Help! Can't sleep!

I've tried Melitonin, NyQuil, lavender, doing my pdocs sleep suggestions, if awake at night and need water or use bathroom, only use a small light, then get back in bed. Bipolar need at least 8 hours of sleep. I'm only getting 4 if 5 a night. Also, I'm on Lamitcal and am having very vivid dreams, so real. Has anyone had this issue on Lamictal?
I have no problem following asleep, it's the waking up around 1-4am and can't following back to sleep.
My pdoc does not like Ambian, not good for your body. I'm going to call him today and see if he can prescribe something, though I know he's out of town doing seminars and such.
Until he returns, anyone suggest something over the counter?
Thx

L-Taurine, 500mg capsules. Take one to two in the evening. It is most effective when taken on an empty stomach.

You could also try L-Theanine during the day to try to keep relaxed. Buy a Theanine supplement made from Suntheanine (Jarrows Formulas is a brand which is), it is something like 92% L-Theanine whereas some companies cheap out on their processing and have high concentrations of D-Theanine, which does not provide the same benefits. I'd suggest taking a 200mg capsule in the morning and 200mg capsule in the afternoon 3pm.

Is Lamictal the only medication you are currently on? It may be worth consulting your psychiatrist before taking either of these if you are on more than Lamictal.

Lunesta, Sonota, Remeron, Valium, Trazodone, Flexerall, Zanaflex, Seroquel, Melatonin, Rozerem, Selinor, and Soma...best of luck!

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Lamictal can affect slep!

Be careful with Ambien...it made me suicidal.

I had insomnia for YEARS even when I thought that my bipolar was well controlled. I took alprazolam, lorazapam, trazadone, ambien, melatonin, nothing worked. I had kind of a relapse and we tweaked my risperidone and voila! I can now sleep through the night and it's the most amazing feeling I've had in a long time. I saw a sleep medicine doctor who told me that traditional "sleep" medications do not have long term efficacy. It's better to work with your bipolar meds to treat the underlying condition and practice good sleep hygiene. She also thought I might have a circadian rhythm disorder...your internal sleep clock doesn't match the clock of the outside world. I know I'm wide awake at night but dead in the morning. I know it doesn't always work in the real world, but if I'm allowed to go to bed and wake up on my own schedule I do much better. There are also ways of treating a circadian rhythm disorder. It might be helpful for you to see someone who specializes in treating sleep problems. My psychiatrist just kept throwing prescriptions at me and told me to not drink too much water before going to sleep. He wasn't very helpful.

I dont what other if any medication you take .. Some medications can be activating instead of sedating even if they are known for sedation ... I know someone that was on a AD and was prescribed to take it at nite before bed.. She was waking like you . Changing it to a am medication solved the problem...

Worth a try to sit down with your Pdoc and review your medications and when your taking them. If nothing changes its best to have a sleep study done.

Good luck

Yes, Lamitcal is the only one I'm on. I take 200mg at night, 100mg in the am.

Interesting, thank you

Stay away from benzos.. Valium klonopin Xanax. .. just Google benzo detox. .. sorry I'm so against these meds after being on klonopins for 3 years and being taken up to 4 1mg pills a day (they lose their affect and have to be upped over time).. worst med I've ever come off by a long shot... some people say worse then heroine. .

OTC antihistamines would work for a short while until you see the pdoc. This is not a propos of sleep but just a note in passing:

Monotherapy with such a high dose of Lamictal is very unusual.

Advil PM and Seroquel work great together!

I am also on 300mg of Lamictal as a monotherapy. I had the exact same problem with sleeping if I take any of it at night. I take the whole 300mg as soon as I wake up. DON;T TAKE ANY LAMICTAL IN THE PM, and see if this helps.

It also gives me weird, vivid dreams, and is quite stimulating for me. 300mg in the morning is better than coffee!