[hammerklavier]

I've been working with a psych to try to reduce risperidone in our efforts to shift to a different antipsychotic, and because I functioned much better in the past on a lower dose. I've spent the better portion of a year on 3 mg or more of risperidone and same with 900 of lithium, and I haven't enjoyed music, or felt very much joy in anything, lacked in creativity, and had memory issues, so I have good reason to try to switch back to an older medication situation that worked better. I even switched to this present psych in order to help with this, because the old psych was just telling me conventional stuff. I'm currently on 2 mg of risperidone and 600 of lithium. I have had sleep issues ever since switching to 600 of lithium. However, a week after I reduced to 2 mg of risperidone, I had a good night's sleep for 7 nights and noticed that I had improved enjoyment of music, reading, and my thoughts were more interesting. Then the good cycle broke and I started sleeping poorly again. I had been taking Gabapentin 900 mg, mirtazapine 7.5 mg, and trazodone 100 at night, not sure if any of them were working, but afraid of losing a good thing. Last night, I tried lunesta and slept more poorly than I had on the previous cocktail. I'm feeling panicky. Why shouldn't lunesta work?

I purchased two books for insomnia and am going through one of them. I have heard that cognitive behavioral therapy is the best thing one can do for insomnia.

But the problem is, I'm absolutely terrified that these meds that I don't need(lithium and risperidone) in such a high dose, should be required for sleep. They have robbed me of feeling alive for too long. And I did well for years on a mere 5 milligrams of abilify and an SSRI.

[Thunder Bow]

Time to talk to your Doctors to get off them completely. Also seek a 2nd opinion.

[nc09]

I have the same problem. I take seroquel to help me sleep, it makes me tired and spacey all day. I'm starting to think there is no good cure. I'm thinking though, maybe temazepam with low dose other drug might be better, as it has a shorter half life i think. I would need to keep it to a minimum, because tolerance builds quickly, so maybe a few nights a week. It might take a lot of self control, and a doctor will probably not prescribe it like this. Like you Im at the point where I'm considering cbt as a real option too. Can I ask you what the ssri was that helped you sleep ?

[hammerklavier]

I was taking Effexor, which is an SNRI. In the past I've taken cytalopram as well. It seems odd to me that that would help me sleep, but maybe it caused me to have a bit more regular energy during the day and this enabled me to relax at night. Or possibly, it treated my anxiety and depressive mood irregularities, which could be the main reason I don't sleep.

The book I'm reading right now, "Say Goodnight to Insomnia" seems pretty good, though it was written in the late 90s. It talks about anxiety relating to sleep, and actually cites a number of statistics that sort of put my mind at ease about what happens when I don't feel like I get enough sleep. Conquering anxiety about not sleeping is a good portion of the battle.

[nc09]

That's good to know about effexor. also tried citalopram for a few days. It really chilled me out but I was hallucinating. I am beginning to get sick of taking medication every night. I lay for two hours today just trying to rest and not think too much. I didnt fall asleep but it was nice and helped with the tiredness. I'm going to try keep doing it. The book sounds right in what it's saying.

[Wildlavender]

I'm going through the exact same thing right now so I sympathise,risperdone messed up my sleep cycles and caused me to be entirely dependant/addicted to it for sleep.The book will not help at all,or any of the regular advice this is not regular insomnia it is Insominia entirely caused by the med,the body forgets how to sleep without it and there is little you can do.

In my case the med has also made me entirely constipated I have no choice but to come off it and yet if I even try I don't sleep which leads to visions etc.Cant go to the toilet,can't sleep - aren't these drugs just wonderful,yay for western medicine.

I really wish I saw a shamanic healer about my visions and problems.