[TRNRMOM]

i know longer am under care of p/doc since getting off lithium completely after 35 yrs. and using internist to monitor my seroquel/klonopin. use 1/2 25mg. seroquel nightly for the best sleep with vivid dreams but 40 min. hangover in a.m. which is fine with me, but we are planning some really long distance travel from az. to fla. for 3 days; london for 3 days, then on to south africa for 2 weeks; returning from south africa thru england, staying in fla. for 3 days and then returning to az. in the past even a 1 or 2 hr. time change kicks me into mania (i'm bp2, have hypomania but no depression) and we will be flying business class (apparently lying down on seats that are similar to a bed to insure i get the best sleep possible during these trips) BUT I AM ASKING YOU TRAVELERS WHAT'S THE BEST MED. I CAN USE TO INSURE GOOD SLEEP KNOWING REGARDLESS, I WILL SUFFER DESTABILIZATION. SHOULD I INCREASE MY SEROQUEL TO 25MG. OR ADD AMBIEN TO THE MIX (I USE THIS COMBO WHEN REALLY MANIC AND UNABLE TO SLEEP WITH JUST 1/2 25MG. SEROQUEL). HAVE READ PROS AND CONS ABOUT MELOTONIN AND TRYTOPHAN. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY/ALL INPUT.

Hi, I cant help with your main questions, but as one who just ended a year of world travel I want to say congrats on your trip! I know traveling is difficult for us bipolars, but the trade-off of the value of travel with learning and growing is so immense.

Have a great trip!

[Curiosity77]

I would go with ambien to be sure you sleep, as long as your flights are long enough to sleep it off before you have to navigate around an airport and finding your luggage or making flight connections. Are you traveling alone or with people?

[r010159]

Melatonin resets ones biological clock, or so it is said.

[Trippin2.0]

Just curious since you don't suffer the depressions... what the worst you get up to while hypo?

If its nothing too destructive, and its not dysphoric, then you may want to consider embracing the energy and other wonders it brings while travelling.

If that's not an option ( it wouldn't be for me personally, as my hypos are only nice for 4 days, after which it turns nasty ) well then I agree that sedation would be the way to go.

I have no real tips to offer but I know that Melatonin, although not a sedative, helps to regulate your circadian rythm and thus helps maintain a regular sleep schedule.

[TRNRMOM]

Originally Posted by Curiosity77

I would go with ambien to be sure you sleep, as long as your flights are long enough to sleep it off before you have to navigate around an airport and finding your luggage or making flight connections. Are you traveling alone or with people?

traveling w/hubby and another couple; shortest leg of trip is 9 hrs. and after a few days, trip from london to so. africa is about 12+ hrs. usually ambien does nothing for me but put me to sleep and not keep me asleep and it doesn't stop my racing thoughts; seroquel does but am wondering if i should up the dosage of seroquel…only combine ambien + seroquel when really manic at nite but thankfully those notes are few and far between.

[Curiosity77]

Originally Posted by TRNRMOM

traveling w/hubby and another couple; shortest leg of trip is 9 hrs. and after a few days, trip from london to so. africa is about 12+ hrs. usually ambien does nothing for me but put me to sleep and not keep me asleep and it doesn't stop my racing thoughts; seroquel does but am wondering if i should up the dosage of seroquel…only combine ambien + seroquel when really manic at nite but thankfully those notes are few and far between.

My thought is take whatever you think will put you to sleep, so if that's seroquel and ambien, go with that. But maybe run it by your pdoc first to get their approval?

[TRNRMOM]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Just curious since you don't suffer the depressions... what the worst you get up to while hypo?

If its nothing too destructive, and its not dysphoric, then you may want to consider embracing the energy and other wonders it brings while travelling.


If that's not an option ( it wouldn't be for me personally, as my hypos are only nice for 4 days, after which it turns nasty ) well then I agree that sedation would be the way to go.

I have no real tips to offer but I know that Melatonin, although not a sedative, helps to regulate your circadian rythm and thus helps maintain a regular sleep schedule.

after being on only 450mg. of lithium for 35 yrs. and it damaging my thyroid, parathyroid and now having kidney issues, i got off lithium and find that sleep is my big trigger;if i don't get 8-9 hrs. of good sleep, i'm irritable/angry and always needing to catch up the next day; i'm 68 yrs. old and free to do whatever and i will not hold the other couple back when we travel; hubby and i have been to london/so. africa and i am willing to be destabilized for the return to so. africa and the safaris but i know how miserable i am physically/emotionally w/o sleep and my moods haven't changed in nearly a yr. off the low doses of lithium; think the 1/2 klonopin daily and seroquel at nite are sufficient but want to be out cold and sleep well when dealing w/so many time zone changes.