[BlueInanna]

Ambien is no longer helping me with sleep. I think this happens often for people, what do you do next? I have to sleep and can rarely just fall asleep on my own.

What is the next best sleep aid? I see pdoc on wednesday, want to be ready.

Thanks!

[Moreta]

Ambien pooped out on me this year after taking it for 2 years. I tried to go the benzo route, but it made me so groggy in the morning. Then I tried sonata, and that didn't work. I tried lunesta in the past, but it made my throat hurt, and I felt like I was sick all the time. Seroquel works well at 25 mg, but there's no telling if I could get up the next morning on time. There's also trazadone, but that didn't do anything for me. I thought about trying it again, but my pdoc won't prescribe me an AD. I sleep well when I take haldol, but I'm already on geodon, so that was out of the question. Thorazine knocked me out for 2 days, so that's not cool.

I think ambien is the best one, and it really sucks when it poops out. Now I don't take anything, and I get 6-7 hrs of sleep a night.

maybe upping the dose of ambien? I was just put on that too.

[hamster-bamster]

I take 12.5 mg Amitriptyline and a very low dose of Cannabis, and it works like magic. No morning grogginess, either. I highly recommend this combination. I will soon try 10 mg Amitriptyline to see if it is enough. And, it is reassuring to know that this combination is not supposed to poop out on me with time.

[kj44]

Oh, I have SO been down this route, try to stay away from Benzo's, they work for a while, then they stop, and your addicted, not fun. Trazodone does work, but, it takes quite a few days to get in your system, and, Seroquil is awesome for me, it also took just a couple days to get in system. Best of luck!!

[faerie_moon_x]

Is it the type of med where you have to take a "med vacation?" I know my husband needs to do that with his Adderall.

[hamster-bamster]

Trazodone is good to try, but after several years it stopped working for me. First it worked worse, then worse yet, and now it is no more than a sugar pill.

[abience]

I do take "med vacations" from it. I'll go a couple of nights without it, then I can go back to using 1/2 and it will work. I'll take an over the counter if I absolutely can't sleep in the mean time.

[BlueInanna]

Well... hmmm... no perfect answer out there for our sleep problems, lol. It's very ironic that we are known for having highly intelligent minds, high aptitudes for abstract thought, and problem solving (like the world's problems/not our own like getting in the shower); yet, with these sleep problems, it's very difficult to integrate our skills into the rigid 9-5 work force.

The ambien must've worked a bit, or the 2 klonopins, because I don't remember writing this thread last night.

I have tried trazedone before, it was my mom's so I can't really admit that to pdoc. But it was about 5 years ago when I first told my mom I was worried about my insomnia and depression, so she gave me some to try, and it seemed to work well. But then I went to gp who gave me lexapro, and then pdoc who gave me prozac and the circus began.

The best bet is probably to try to exercise more during the day, and see if I can get on a routine. I know the tricks about only using your bed for sleep... but honestly, my bed is my favorite place to be, it's big and comfy and safe. So that will be a hard one for me - only using bed for sleep. Most days are overwhelming for me and I love to cuddle up with blankets and pillows whenever I can, so maybe I can create an interim place on the couch, until I'm able to not be so sedentary and napping at any possible time.

Leaving my comfort zone sucks big time, but it will lead to me being healthier, exercising more, getting regular sleep, more productive at work and with kids, make more money.

I'm also open to canabis edibles. I don't have time to go get the card and everything, but I'm sure some folks would give me some if I asked. It's pretty much mainstream here. I'll think about that.

Thanks for the helpful input you all are awesome.

[Anika.]

Sorry Blue, that seems to happen a lot.

Benzos stoped working after a while. Plus made me super groggy and meseed up my moods. Trazodone and amitriptyline made me manic, lunesta or zopiclone (depending on country ) made me mixed, and alo made me have no memory and do weird things after it would kick in. seroquel was too sedating, plus the dose constantly had to be upped.

So I have been drinking the valerian tea with some success, and if I followed directions would probably work better. But sleep has always been a huge issue and even the sleepy pills didn't always make me sleep. Benzos were pretty hit and miss, same as the zopiclone. Trazadone and amitriptyline did not make me sleep at all.

Exercise might help, and adjusting the routine. Exersice does't help me. I dunno, I seem to have a lot of physical energy vs mental energy.

[BlueInanna]

I could try Valerian - many health food stores around to buy the bulk herb. I used to study herbs and learned to carefully make teas different ways, not touching metal, etc.

What is the best way to take Valerian? It's the root you want right, so then you have to boil the root for some time? Different than making teas with leaves and flowers where you don't want to bring them to boil, just steep.

What about capsules of the powder root or tincture, do you know?

[BlueInanna]

Is Valerian a benzo, since this is where Valium comes from ???

[Anika.]

I use a tincture, dealing with the root is too much like cooking

The tincture would be better way to go over capsules. The purity isn't so good after processing, and compressing, whatever they do.

You shouldnt use valerian for more than 4 weeks in a row from what I have read. I am going to take as directed and see, haven't been sleeping well. Last night was about 8 hours of staring at the ceiling.

Works similar as benzos, no where near as strong tho. And you should not take it with benzos or other sedatives. You do not feel groggy or drugged. I just feel calm and peacful, well thats my experience so far. It seems subtle.

[TexasMan]

I'm going to recommend an over the counter antihistamine (not Benedryl) that I've used with great success after I stopped Ambien due to a bad reaction. It's called doxylamine succinate and you take one 25mg tablet about a half hour before bedtime. No rebound and it's not addictive. I buy the generic store brand for less than $5 for a month's supply.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by BlueInanna

I'm also open to canabis edibles. I don't have time to go get the card and everything, but I'm sure some folks would give me some if I asked. It's pretty much mainstream here. I'll think about that.

The card is a waste of money. All you need is what they call a "recommendation" from a doctor. The appointment takes 10 minutes.

[BlueInanna]

How do you find the doctor for it? Should I ask my naturopath dr. friend?

[hamster-bamster]

Dr Whitehead is whom I used. Search for "belegallygreen". $99 for the initial consult and then $79 yearly afterwards.

[Blue Poppy]

I use trazadone, the only inconvenience is that it makes me sweat, sometimes horribly!

I also have clonazepam which I do take on occasion to sleep, especially if I have several days of bad sleep. The docs don't like to prescribe it though, to afraid that you'll get addicted.

[Moodmuse]

Try going off for about a week then go back on. Sometime the body needs a break. At least that's what I do.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[kindachaotic]

Have you tried Atarax/Vistaril? Basically an antihistamine used for nausea & antispasmodic.
It's prescription but the generic is cheap.
When desperate I use it, knocks me out for 8-10hrs.
Hope you get some relief.

[bluemountains]

Hey Blue,
I take klonopin, but I occasionally try to slow down because the more you take, the more you need! My recipe for success is benodryl when I need a good night's sleep, or even nyquil.(sp?) It is not a solution I use often, but when the prescribed stuff isn't working, I go back to these.
I have tried trazedone, but it is very unpredictable. I may not sleep at night, but the next day, all of the sudden, I cannot keep my eyes open-dangerous for driving! I must have a late reaction.
No matter what, I cannot stand it when I can't sleep. It affects every aspect of my mental health. I wish you lots of quick healing as you deal with this!
Bluemountains

[~Christina]

I use Halcion it's an older med . Cheap !! My pdoc is all about finding me the cheapest and most effective meds.