[cool09]

And no one can help me. Sleeping pills don't work. It's been 4 months of insomnia caused by mirapex. So I stopped mirapex 2 weeks ago and still have the insomnia. I read it could go on for weeks or months. I'm going to end up in IP soon, I'm so miserable from insomnia and withdrawal effects. The doctors didn't warn me of such a horrible withdrawal when they first administered it. I can't face the people at IP again with the staff staring at you all the time and turning their backs when I have a problem or the med nurses giving me a hard time. I'm ready to give up.

[glennk]

Originally Posted by cool09

And no one can help me. Sleeping pills don't work. It's been 4 months of insomnia caused by mirapex. So I stopped mirapex 2 weeks ago and still have the insomnia. I read it could go on for weeks or months. I'm going to end up in IP soon, I'm so miserable from insomnia and withdrawal effects. The doctors didn't warn me of such a horrible withdrawal when they first administered it. I can't face the people at IP again with the staff staring at you all the time and turning their backs when I have a problem or the med nurses giving me a hard time. I'm ready to give up.

What are you taking? I'm assuming you've tried all of the hypnotics available. What about any of the atypical anti-psychotics? I know a hospital stays suck, but if things are really bad they can change your meds faster in a hospital than at home.

Forgot to ask, are you taking the Mirapex for RLS?

[*Laurie*]

Makes me so angry when I hear of a patient who has withdrawals from a medication and when the patient was initially prescribed the med, no one told that patient that there would be w/d that all but ruins (or does ruin) their life.

Please know that there is hope.


What are you referring to when you say "sleeping pills"?

It is true (as I'm sure you know) that being IP expedites medication review. If you do go IP, try to remain focused on that goal and not get attached to all the crappy part of being IP. I know that's very difficult, but you can do it. Once your sleep is improved, everything will be much more do-able for you.

btw, Shine on You Crazy Diamond is one of the most gorgeous songs ever created.

[glennk]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Makes me so angry when I hear of a patient who has withdrawals from a medication and when the patient was initially prescribed the med, no one told that patient that there would be w/d that all but ruins (or does ruin) their life.

Please know that there is hope.


What are you referring to when you say "sleeping pills"?

It is true (as I'm sure you know) that being IP expedites medication review. If you do go IP, try to remain focused on that goal and not get attached to all the crappy part of being IP. I know that's very difficult, but you can do it. Once your sleep is improved, everything will be much more do-able for you.

btw, Shine on You Crazy Diamond is one of the most gorgeous songs ever created.

We still know very little about the brain. It truly is the last part of the human body fully mapped out. Psychiatric drugs are mostly a hit-or-miss adventure. Are we better off as a society with these medications? Do the positives outweigh the negatives? For me, that is a resounding "yes".

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by glennk

We still know very little about the brain. It truly is the last part of the human body fully mapped out. Psychiatric drugs are mostly a hit-or-miss adventure. Are we better off as a society with these medications? Do the positives outweigh the negatives? For me, that is a resounding "yes".

I think you've misunderstood my post.
I fully support anyone's need to take medication. I have been on psych meds for 30 years.

My problem is not with the medication. It's with doctors who don't acknowledge that a medication is probably physically addictive and could cause severe withdrawal. I could be incorrect, but I assume that cool09 did not know the Mirapex would be an addictive medication.

For example: I was prescribed Klonopin when I was 23. At the time benzos were extremely popular and were being handed out to patients as if the medication was Halloween candy. When the pdoc prescribed the K-pin he assured me that there would be no problem with stopping it. The K-pin worked well for me, so I remained on it for many years.

Finally I decided to try going off of it. I taped down over 2 months and wound up in such severe withdrawal that I could seldom leave my bed. Eventually, walking from my bedroom to my driveway became impossible because my legs were so weak. I discussed things with my pdoc and was put back on Klonopin.

Basically, I have been on Klonopin for 32 years, save for the few months I was off of it and in withdrawal.

As you might know, benzos have become very unpopular. My pdoc talks adamantly about getting me off the K-pin eventually. I am extremely afraid of trying to stop the medication because I fear that I will be extremely ill. Yet, I would very much like to be able to stop taking it.

Some pdocs in recent years have acted like it's my fault that I am physically addicted to K-pin - even though I have never abused it. That is not only unfair to me; it is unethical. When the benzo was initially prescribed the pdoc should have told me that the long-term effects of the Klonopin were unknown. That was not what I was told, at all. Because a medication trend changes does not mean the patient is responsible for the changes, regardless of how much knowledge science has or doesn't have about the brain.

[Blueberrybook]

Are they giving you anything for sleep? Seroquel puts me out. I used to be able to fall asleep & stay asleep most times with a combo of hydroxyzine & trazodone. As for over the counter meds (when I was trying to get pregnant), I combined a combo of melatonin and valerian (stinks to high heaven). I don't think it is recommended to combine the 2, but it was the only thing that worked for me.

[*Laurie*]

I'm also wondering if you've tried Seroquel?

[emgreen]

I can relate to your feeling sick due to lack of sleep...cumulatively. You can take it for a few days but, after that, the loss of sleep hours start to add up. I recently went through a period like that. I know SSRIs aren't indicated as a proper treatment for those who have bipolar, but it does tend to give me a bump out of depression. Anyways, once I went off Trintellix (a SSRI) my problems seemed to even out. I always have trouble sleeping this time of year, but extreme sleep deprivation is a dangerous thing. If you fear you're having too hard a time with it, a short IP might help you with your meds.

[Zigy]

Have you tried Temazepam (Restoril) for sleep?

[pirilin]

I heard they're selling it by the pound at Walmart.

[Fuzzybear]

[Blueberrybook]

I have bad sleep problems. Restoril never did a thing to help me, but at least it was better than the panic attacks Ambien gave me.

[~Christina]

Doxipen and a Xanax helps me, everything else was useless.

I’m a lifelong insomniac but this is the only thing that has helped for a decent amount of time.

Sorry your suffering.