[Travelinglady]

I know folks with bipolar are told we need to get enough sleep each night, but why? Of course, not being able to sleep is a sign of mania. I was put on Seroquel to knock me out by one pdoc. My current one has me on Trazodone before bed. But can just not getting enough sleep trigger mania? Is being in bed, relaxed (and tired), but not sleeping okay? (I ask because I drank too much caffeine before going to bed last night and can't fall asleep even with the Trazodone.) Just wondering... What do you all think? Thanks!

[amicus_curiae]

Well...

I think that 50% of the members here are from North Carolina. I’m not, but I’ve visited and think that it’s a lovely state.

Sleep. I take large doses of antipsychotics and 150mg of Trazadone to sleep. If I’ve been up for a couple of days and feel the need to sleep, those meds knock me out. Maybe you should ask for a Seroquel/Trazadone combo?

I drink caffeinated beverages throughout the day but with my ‘sleep meds’ it makes no difference if I’ve just finished a pot of a highly caffeinated black tea.

Hmm. I don’t think that relaxation = sleep? Your brain and body are designed to sleep on a somewhat regular basis. What’s your current Trazadone dosage? And what was your previous Serquel dosage? Were you taking the latter only for sleep or as an antipsychotic, too?

When I take my AP’s and Trazadone I fall asleep quickly and have restful sleep. I’m in full mania now and I’ve not been sleeping for long periods but the sleep that I get is good.

You may want to ask your pdoc about the combo. Sure works for me.

I have decided I can function just fine with 6 hours of sleep at least 5 days a week. I can function OK on 2 or 3 hours a sleep a few times a week and normally if I sleep 3 hours one night, I sleep 6 the next (once in a while I sleep 7 hours ). I start drugging myself more when I get so wound up that I am only sleeping 2-3 hours night after night. Many times, not having to sleep so much is a blessing, I enjoy all the time I have alone to myself while others are asleep. I also try to be self reflective about -- am I starting to get irrational to gage if I need to take more medication; otherwise, I keep the xanax, gabapentin as light as possible (somedays I do not take them at all). By not taking them all the time--I find they are more effective/I don't build up as much tolerance. When I know I am manic (making bad decisions), I take both for about two weeks to calm it down then start backing off again. I have never tried Seroquel and Trazodone does not work well for me--it even causes me a lot of problems because it has some antidepressant properties so I think it actually contributed to my waking up in the middle of the night feeling sort of antsy and twitchy (so I would be forced to get up)--I think this was happened as a result of my bupropion dose and the trazodone being too high when taken together.

[*Laurie*]

If I don't get enough sleep, it's dangerous. My moods and reactions will be so extreme I wouldn't be able to function normally at all.

[Sometimes psychotic]

In my case they worry not enough sleep will trigger psychosis.....