[Chickenkicker]

Howdy!

After hospital 4yrs ago during a delicate stage where I was experimenting with meds to deal with my new diagnosis of bipolar 2, I was bombed by a psych. This 'professional' had WAY more ego than brains, and I might have had better luck pissing into the wind then getting him to listen to me. I was in bad shape: lost 40lbs...couldn't drive for 9mos...kept walking around the dining room table cursing with my fingers in my hair. At one point I felt so hopeless and terrible I asked him if I were dying.

So I fired his ***. I found a nice psychiatrist without a penis and its associated ego...and we set about getting me back some normalcy. She did what Mr Knowitall should have done: scientifically brought me up on each med to see what worked...and what didn't. At the end of the day we determined the Zolpidem (Ambien) was the culprit.

After many decades of historically sleeping like rocks, I've been having trouble staying asleep more than 3hrs at a time...and its bothering me to no end. Obviously, I'll never take anything that resembles Ambien again, so I'm asking all of you what you use for a sleep med and how do you like it?

[raspberrytorte]

I don't really have a sleepy med right now.

But I take seroquel and that knocks me out for a good seven to eight hours.

Good luck!

I was on zolpidem for a brief period of time many years ago, and instead of putting me to sleep it made me more awake.

[Chickenkicker]

Thanks! Wish I could take Seroquel. My stepdaughter has been on it for at least 10yrs in the 600-800mg range, and it literally saved her life. So when I had a chance to try it I was chomping at the bit...and two hours later I was hugging porcelain. Oh well......

[skat]

I take Trazodone for sleep. It helps me fall asleep and stay asleep and in the morning I don't feel groggy. I really like it. I hope you find something that works for you!

I was a terrible sleeper until I started on Zyprexa (olanzapine) 10mg. Wasn't prescribed for sleep, but it was a nice side effect.

Ativan (lorazepam) also does it for me, but that's a benzo.

[alincdytyourmeds]

I take tamazapam, it's also a benzo, but it works some of the time, not if I am hypo, but most of the time.

[czarina1984]

I do rozarem and eszolpiclone (lunesta). The rozarem is an as needed add on to the eszolpiclone. I miss ambien though......

[Victoria'smom]

Remron, zyprexa

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by Chickenkicker

After many decades of historically sleeping like rocks, I've been having trouble staying asleep more than 3hrs at a time...and its bothering me to no end. Obviously, I'll never take anything that resembles Ambien again, so I'm asking all of you what you use for a sleep med and how do you like it?

Lunesta or klonopin. These work well for me.... but not together.

[Andydontsurf]

I take Seroquel XR as my AAP and it lets me sleep. Some nights are better than others but I can't sleep at all without it. I did ok with Zyprexa but it made me eat like a horse.

[violet66]

Seroquel + Ambien has been the best for me.