[Leia78]

I cannot sleep for more than about 3 hours at a time. I don't have any manic signs except my mind is racing when I go to bed and I think of everything I could of, should of, need to do, what's not going right... obsessive thinking about these things. This has been going on for weeks. It's frustrating and I'm irritable.

My psychiatrist gave me 5mg of valium last week but I've been taking it and it's not working. I used to take 15mg to sleep a few years back so I think I have a tolerance. Klonopin doesn't work, ativan doesn't work and none of the sleep meds like ambein or lunesta... none of those work. Trazadone makes me have nightmares and throw up.

I walk in my room now and see my bed and am immediately upset and frustrated because I know I am not going to be able to sleep.

I don't know what to do. I am thinking about asking for Gabapentin. I'm desperate. Does anyone take it for sleep and how much do you take for it to be effective?

Thanks for reading.

[Moose72]

Im sort of in the same boat except mine is due to a broken cpap machine. I wont be able to sleep and Im actually starting to have pangs of anxiety and worry over it.

[Leia78]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Im sort of in the same boat except mine is due to a broken cpap machine. I wont be able to sleep and Im actually starting to have pangs of anxiety and worry over it.

That's what it is! "pangs of anxiety and worry over it" Anxiety over sleeping on top of the stuff that is keeping me from sleeping.

I hope your c-pap issue is resolved soon. I know how important that is. My husband uses one every night also.

[xRavenx]

Sorry you're struggling with sleep. That's always been a major issue for me.
I was taking Gabapentin 900 mg (3x daily). Now I am down to 600 mg (2x daily).

It makes me a little sleepy, but I have to take more powerful medications with it in order to sleep (I always need at least one benzo + 1 sedating AP with Gabapentin). For some people though, Gabapentin by itself really does help for sleep, off label. It also helps alleviate a little bit of anxiety, but it's a matter of finding which dose works for you. It sounds like it's worth a shot. I don't get side effects from it, BTW. In my experience, it's more tolerable then a lot of other meds, but everyone's different.

[~Christina]

Doxe-pin has been a lifesaver for my insomnia, chronic all life but it normally gives me 4-6 hours a night....

I take the gabapentin during waking hours for anxiety. There have been times I forgot to take it and fell asleep on 900mg

I take Seroquel for sleep. One 25 mg pill knocks me flat out.

[emgreen]

Sleep is an issue for me, too. When depressed, I can sleep for 12 hours or more at a stretch. When I'm feeling better (like now) I keep waking up after 3-4 hours sleep. I don't worry much about mania unless I don't sleep at all for a few days, but it is frustratiing waking up at 3:00 in the morning & not being able to get back to sleep. I take two benzos (temazepam & klonopin) before bed, which should knock me out, but they don't do the job. It seems I'm never able to sleep an optimal 6-8 hours a night. I don't know that I'd call sleep an enemy, or that it causes undo anxiety, I just wish I could get a "normal" night's sleep.

[Zigy]

Originally Posted by Leia78

I cannot sleep for more than about 3 hours at a time. I don't have any manic signs except my mind is racing when I go to bed and I think of everything I could of, should of, need to do, what's not going right... obsessive thinking about these things. This has been going on for weeks. It's frustrating and I'm irritable.

My psychiatrist gave me 5mg of valium last week but I've been taking it and it's not working. I used to take 15mg to sleep a few years back so I think I have a tolerance. Klonopin doesn't work, ativan doesn't work and none of the sleep meds like ambein or lunesta... none of those work. Trazadone makes me have nightmares and throw up.

I walk in my room now and see my bed and am immediately upset and frustrated because I know I am not going to be able to sleep.

I don't know what to do. I am thinking about asking for Gabapentin. I'm desperate. Does anyone take it for sleep and how much do you take for it to be effective?

Thanks for reading.

Perhaps try Temazepam instead of Klonopin or Ativan. Bot are not really sleep medicines. Ask your doctor.