[Crazynurse]

Ok, at this posting, I have now slept 5 hours out of 60 hours. I called my new Psych (as of Dec) yesterday and still haven't heard back....called again this morning and was told by the answering service that "she wouldn't be in til 2pm, call back". I THOUGHT that just maybe they could deliver the message that I had not received a return call yesterday and she could call me prior to seeing patients for the day! Evidently Not!!!!!

Currently I'm taking: Neurontin 3600mg a day, Lamictal 50mg a day (recent addition and titrating up), Ambien 10mg at bedtime (yeah right) which has become non-effective for me (obviously), Phenergan 25mg prn every 4hrs (used for sedative side effect and to treat neuro pain left over from brain aneurism in August)........Wondering what sleepers have been effective for ya'll.....been on Ambien for about 10 years and I think my body is laughing in it's face!!!! Also, When Does The Lamictal kick in?

Feels like my skin is crawling off my body. I no sooner try to sit to eat, rest or converse with my hubby and I jump up to take care of something/anything that has diverted me...I have spring cleaned til I've scrubbed the paint off the walls and have the attention span of a Knat!!! I come on here to try and focus and at least let my body rest even if my brain won't. I talk so fast, people have to stop me and tell me to slow down...my daughter and hubby tell me it sounds like I'm speaking in Chinese. Manic for 3 weeks now, before that crash that lasted couple of days and before that manic about a week......no rest for the weary. I feel like that book title from the 70's....I'm Dancing As Fast As I Can !!!

I'm running on.....I don't know what I'm asking from ya'll.....had much needed support this morning in Support Chat from some very special people....ya'll know who you are!!!! I'm just asking opinions, support, to know I'm not alone in this; LOL somebody to give me a longer rope cause I'm at the knot !!!

[Liberada]

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^ that is another rope and I knotted it good

((((((nurse))))))

[madisgram]

ah, ((CN)), used to have those mania moments a lot. i thought, well i should lose weight cause i was so jacked up. you sound a lot like me....our sense of humor may save us in the end...of the knot. lol.
i take neurontin. what i discovered was when i was on higher doses like you are sometimes it would throw me into mania. i'm wondering if that could possibly be part of the situation with you. when i moved and got a new pdoc she recommended we lower the doseage. i kicked and screamed (in my head cause it has helped me soooo much with the BPD) but said ok let's try that. well it worked!!! now i take 900mg/day. now i'm not advocating you reduce yours without consulting with the pdoc but it might be something you want to bring up in a question.
don't take lamictal but most of these type meds take from 15-28 days to reach their theuraputic level in our body. i know lamictal has to be raised in increments when you first start, so best i can say is to hang in there...at the end of the knot! don't let go!!! my neice is BP too and lamictal is the bomb-diggity for her. she has responded well to it. so hopefully you will soon start to feel results from it.
feel free to pm me anytime...sounds like you have a very supportive family. that is especially appreciated when we are out of sorts, jme. my son is so understanding even tho he has no idea how racy i feel inside. he does see some of it on the outside when i go motor mouth a mile a minute...and he says, mom,mom, breathe, breathe, come up for air....it's so funny. hope you have a great day.

[Michah]

Don't have much on the sleep thing........Sleep and I are cautious enemies.......tablets do nothing for me. Just know that I hear you and pray(sorry if you are not religious) that your body and mind reach some sort of truce........lets exchange knots........maybe they will rejuvinate:hug

[JourneyUpward]

{{{CN}}} I can relate to your sleep problem! Sooo sorry that Ambien no longer works. I have the same problem and my Pdoc started me on 200 mg of Seroquel at night primarily to help me sleep but it also helps to stabilize moods. In the morning I take 100 mg of Lamictal as a mood stabilizer and 75 mg of Cymbalta to take the edge off depressive episodes. So far, for me, this mix works like a charm. When hypomania is occasionally in high gear (breaks through), then I'll take the Ambien on top of the Seroquel--if it doesn't knock me out for the night, it at least helps me eventually get a few hours sleep. 3 or 4 is better than 0, 1 or 2. I hope your new doc will help you find your "right mix". Lamictal takes at least 2 to 3 weeks to kick in and 50 mg isn't enough for a theraputic dose. 100 mg isn't either but I am extremely sensitive to meds to it works for me. Lamictal is supposed to help tone down the mania and help suppress depressive episodes. It helped tone down my depression, but my hypomania had a field day. I loved it--I was happy and chatty, etc. But my mania can sometimes be irritable, agressive and not too nice. The Seroquel at night has evened me out but I have to admit, I miss the happy chatty me. I'm rambling--sorry. Hope you find what works for you.
Journey

[Crazynurse]

Originally Posted by JourneyUpward

{{{CN}}} I can relate to your sleep problem! Sooo sorry that Ambien no longer works. I have the same problem and my Pdoc started me on 200 mg of Seroquel at night primarily to help me sleep but it also helps to stabilize moods. In the morning I take 100 mg of Lamictal as a mood stabilizer and 75 mg of Cymbalta to take the edge off depressive episodes. So far, for me, this mix works like a charm. When hypomania is occasionally in high gear (breaks through), then I'll take the Ambien on top of the Seroquel--if it doesn't knock me out for the night, it at least helps me eventually get a few hours sleep. 3 or 4 is better than 0, 1 or 2. I hope your new doc will help you find your "right mix". Lamictal takes at least 2 to 3 weeks to kick in and 50 mg isn't enough for a theraputic dose. 100 mg isn't either but I am extremely sensitive to meds to it works for me. Lamictal is supposed to help tone down the mania and help suppress depressive episodes. It helped tone down my depression, but my hypomania had a field day. I loved it--I was happy and chatty, etc. But my mania can sometimes be irritable, agressive and not too nice. The Seroquel at night has evened me out but I have to admit, I miss the happy chatty me. I'm rambling--sorry. Hope you find what works for you.
Journey

Thanks for this...it was encouraging. Pdoc finally contacted me and changed Lamictal to mornings from evenings and Thurs I titrate up to 100mg a day, changed my sleeper and gave short script for Thorazine (ugh, won't take that long but need to be put down for awhile I guess.... must admit haven't taken the first one at this writing since this drug is sorta scarey to me),

I have taken Seroquel in the past but "we" didn't get along too good, never did get the right dose going, I was also on Geodon in the past for a year and won't do that drug again......oh Lord the list goes on and on with Lithium being my saving grace til my toxicity.

Hypomania.....it is like a seductive lover......I was/am my most loveable, productive, creative, funniest and workaholic during this phase and would stay there forever if possible.

[Berries]

((((((((((Crazynurse))))))))))

Good luck with the new meds. I hope you get a whole new rope!!! Let us know how the thorazine goes, ok?