[MuddyBoots]

And what do you do?

This is going to be my fourth night of no sleep in the past week and a half, and other than the night I took a ton of temazepam and seroquel I haven't exactly been getting many hours when I do sleep and it's broken. My t seemed like my lack of sleep was no big deal when I talked to her so maybe I'm just making a fuss about nothing, but still I hate all these extra hours of being awake. I see myself becoming more irritable and yesterday was questioning if I'm becoming depressed or mixed but chalked it up to all the extra meds I took.

Possible trigger:

sh or using are starting to look like good options again. I know not to and can keep myself safe though.

I see my t again in five days. Right now I think I can make it, but I don't want to be in a full-on episode by then, and I know she won't help too much obviously she can't make me fall asleep or prevent worse things from happening.

[FluffyDinosaur]

I would definitely be worried about this. For me sleep disturbances are one of the earliest warning signs. In your case it sounds to me like it's maybe already getting past early stages.

With regard to Seroquel, lower dosages work better for sleep than higher dosages. For me 50mg XR works best for sleep, although some people take as little as 12.5mg. Sometimes after a while the sedating effect lessens. In that case I sometimes find it helpful to cut out the Seroquel for a day or two so that it works better again after that.

[Soupe du jour]

I think that if your insomnia is contributing to desires for SH, it is already at the point of being urgent. Please stay safe

For me, one night of zero sleep is already concerning to the point of a PRN or vigilance to get sleep. Two nights of zero sleep definitely require extra PRNs and as many sleep inducing methods as possible. However, I do sometimes just have reduced sleep days (like 3 to 5 hours per night only). I still work the above, but I maybe give it a bit longer before being that worried or contacting my psychiatrist.

[The Black Dog]

I agree it is very important. Even one night makes a difference in symptoms. If you have been up for two nights or longer it might be time to reach out to the doc.

[*Beth*]

4 nights is way too many, Sapien. I'm surprised and dismayed that your pdoc took sleep issues lightly!


I'm literally afraid of not getting sufficient sleep. For one reason, I feel physically terrible when I don't sleep enough. The other reason is that I know I will lose stability if I'm not sleeping.

[Gabyunbound]

Lack of sleep, even one night, is the surest sign I am starting to go through an episode. I take Klonopin AND low-dose Seroquel to sleep precisely because of this. I'm actually trying to go with Klonopin only, because both means I need some 13 hours of sleep. I go to bed so early, to get enough sleep, I don't have much of a life. It's the sacrifice I make for stability. But, as I say, I will be discussing sticking with only klonopin, to at least see if it's enough, with my pdoc next week.

Four nights, in my opinion, is WAY too much. Even if you're not someone who is triggered into episodes in this way (we all have our own triggers), lack of sleep affects mood regardless. And certainly affects us physically as well.

You said you spoke to your T about this, but have you talked to your pdoc? I suggest you get in to speak to your pdoc asap; so so much is on the line.

Best of luck to you

[MuddyBoots]

My pnurse said a while back if I start to show warning signs, to restart the Seroquel regularly and Tegretol. Only I'm allergic to tegretol and get toxic at really low doses and I don't want to have to take benadryl every 4 hours (yeah, I don't know why she would want me back on it either). I guess these are my warning signs.

Took 50mg seroquel about an hour ago and really the only thing that's different is I'm hungry and have a headache. Not sleepy or even feeling the slightest bit calmer.

[wolftrap]

I agree with everyone else Sapien. Lack of sleep is a big contributor to instability. I take 250mg Seroquel at night and that works well for me. Perhaps you can discuss increasing your Seroquel, limiting the others, and see how that goes? I too am surprised that your team is not taking this more seriously.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Sapien

My pnurse said a while back if I start to show warning signs, to restart the Seroquel regularly and Tegretol. Only I'm allergic to tegretol and get toxic at really low doses and I don't want to have to take benadryl every 4 hours (yeah, I don't know why she would want me back on it either). I guess these are my warning signs.

Took 50mg seroquel about an hour ago and really the only thing that's different is I'm hungry and have a headache. Not sleepy or even feeling the slightest bit calmer.

What about Seroquel and melatonin?

[MuddyBoots]

Originally Posted by BethRags

What about Seroquel and melatonin?

Melatonin has never done anything for me, but I haven't tried it in over a year or combined with Seroquel so maybe if I took the two together now it'd work, I dunno. Worth a try though, thanks

[*Beth*]

Honestly, melatonin had never done jack for me, either. When my pdoc suggested it I felt kind-of annoyed because I had already told her melatonin had never helped me.


I finally became so desperate for sleep that I took 10mg. melatonin with 12.5mg Seroquel and was very surprised at how well it worked.