[quasicrystalline]

This hypomania/maybe mania now (?) is getting really, really dysphoric. I feel like if I could do productive things, it'd been less irritating, but I AM attempting to sleep yet. Two nights of damn near no sleep, and a week or less than perfect sleep. I wish I could just flick a switch and make it happen, but I'm not tired at all. I just lie there and kind of half dream, but I'm really still awake. My brain will not shut up. At all. The Seroquel makes me a little zombielike right after I take it, which I'm really hating right now, but I absolutely CANNOT sleep. Not even Ativan knocked me out. I'm so tempted to just not take the Seroquel because I'd feel less drunk then, but I won't. That's a really, really, really bad idea.

Does anyone have any tips for how to sleep while manic? I've tried just about every sleeping pill out there, and I'm not willing to turn to anything illegal... It's frustrating. I feel like my only two options are to continue trying and then only get more frustrated when I can't or just staying up and enjoying it. I realize my medications likely need to be tweaked, but I have no idea when I'll get to see my new psych doctor. Haven't been called yet. In the meantime, I want to do everything in my power not to get hospitalized. I'm wide awake right now, so I'm going to try to do fun (not reckless) things to burn off the energy.

I'm just so irritable. I feel like throwing or breaking things, but I won't. The impulse is so strong, but I'm usually pretty good at fighting it.

I have often heard melatonin does the trick. It hasnt worked on me, but I have tried. Unfortunately if you have tried everything, including your prescriptions from your doc, the only other thing you can do is go back to your doc and request to try something else to aid you in sleep.

[BlackSheep79]

What dosage are you on for Seroquel? I'm currently on 400 mg. When I was at 300 mg I would have a few weeks of hypo and have difficulties with getting to sleep and getting into a deep sleep. I still have some problems but not as bad. What I do is pop like two Benadryl and it works. You need to get to your pdoc, your on a bad road as you already know.

[quasicrystalline]

Thank you both. I feel somewhat in control of myself right now and feel like I could manage my mood for a while longer.

I'm on 400 mg as well. It worked for a little bit, but not anymore. I used Benadryl for years, but not anymore. Sometimes I'd take up to four, and now for some reason, it hypes me up more than it calms me down. I've taken doxylamine succinate (the sedating part of Nyquil) instead of diphenhydramine. It's the strongest you can get over the counter. Sometimes that will placate me a little, but the quality of sleep I get on it is terrible. I've tried Trazadone, Ambien (Made me do too many things IN my sleep!), various other prescriptions, all kind of herbal "sleepy" or "relaxation" teas, Valerian root, Melatonin, hypnotization apps, listening to calming music, etc. They all seem to work sometimes, but not always, depending on my current state. It seems like my brain is bound and determined NOT to sleep sometimes. If I can just give into it and enjoy being up, I don't mind it so much. I know I should sleep, but sometimes it's just pointless. My brain is still going a thousand miles an hours and I don't feel tired. If I try, I just get really irritated with myself. It feels like everything inside me is buzzing with all this energy.

I've contacted the human resources center where I am. I see my therapist there, and as soon as I can get in with the psychiatrist I'll see her there, too, but tonight I'm going to talk to someone else from there and we'll come up with a game plan. I hope it doesn't involve hospitalization, but if so, I've decided I'll go voluntarily.

The irritability seems to be down right now, and I just feel pretty buzzed and happy, but that might be a bad sign. Feels right, though.

[BlackSheep79]

Originally Posted by quasicrystalline

Thank you both. I feel somewhat in control of myself right now and feel like I could manage my mood for a while longer.

I'm on 400 mg as well. It worked for a little bit, but not anymore. I used Benadryl for years, but not anymore. Sometimes I'd take up to four, and now for some reason, it hypes me up more than it calms me down. I've taken doxylamine succinate (the sedating part of Nyquil) instead of diphenhydramine. It's the strongest you can get over the counter. Sometimes that will placate me a little, but the quality of sleep I get on it is terrible. I've tried Trazadone, Ambien (Made me do too many things IN my sleep!), various other prescriptions, all kind of herbal "sleepy" or "relaxation" teas, Valerian root, Melatonin, hypnotization apps, listening to calming music, etc. They all seem to work sometimes, but not always, depending on my current state. It seems like my brain is bound and determined NOT to sleep sometimes. If I can just give into it and enjoy being up, I don't mind it so much. I know I should sleep, but sometimes it's just pointless. My brain is still going a thousand miles an hours and I don't feel tired. If I try, I just get really irritated with myself. It feels like everything inside me is buzzing with all this energy.

I've contacted the human resources center where I am. I see my therapist there, and as soon as I can get in with the psychiatrist I'll see her there, too, but tonight I'm going to talk to someone else from there and we'll come up with a game plan. I hope it doesn't involve hospitalization, but if so, I've decided I'll go voluntarily.

The irritability seems to be down right now, and I just feel pretty buzzed and happy, but that might be a bad sign. Feels right, though.

I understand what your going thru. I have done the NyQuil thing, I've even taken that and 4 Benadryl, I was desperate. I've done the herbals as well. My pdoc told me that the Benadryl can have the opposite effect as well, it can be stimulating, because that happened to me too, so I only take it when I need to. I have the same problem, my brain just never wants to shut off. I can't get to sleep and I can't stay asleep. If I wasn't on the Seroquel I would maybe sleep 2-3 hours, and that's when I'm not hypo. I hope you get the help you need fast.

[Ruftin]

My doc has me on Restoril and Ativan. Very effective for me. Have you tried this combo?

[IrishLass]

I take 600 mg/Seroquel at night. It works well. Maybe you need a bump up?

[quasicrystalline]

I've never had Restoril before. Heard it's good.

I have a plan now. If I don't sleep tonight, I'll see a the on call psychiatrist tomorrow at the closest inpatient facility. Currently, I'm feeling pretty good. Probably too good. Maybe it's mixed. My mood seems to be anything from frantic to elated to who knows what's next. Thanks all. It's so nice to know I'm not the only one who experiences things like this.