few months now, I don't take it every night since a person can become immune.

I've found that it does help me become tired. However, because of my anxiety level, it does not make me sleep it just makes me very tired. But it has been helping me sleep lately because my anxiety level has been lower. It'll just depend. It works for some not for others. It's a natural thing or whatever, my doctor told me about it.

[Eloise42]

Ambien and Seroquel are totally off the table. I had every listed side effect of Ambien besides "sleep driving" but plenty of somnambulance, cooking, leaving the oven on, freaking people out etc. And Seroquel is what probably caused my incredibly elevated heart rate, I haven't taken it for a year and a half but i'm still on beta blockers for tachycardia. That said in all other ways Seroquel was awesome.