Awake in spite of meds

[sunflower419]

I have had a sleep problem for the past two years.  It started with body temperature discomfort, then progressed to night sweats and hot flashes, although I had been comfortable on ERT for 14 years.  Because of a CLL diagnosis I had to go off estrogen.  The hot flashes were intense and nearly hourly day and night so I went back on ERT.  Of course by then my sleep patterns were much worse.  My hot flashes are now looked after by the ERT but the sleep problems aren’t.  I have been on Zopiclone for the past 7 months; am now taking 5 mg at bedtime and 5 more mg in the middle of the night.  I still wake up 6-8 times in between, never getting more than 2-3 hours at a stretch, am exhausted and moody.  In January my PCP started me on Effexor XR and he wants to double it to 150mg help boost norepinephrine. I had a hard time with nausea when I started it and hesitate.  What do you think would help me sleep?  I feel restless and jiggly during the day, and jittery in the evenings until I take my Zopiclone at bedtime.  Since on Zopiclone I also have problems with frequent "hypnic jerks" that wake me up just before dropping off.  It's frustrating.  Could this be related to the Zopiclone?

[Suri123]

Hi, thanks for replying. Are you still continuing your sleeping pills. With
Zopicline the usual side effects of it is daytime drowsiness which normally diminishes after the first few days of treatment, and a bitter taste in the mouth. Persistent morning drowsiness or impaired co-ordination are signs of excessive dose. You can discuss this with your doctor as you are not comfortable with this drug, so need to replace it. Please update the column on your visit and investigations. Take care.

[sunflower419]

Thank you!  I haven't had a sleep study but I do have an appointment with a sleep specialist in a few months.  I appreciate the suggestion of seeing a neurologist as well.

[Suri123]

Hi, hope you do well soon, stress could be triggering your sleeplessness as you are going through a hard time for sometime now and possibly taking medicines quite often. Has your doctor done a sleep study or had referred to sleep specialist evaluation. It would be better to see him and also get opinion of an neurologist. Keep updating your views. Take care.