Bipolar and Insomnia

[AshleyBaker]

Hi there. I was diagnosed with bipolar about 5 years ago. I was on lamictal until recently. I'm not on any mood stabilizers. Bipolar is a disorder that requires constant changing of medications and/or monitoring. So I see doctors fairly often for it. I was first started on lamictal. I was already on zoloft. I also have an antianxiety medication to help with the mania and to help me to relax. I take it every day. The problem that I am having now is when the mood stablizer was taken away (due to intolerance to the medication), I have not been sleeping. I took ambien in the past, but I hallucinated with it. Does anyone know of any mood stabilizers that they are tolerating well? And sleeping medications or remedies that work for them? I have to be careful if the side effects effect the heart because I have issues there....I can't take anything that will increase my heartrate. Thanks!

Ashley

[ILADVOCATE]

This is a list of mood stabilizers:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm
As for sleep aides Rozerem is a sleep aide that is an FDA approved medication that works to adjust the sleep cycle. You could ask your psychiatrist what medications out of these would be safe for you if you have a problem with anything that increases heart rate although that is not a typical side effect.

[AshleyBaker]

Thanks. I'll check it out.

[jimgreg]

thats what  happened to me..i was on litheim i was sleeping on time with the inner circadian clock..then went toxic on it....then about 1 weejk later i couldnt sleep..to this day..same when the serquil was taking away...real bad on it though..i avg 4-5 hrs a night with broke sleep at that..