[Bat Mom]

Hi All. My daughter (21 y/o) has had a very tough time past couple of months with Bipolar. Hospitalized 3 times. She is currently on Effexor XR (37.5), Geodon (80 mg), Lamictal (300 mg) and Klonapin (2 mg). She is doing pretty well right now but I am so worried about the daytime sleepiness. She tried cutting the Klonapin in half today (takes 1 mg twice a day), seemed to help as she typically crashes two hours after taking it. Helped her stay up for a couple more hours but she is now taking her second nap of the day. The doctor asked her to fight the sleepiness and she is trying hard but just doesn't seem to be working for her. This is the happiest I have seen her in a long while, she is talkative and seems up. She says she is feeling really good (except anxiety which is still a problem). How do I know if it is the meds and are there any tricks to fight the sleepiness? Tried excercise, taking her out, getting her involved with things but eventually, her eyelids just drop.

Any advice?

[krzyk101]

I think with bipolar, I am schizo-affective which is similar and mental illness takes its toll on the physical body. Daytime sleepiness can be part of the need to take a nap to stay stable.

I would suggest to let her sleep in the daytime if It is not interfering with anything. Perhaps a scheduled 2 hour nap would resole the daytime sleepiness by actually letter her nap. Her body knows what it needs.

I would not mess with the klonopin, without contacting the pdoc and perhaps after time her need for a daytime nap will decrease. It is a good thing that a bipolar get their sleep, as the opposite is more devastating, not sleeping at all can lead to psychosis.

Just my personal opinion,
kk101

[phipps88fan]

Hi, I know there is a medicine called Provigil they use for Narcolepsy and daytime sleepiness. I have taken it myself in the past. Try asking her doctor about that. It might really help her stay awake during the day which would be wonderful. If not there are other meds similar but ask about Provigil first.. Please let me know if this helps and I wish you luck. Hugs!

[yutzman]

Hi, I'm also Bi-polar taking Lamictal (200mg) Abilify (2mg) and Buspar(40mg), and I too get very sleepy during the day and especially after I eat......I've tried getting out and being active helps alot. Maybe her meds are too high dosage. The lamictal seems a little high at 300. Talk to the Doc and see if maybe the meds can come down a bit.......Good luck....Y

[scrambled mother]

I am bipolar not very well medicated but I get up at 5:45 every morning,shower,drink coffee, take my big kids to school. I come back at 8:00, and crash like I have never slept before. If I can sneak a nap in my day, I will at all cost! I almost wish I could go on a vacation just to sleep without anyone trying to figure out why i'm so tired. But hang in there your daughter is lucky to have someone looking afte her and tracking her behavior.

[Rhapsody]

Is there any way she can take this medicine at night so she is not so sleepy during the day?

[krzyk101]

I guess I just do not understand why she people have such a thing about not sleeping at all during the day I would understand if it caused problems like if someone has school or work , but if your daughter does not have responsibility's during the times she gets sleepy and needs to lay down what is it harming.

Why is it that the medications are always to blame....? It could be a physical problem, I used to get really tired after I ate and found out I was diabetic for a long time and was never diagnosed and so long misdiagnosed I end up now having peripheral neurapathy.

I think that in my experience, all too many times the mental aspects and mental meds are investigated while the physical body goes unexamined.

Has she had a physical exam by her medical doctor outside of the mental health system? That may be something to check into ?

Take care, kk101