[bevers]

I have lately had problems getting to sleep at night I have often
suffered from Insomnia. But in the last year I have been taking
trazadone and clonazapam at bedtime and actually slept well.
But lately I am finding it hard to fall asleep and I find myself
waking up 2-4 times a night and when I wake up my heart is
racing and I am having anxiety problems...If I am dreaming I don't remember dreaming or what I was dreaming about.
Of course waking up so many times this way makes me especially tired all day and is beginning to increase my depression at the same time...
Can any of you recommend a sleeping agent I could ask my
doctor for and anything that works best on Anxiety?

Bevers

[Peanut61]

Just popping in to give you a hug, {{{{{{{{{{{Bev}}}}}}}}}}}!! J., Hippo & Peanut

<font color=blue>HI FROM PEANUT </font color=blue>

[mj14]

I don't know what dosage of Clonazepam you are on, but maybe you just need a higher dosage. Since it sounds like your sleep problems are anxiety related, I would think an anti-anxiety med would be what they would try, vs. something just for sleep.

But, the big thing is, no one can give you meds or change your meds except for a doctor, so I'd try to get in to see one ASAP. You shouldn't have to live with those sleep problems.

*hugs*
mj

[CamW]

bevers - What other meds are you taking? If you can list the meds, their strengths, and their directions I will try to see if your insomnia is drug related. Also, has the stress in you life increased in the last month or so?

- Cam

[kvinneakt]

I tried many things before being prescribed Zyprexa. It helped a lot, and the benefit lasted as I adjusted to it. It does start off giving you a zombie hangover, but that passes in a week or so.

Bumper sticker: Wherever you go, there you are

[bevers]

Hi Cam,
here is the list of med's plus dosage.

DESIPRAMINE 25MG TABLETS 4 IN THE MORNING
SEROQUEL 50MG TABLETS 1IN AM, 1AT NOON
SEROQUEL 100MG TABLETS 1IN EVEN, 1AT BED
CLONAZAPAM .5MG TABLETS 3-4 TIMES A DAY.
(AFTERNOON AND USUALLY 1AT BED BUT INCREASED TO 2 AT BED 3 DAYS AGO AS PER DOCTOR)
TRAZADONE 50MG USUALLY 1/2 AT BED, LATELY 1 AT BED TO HELP TRY TO SLEEP.

I currently suffer from depression as well as anxiety disorder
Any info would be great .
Thanks
Bev

Bevers

[bevers]

thanks I will ask my doctor about it when I see him.

Bevers

[bevers]

MJ14
yeah I know I need a doctor to prescribe was hoping maybe
someone else may have had similiar problems
thanks for the support

Bevers

[CamW]

Bev - You've gone through the medication gamut, haven't you? Your regimen shows signs of labouring long and hard through a number of different antidepressants, because desipramine is not a drug of first choice very often.

How long have you been taking this regimen (I mean before the latest increase) and was it doing anything for you? On a scale of 1 to 10, how helpful was the old regimen?

Sometimes sleep problems just happen; it is a normal occurance at one time or another in most of our lives. Also, increased stress can add to insomnia. These are just temporary events due to the regular cycling of depression. Perhaps wait a few weeks and see if this is just one of those temporary things or not.

I hope that this is some help. - Cam

I'd like to know who your doc is because I recognize the prescribing style (or it may be that your doc and I go to the similar conferences). Don't give out his/her name; my curiousity is not that great.

[bevers]

Cam,
I have definately gone thru the drug gamut.... I have tried quite
a few anti-depressants some that have not worked at all, and
side effects were too much. Some such as Wellbutrin that
worked for close to 8 months and then my system just got
too used to it and it stopped working alltogether.
Desipramine my doctor decided to try , even though he told
me it isn't used a lot anymore, I have been on it now for
close to 4 or 5 months. It actually has been working quite well,along with the seroquel...
I saw the doctor the other day and actually he and I discussed adding flexeril, since I do suffer from CFS and
have problems with my muscles in my neck and shoulders.
So I am taking half a flexeril now with 100 mg of Trazadone
and Finally Got A Night of Sleep. Now I just need a couple
of days that I can catch up on my sleep as I have had
too many early morning's lately. But at least I slept , he reminded me that depression can flare back up when you aren't feeling well, and are layed up, not too mention lack of
sleep,and chronic pain which has returned in my neck and
shoulders.
So We will try Desipramine for a while longer he will keep me
on 4 in am and have my Serum levels checked.
Thanks for the help.

Bevers

[denipink]

Hi Bev~

You and I have much in common and I sure know how you must feel when you cant sleep and feel depressed and anxious AND in chronic pain all at the same time.

I have Bipolar and lots of depression and anxiety most of the time along with Osteoarthritis that is said to be "significant" which for me translates as some painful and when it comes to sleep, and needing that the most to cope - I seem not to get nearly as much as I need.

So, what to do?? Well, first of all I am self-employed so can schedule my work around my sleep - lucky me - so I sleep whenever the mood hits. So I am not nearly so focused on "getting a good nights sleep" like so many others but rather I get a few hrs. here and there and as often as it takes for me to feel rested.

My regime at night tho (I have a 14 yo and try hard to have a semblance of normalacy for him and he is also Bipolar and High Anxiety) is I take my Lithium, my oxycontin for the pain and then I take 2 over the counter anti-naseau or anti-motion sickness pills and sure as rain they make me some drowsy all the time! I have taken them for more than 10 years now and they always work like the first time!!! Now they are not a sleeping or anxiety pill but combined with what else I do take and I fall asleep on them usually.

The crux of it tho is I end up WAKING up again in the night several times but I just like that getting to sleep to start kinda thing cause makes me feel half human and like those other lucky folk that can just fall off and snooz at a drop of a hat which I have never been able to do really or at least not with any kind regularity.

Because of my being Bipolar I have swings or shifts often and that can change my routine that I have managed to establish. I find I am up and down and all over the map so that is why for me my sleep suffers greatly.

Well Bev hope I have not posted to drive you to distraction with all my writing (I am a published writer by trade, haha.) but that is my MO - I write a lot to anybody I respond to usually.

I thot I might also offer you some friendship cause looking at your profile I see that you are on your own or at least single and nothing like having all those disorders, not able to sleep well and having to be alone so much when having to deal with depression. Myself I feel like you and I are very similar and maybe we could chat on the Instant Messenger some time and even talk on the phone if you wanted to. I live far from you in Ontario, Canada but I have a toll free number and with this computer no reason in the world why we could not have a cyber-friendship. We are both in our 40's too. Just a suggestion cause I love talking to those who understand me well and I am sure you and I would have little trouble relating.

This is a great thread and to have the benefit of a true died in the wool Pharmacist well that is awesome really! We are really lucky.

You can private message me by clicking on my handle "denipink" with my post and that will bring you to my little profile that does not say much. It gives you a link to private message me as well.

Well take care and boy I sure hope you are able to resolve this for yourself. I am sure Cam would tell you as my doc told me that those anti-naseau meds over the counter are way better for us than the sleeping pills are. The sleeping pills have horrendous after effects often and only work for so long and many are very addictive too. My doc says those anti-naseau meds are not harmless at all and must be respected just as are the narcotic drugs only that they are not nearly as powerful. I get a great effect with them myself and perhaps, so could you.

I hope to hear back too Bev cause now I would be very interested to learn of any follow-up. You are not alone and maybe we could get to know each other a bit better, too. I woud love to know at some point that you have found your answers and are sleeping better. I would be really very glad to hear of that!

Denise