[xRavenx]

As we all know how much Bipolar affects sleep, I'd really like to know what helps everyone? If you can name either a medication(s) that work well for you any other particular remedy, please share. I figured it would be best to ask everyone here, since you know how tough it can be to sleep when it comes to mania/hypomania/BP in general. I'd like to know all that is out there that might help with sleep to explore more options. Thanks.

[enickols]

100mg of Seroquel! Works like a charm every time!

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by enickols

100mg of Seroquel! Works like a charm every time!

Sorry, I forgot to add in my post that I am taking Seroquel and want to see what else helps. I'm currently on 400 mg, used to be on up to 800 mg.....I heard that lower doses are more sedating though? It's been a while since I have been on a low dose, and I might have become too used to its effects, and I need at least 300 mg to experience the mood stabilizing effects at minimum. During the worst episodes, I need at least 600 mg at least with other mood stabilizers.

I'm wondering if there's anything else out there, since Seroquel has its downsides for me?

[enickols]

I’m not sure what else is out there but 100mg knocks me out like a light and my mood is VERY stable the following morning! That’s a humongous dose you’re on! The med works VERY differently at various doses.

[all74]

Honestly what helps me the most is my CPAP. I read an article that said there is a correlation between Bipolar and sleep apnea. Do you stay asleep once you fall asleep? If not, maybe a sleep study would be helpful.

To fall asleep I use clonazepam. The only bummer is that I find that it has a window: if I take it but then wait an hour or two before I get in bed it's worn off. I have to take it right when I get in bed.

Cannabis. I know its very controversial with bipolar and not legal everywhere. I have a prescription here and take it in baked goods. A rice krispie square before bed kind of thing. I sleep better than I have in my whole life.

Oh I also have a weighted blanket. I have serious anxiety and the weight soothes me.

[enickols]

Originally Posted by all74

Honestly what helps me the most is my CPAP. I read an article that said there is a correlation between Bipolar and sleep apnea. Do you stay asleep once you fall asleep? If not, maybe a sleep study would be helpful.

To fall asleep I use clonazepam. The only bummer is that I find that it has a window: if I take it but then wait an hour or two before I get in bed it's worn off. I have to take it right when I get in bed.

Sometimes the Seroquel reaches a point where I need more to sleep. When that happens to skip a few days then go back to my 100mg and it works again! I’ve been prescribed Klonopin as well but i don’t use it for sleep as it’s very easy to build a dependency! I depend on my Seroquel for sleep at 100 or some times 50mg.

[Aliceiw]

seroquel all the way. I never slept so regularly before it. I used to take half of the dose of zquil, an over the counter sleep aid and it did help quite a bit... I would ask you doctor I suppose before that (as with any over the counter medications) but it's basically liquid allergy medication.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by all74

Honestly what helps me the most is my CPAP. I read an article that said there is a correlation between Bipolar and sleep apnea. Do you stay asleep once you fall asleep? If not, maybe a sleep study would be helpful.

To fall asleep I use clonazepam. The only bummer is that I find that it has a window: if I take it but then wait an hour or two before I get in bed it's worn off. I have to take it right when I get in bed.

Getting to sleep is more of a problem than staying asleep. However, maybe a sleep study would reveal something. I do know that my anxiety is off the charts and that really affects my ability to get to sleep. Clonazepam sometimes helps (combined with Seroquel and Gabapentin), but even that takes too long lately. My thoughts race when I transition between trying to sleep to a deeper sleep. With anxiety and mania, it's extremely difficult to sleep when at its worse.

[Victoria'smom]

Zyprexa and if that fails ambien.

Combination of cannabis (a nice pleasant purple/lavender kush strain), with 150mg of trazadone. And yeah, seroquel here, too (but if you’re at 800mg seroquel, go for one or the other two first mentioned).

[Wild Coyote]

Temazepam.
I just don't dare take it right now due to the number of bedtime meds I am currently taking.

WC

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

Zyprexa and if that fails ambien.

I never tried Zyprexa. If I need to switch AP's, I was wondering what else is sedating out there besides Seroquel, so this is good to know. Thanks.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

Temazepam.
I just don't dare take it right now due to the number of bedtime meds I am currently taking.

WC

Thank you. I never tried that one either. I think a while back I remember someone mentioning it. I'll keep this in mind to ask, if my pdoc suggests a med change.

[Carmina]

I was taking Mirtazipine for insomnia and depression for several years and it always worked well but when I came off it earlier this year it had a severe adverse effect on my sleeping and I still haven't got back to a good pattern, I think long term use of these drugs actually damages your bodies natural ability to sleep. I have had some success with Melatonin which at least is more natural and as a last resort when I can't sleep at all and really need to catch up I take Promethazine which really knocks me out but also makes me drowsy in the morning. At least both of these do not mess with my body's sleep systems so much, but ideally I'd love to not have to rely on anything.

Playing meditation music overnight helps somewhat, as does sleep hygiene but that's basic anyway.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by Carmina

I was taking Mirtazipine for insomnia and depression for several years and it always worked well but when I came off it earlier this year it had a severe adverse effect on my sleeping and I still haven't got back to a good pattern, I think long term use of these drugs actually damages your bodies natural ability to sleep. I have had some success with Melatonin which at least is more natural and as a last resort when I can't sleep at all and really need to catch up I take Promethazine which really knocks me out but also makes me drowsy in the morning. At least both of these do not mess with my body's sleep systems so much, but ideally I'd love to not have to rely on anything.

Playing meditation music overnight helps somewhat, as does sleep hygiene but that's basic anyway.

Thank you. I feel the same way and have been wondering about whether my body is so completely dependent on substances for sleep (prescription that is). I never tried Melatonin and always wondered if it would help someone like me who has typically needed some powerful medication to sleep. I'd be willing to try it. I don't like the idea of relying on medication for sleep. I have a feeling I'd have really bad withdrawal if I ever wanted to stop Seroquel, because I can't even get by on nights where I don't take it. Meditation is something that I see as valuable. Anxiety sometimes hinders my ability, but it seems youtube has some good meditation guides that people upload.

[bluemountains]

Now that I take my entire dose of geodon after my evening meal and take klonopin before bed, I am able to sleep through the night. When I was on the twice a day schedule for geodon, I was hardly able to stay awake about an hour after taking it during the day, but I could not sleep throughout the night, so my pdoc said if I could tolerate it (I'm not sure what!) I could take the entire dose in the evening.
So far, so good.
Btw, she says wants me to begin tapering off of klonopin soon, so I may be awake again. I have been taking klonopin for many too years now, so in theory I agree with her. I just hope it works.

[tecomsin]

I'm definitely in the camp of not wanting to take a daily medication to sleep because I believe that in the end reduces the body and mind's intrinsic ability to fall and stay asleep. When I was on zyprexa I slept through the night but it also triggered pre-diabetes. Now I take rexulti 2 mg in the morning and it is not sedating the way olanzapine is. I also occasionally tak 50 mg of lyrica if, when I wake up at night, I can't get back to sleep. If I were to take it regularly I'd have to continually up the dose but used occasionally lyrica will knock me to sleep and keep me that way and I also don't wake up with my usual chronic pain.

Three things:

1. Seroquel XR - not too much, not too little. It varies during the course of the year. This is really the only one of my four main psych meds that my psychiatrist tweaks anymore. Right now I'm on 500 mg and sleep a little too much, though I'm happily stable. He said to lower it to 450 mg on New Year's Day and we'll discuss two weeks later.

2. My sound machine, when needed. I like rainfall, ocean, meadow, or brook.

3. Yogurt

Extra mention: If I'm really agitated, anxious, or stirred up and I don't want to take extra prn Seroquel, I'll take an Ativan, but I don't like to do that.

[xRavenx]

Hmm...never tried Geodon. I'd really like my pdoc to let me know which AP's are the most sedating, besides Seroquel. It's hard, because I need sleep, but I also needed the antipsychotic/mood stabilization properties of the meds. I know I wouldn't be able to get by with an AP, so this is worth exploring. Latuda and Abilify were way too activating, so those are out. Seroquel XR made me feel really weird during the day. I also never tried a sound machine, so I can see how that works.

[VerMOZZica]

I take latuda after dinner .I also take alprazolam (xanax) and rexulti at bedtime.

[99fairies]

24 mg of zoplicone and I'm totally knocked out.

[Unrigged64072835]

I'm on 3mg of Lunesta for sleep, but my pnurse is considering me off of it. As long as my mind is not racing over something I fall asleep quickly. It doesn't help me stay asleep, though. I used to take Vistaril as well but with being on Viibryd it made my sleep apnea worse.

I can usually clear my mind so I fall asleep faster. Just not think of anything.

Honestly the best thing would not to sleep with my husband, since he wakes up really early. I don't think that would go over well, though. :/

[Carmina]

Originally Posted by 99fairies

24 mg of zoplicone and I'm totally knocked out.

My doc doesn't trust me with that one.

[Nammu]

A sleep routine of going to bed at midnight with a book

Latuda, ambien, melatonin and Benadryl

All taken when I'm in bed.
Not sure the latuda does anything for sleep but I take at bed time
Ambien puts me to sleep
Melatonin keeps me asleep
Benadryl helps me breathe though my nose