I have debilitating insomnia. What drug am I most likely to be put on for isomnia?

I have Bipolar Disorder and unfotunately also suffer from severe insomnia every night. I recently switched from seroquel to thorazine, and neither drugs knock me out, they only help my mood and racing thoughts. My psychiatrist said she does not prescibe controlled medications so has tried me on 100mg of vistaril which is useless and does nothing but piss me off because I still lay there at night tossing and turning. She keeps insisting I do breathing exercises to help me relax which also pisses me off.

I am now considering getting a second opinion about my insomnia from another physician and asking if they can prescribe me a hypnotic to help me. All I want is just a good 7-8 hours of good rest each night. Since my psychiatrist won't prescribe an actual sleeping pill for me, I made an appointment with a GP that most likely will. Is there any drug in particular that works well for insomnia that I can ask for? So far it seems like Ambien and Temazepam are the most commonly presribed.

Hi! Of course, I can't speak for a doc, but I'm thinking Seroquel usually knocks folks right out, so I am a bit surprised that it didn't help you. I know it knocked me right out.

I'm also thinking that OTC stuff, or even Ambien, is likely to be weaker.

I know you want to sleep, and not being able to sleep is a miserable feeling, but are you sure you want to take even more powerful meds? I believe they can really get habit-forming. I suspect that's why your doc is encouraging you to try a non-med approach.

I know I didn't answer your question. Sorry. I also know what meds you use is between you and your doctor. I hope you can find something that will help you sleep soon.

I have insomnia as well. I was put on Trazodone and it works wonders. After taking the medication I was asleep within 15 to 20 minutes. If you are put on it be sure to allow for at least 8 or 9 hours of sleep if it ends up working for you. It puts me to sleep for quite a few hours and it is hard for me to wake up with an alarm.

I have 2 mg Ativan but gives the most **** nightmare,s , plus to help I don't go to bed till 2 am , no point I will only toss and turn. All I can say is don't go to bed till tired no matter what time .

Interesting...I am on Trazodone for sleep, and I didn't mention it because it doesn't always work for me. But, yes, that might be one your doc suggests--and it might work fine for you.

Just to throw in another suggestion..Have you ever tried something as simple as Melatonin, a natural substance that we all have in our bodies anyway? I am always the one that likes "natural methods" over man-made prescriptions anytime..I know what it's like to stay up most all night every night, and I have just learned to lay down when I feel like I need it, regardless..otherwise I just toss and turn and get frustrated..I hope you find rest soon......(((OnThe BipolarExpress)))

My pdoc prefers lunesta for me. I've had good results with it.

I wasn't going to mention trazodone because it also doesn't work consistently and is notorious for that quality. It mostly helps me, but it is not the most sedative of meds I have taken.

The most sedating medication I have taken is mirtazapine. It is an extremely potent antihistimine, so it knocks people out. At this time mirtazapine will knock me into the next week, but when I first used it my insomnia was so bad due to anxiety that I still slept 3-5 hours a night. I was also on effexor at the point, and it may have been over activating. An activating med could be counter acting any sedative. However, I always hear seroquel being talked about as though it is a much more powerful sleeping aid.

I would say maybe Trazodone. I was put on it for sleep (and was in like the 3% of whatever of the people who take it that it had the OPPOSITE effect on, so I didn't sleep at all on it)...

Seroquel maybe. It never has knocked me out on its own, but mixed with Klonopin it does.

Ambien isn't worth it, IMO (and it's a controlled substance, so your doc wouldn't prescribe it anyway)...but I did a lot of sleep eating on it, and it pooped out really quickly for me as well (the sleep it gave me was great for the first month and a half, then it dwindled, and by the middle of month two, it didn't put me to sleep or keep me asleep anymore).

But now I sleep at least 7 hours every single night, and that's with Seroquel and Klonopin. My pdoc is hoping that I can get that same sleep without the Klonopin since I really needed something to bring me down from full blown hypomania that was pretty much on the line of mania). And let me tell you what my sleep was like before this: I would spend 1-2 hours trying to get to sleep (usually between the hours of 11 and 12). I woke up every night between 1 and 3:30, usually right around 3, and then again at 5 or 6, and that was at the very least. It was a good night if I only woke up twice. Often it would be 3-4 times. Since starting this combination, I can't remember a night that I woke up and didn't immediately go back to sleep.

Hope that helps!

I use cortisol manager, as it is natural also.

HEY !

i too am nocturnal, i have insomnia

i made it two nights sleep in a row tho ! cuase at 5am i got out of bed and refused to take cat naps during the day and for the first two night i actually slept

but that was short lived....

cuase i still cant sleep at night

i was on 700mg thorazine

i think coming off the thorazine is what cuased the insomnia

cuase when u come off of sedative drugs , it cuased the mind to stay awake

its like brain damage

but ambien, lunesta, and sonata, all induce sleep walking

people drive cars while they sleep

good luck !!

Just read through quickly again and noticed that someone mentioned melatonin. I am not an advocate of this for regular use for the following reason: It's a hormone. It's not regulated by the FDA, and if you take it too much, your body stops producing its own and that will ruin your sleep even more. I keep it on hand for those especially rough nights, but by no means take it often. And another thing, it usually comes in 3mg tablets which is way more than a person actually needs. Even 1mg is more than enough, the rest is generally extra. If you plan on taking it long term, discuss it with a doctor first and really do your research!

Another vote for Trazadone.

I was put on zopiclone for my insomnia problems and I can finally sleep for 7-9 hours a night.
But zopiclone is a short term medication, I'll have to go off it in a week or so as I may become dependant. I'm really worried as to how I will cope without the pill.

I got off zopiclone 3 days ago

although I did it gradually as recommended the withdrawal symptoms are bad for me

I can't sleep at nights and I feel really sad

I am on Ambien, have had this prescription for four years now, but like the OP mentioned, her doc doesn't want to prescribe any controlled substance meds, which is what Ambien is. No sleepwalking here, on it. No drowsy nor grogginess, after either.

I highly suggest Seroquel for insomnia. Seroquel IR specifically. I love the stuff. Puts me right out.