[phoenix47baby]

I have been up for two nights in a row. In order to ward off a hypomanic episode I must take something for sleep. Nothing works anymore. I have had seroquel, trazadone/desyrel, restoril/temazepam, xanax, ativan. None of these work any longer. Besides warm milk, sleepytime tea or a warm bath, does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you for reading. phoenix47baby

[Slothrop]

Ugh, two nights -- that's awful!

I have had some luck with Ambien and Lunesta, although I found them more useful in getting to sleep than sleeping through the night. Halcion (a benzo) made me stoned. Estazolam (another benzo) does not make me stoned, and helps a lot.

And good old Benadryl definitely makes me sleepy--but it poops out pretty quickly if you try to use it repeatedly.

Another OTC drug is Unisom (doxylamine succinate), also a sedating antihistamine. Sometimes it has worked very well for me, other times so-so.

[Rhapsody]

Originally Posted by Slothrop

And good old Benadryl definitely makes me sleepy--

Benadryl is what I was going to recommend - my pharmacist tells me to take this if I run out of Ambien before I can get another refill.

Sleepy tea, cup of warm milk, tylenol, no caffienee after 6, nor soda and no exerise before bed.

If any of that doesn't work eat a turkey sandwich - turkey has something in it that's makes you sleepy

[phoenix47baby]

turkey has tryptophan in it which makes one sleepy. that is why people get sleepy after a Thanksgiving dinner. phoenix47baby

[theave]

Have you tried zopiclone? New from the UK so don't know if it's used here. It's not a benzo so something you can take for a bit longer. Also, I take amitriptyline as an AD and that helps a lot with sleep.

[phoenix47baby]

thanks, Theave. Zopiclone is not commercially available in the United States as of yet. Great suggestion though for a non-benzo. Wonder how long it will take until it arrives on US soil. phoenix47baby

[January]

When I'm so wound up that even my meds won't help, I do better if I can find a familiar favorite movie or tv show that's relaxing. It has to be something I almost know by heart so that I'm relaxed and not trying to guess the ending before it happens.

Another thing that helps is turning on some relaxing music and closing my eyes and just letting my body slowly relax by soaking in the music.

This might be small comfort but I hope it helps at least a little bit.

[ECHOES]

Good ideas January.
I am back to Tylenol PM when I need it.
I watch quiet tv shows or read a book with a calm plot and characters before trying to sleep.
I find that keeping a light on in another room can help. Sometimes keeping the tv with the sound low works too.
I like Sleepytime Tea too and the calm book or a quiet time of thinking about pleasant places I've been or people I know, or memories I have.

I hope you get some sleep soon.

[Lemon]

Getting exercise during the day is really key for me to be able to sleep well. like someone said, don't workout right before bed, but if you can at least get a walk in that may help.

[BlueMoon6]

Delsym for coughs (OTC) has worked for me, but I wouldnt use it on a regular basis. It did knock me out and help me get a nice, long sleep tho.

[opheliasorrow]

Sorry, in no way am I going against Echoes or any of the above but here is what my psychiatrist told me

Keep to a routine ie go to bed around 11pm without watching tv, going on the computer, caffeine, smoking for an hour before.

set your alarm for around 7am the next morning.

Never nap in the daytime and excercise like walking (just gentle) in the MORNING really helps sleeping at night.

A warm bath does help (sorry ) because it raises your temperature slightly then cools slowly down which helps sleep apparently

It did help me and I hope this is useful, the tip is NEVER to nap during the day and stick to this as much as you can.

Hope this helps, as a recovered insomniac I really relate.

(right now I am struggling simply because my hubby is in hospital)Ophelia xx

ps, he also told me that the body can become immune to sleep meds, sometimes it gets used to the dose and needs more, he recommended me NOT to take them over a long period, I live in the UK and they may have a different outlook to USA pdocs? Zopiclone is highly addictive and only lasts for a couple of hours, it's mainly to help you nod off rather than a longer working drug ..... it didn't really work that well for me but each person is different. Good luck, please keep us posted? Ophelia xx

[Aunt Donna]

Melatonin is a natural mineral/vitamin that helps you fall to sleep. Which reminds me that I am out. I take benadryl for allergies so it doesn't make me sleepy anymore. Anyway, your body produces melatonin but sometimes it needs some help. You find it with the vitamins and minerals in the store.

[phoenix47baby]

thank you everyone for your suggestions. I am incorporating them into my sleep schedule. Thanks!!! phoenix47baby