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Sleeplessness
Hi, this is my first time on Medhelp. I have struggled with Manic Depression for 7+ years now, doing OK but you know our ups and downs. What do you think is the best thing for insomnia? I have switch to Lithium a month ago (from Valproic Acid) and still am cycling but not as bad.
Look forward to discussion within this group.
T
Look forward to discussion within this group.
T
there's no such thing as a perfect sleeper and as usual it can not be assumed to be a one-size-fits all solution. Some natural solutions, IMHO, can work to an extent. Placebo is important if it helps you sleep. I know when I take my sleepers at night, I expect to fall asleep half an hour later...whether I do or not depends on all sorts of things but my expectations are powerful things. Personally, I got to using diazepam too much as a prop and when I decided to go without, prove to myself and others that I wasn't dependent on it; boy, did I have a surprise...put me off it long term full stop. Temazepam I still use every night and I know at some point I'll have to deal with it. Seroquel also helps(yes, it's an antipsychotic not a sleeper but boy can it help to switch your brain off when it doesn't want to go to sleep), again like others you build up a tolerance and I think you have to manage dependence by not giving in to it and staying strong; don't slip into the habit of continually increasing doses.
In my experience sleep patterns vary; they come and go. Today I've been so sleepy I couldn't wake up this morning and went back to sleep for a few hours during the day...last week, like most, I averaged 5 to 6 hours per day and woke early every day...this is not drug related it 's mood related and needs to be withstood not drugged out. I am working on my issues and trying to get better/stronger. Self knowledge is important, medicines and other measures can moderate but not completely assuage sleep problems, a bit like everything else :-s
In my experience sleep patterns vary; they come and go. Today I've been so sleepy I couldn't wake up this morning and went back to sleep for a few hours during the day...last week, like most, I averaged 5 to 6 hours per day and woke early every day...this is not drug related it 's mood related and needs to be withstood not drugged out. I am working on my issues and trying to get better/stronger. Self knowledge is important, medicines and other measures can moderate but not completely assuage sleep problems, a bit like everything else :-s
ILADVOCATE - Thanks for the info on your sleep aids, I might end up trying one of them.
monkeyc - While Tranquinol has valerian in it, it is either in a small enough amount or the combination with other elements overrides it's negative effects for me. Very fortunately, my Naturopathic doc kind of specializes in mental illness because many of her patients have these sorts of issues. I don't know if they have them in your area, but here in Oregon, Washington, and a number of other states, they have essentially the same status as regular MD's, accepted by insurance companies, can prescribe many prescription meds if necessary. I feel kind of in reverse to the way that you do in regards to docs & meds. While I've had some good MD's to be sure, I've also had some that just s*****, and I went to a psychiatrist once that I think was worse off than me, and I've had some prescription drugs that were just horrible and really screwed me up.
My Naturopathic doc has done a fair amount of research for me individually, outside of our appointments. She is actually present with me, kind, caring, and works with me as opposed to giving me orders without listening to my perspective, I couldn't have asked for more in a doc.
You are correct in regards to the herbal or other supplements, it's true that just like prescription meds, which are very often derived from or modeled upon some herbal elements, if you aren't careful, they can have bad interactions with other meds, just like prescription drugs, but I've not had any that messed me up like the prescription ones have. I have a choice of a herbal or natural supplement that works just as well or better than corresponding prescription drug, I feel much safer taking the natural supplement.
monkeyc - While Tranquinol has valerian in it, it is either in a small enough amount or the combination with other elements overrides it's negative effects for me. Very fortunately, my Naturopathic doc kind of specializes in mental illness because many of her patients have these sorts of issues. I don't know if they have them in your area, but here in Oregon, Washington, and a number of other states, they have essentially the same status as regular MD's, accepted by insurance companies, can prescribe many prescription meds if necessary. I feel kind of in reverse to the way that you do in regards to docs & meds. While I've had some good MD's to be sure, I've also had some that just s*****, and I went to a psychiatrist once that I think was worse off than me, and I've had some prescription drugs that were just horrible and really screwed me up.
My Naturopathic doc has done a fair amount of research for me individually, outside of our appointments. She is actually present with me, kind, caring, and works with me as opposed to giving me orders without listening to my perspective, I couldn't have asked for more in a doc.
You are correct in regards to the herbal or other supplements, it's true that just like prescription meds, which are very often derived from or modeled upon some herbal elements, if you aren't careful, they can have bad interactions with other meds, just like prescription drugs, but I've not had any that messed me up like the prescription ones have. I have a choice of a herbal or natural supplement that works just as well or better than corresponding prescription drug, I feel much safer taking the natural supplement.
I wanted to add one small cautionary note about Lunesta. I took it before I was on lithium, so perhaps it would work differently now. I found that no matter what time I took it or what time I went to sleep, I would be awake again about 4 hours later. Maybe 5 hours if I was lucky. The other thing is that I quickly developed a strong metallic taste, which is a known side effect. What they don't tell you is that even after you discontinue use, it may take a week or two weeks for that nasty taste to go away. The pharmacist told me when questioned, but it wasn't on the info sheet or shared by my psych at the time (who we not-so-affectionally named Dr. Deaf/Dr. Dumba**). I only finished half the prescription.
***Also, if you have children, be extra-careful. The ones I took were cobalt blue. They looked like pretty candy.
***Also, if you have children, be extra-careful. The ones I took were cobalt blue. They looked like pretty candy.
My problem with naturals is they are just not tested properly and especially not for mental illness and thats it.
People think natural = safe and its not - Aspirin can kill easily, use St Johns Wort with an AD in your system.. there are lots of natural things which are unsafe and the big problem with natural therapies is they are not prescribed and in many countries the requirements for product labelling are very lax for vitamins and supplements so you do not actually know what is in them making it VERY hard to work out if they are safe.
I dont think natural therapies are all wrong but I do think that for people like us with medications in our systems already its damn hard to just trust someone to give us something like this. Thats my opinion, mileage may vary and its a trust thing but always ask yourself when anyone prescribes something is this good for me or right - ask questions.
People think natural = safe and its not - Aspirin can kill easily, use St Johns Wort with an AD in your system.. there are lots of natural things which are unsafe and the big problem with natural therapies is they are not prescribed and in many countries the requirements for product labelling are very lax for vitamins and supplements so you do not actually know what is in them making it VERY hard to work out if they are safe.
I dont think natural therapies are all wrong but I do think that for people like us with medications in our systems already its damn hard to just trust someone to give us something like this. Thats my opinion, mileage may vary and its a trust thing but always ask yourself when anyone prescribes something is this good for me or right - ask questions.
Didn't finish before. Oops. If it is plain old insomnia, then I would use whatever was at hand, honestly. If there was something around that I knew would make me drowsy, I'd take it. I'm not sure what is the best. I can tell you a few things I've tried, though...
I've been taking antihistimines for a couple of months, but not specifically to sleep. It is to counteract the decongestant (pseudoephedrine) that can cause me all kinds of trouble. However, I have to breathe... I have been more than happy to take advantage of the antihistimine's side effects.
Years ago, I sometimes used Tylenol PM or similar. When things have gotten bad, I have requested and used valium. That seems to work well. I also tried Ambien a couple of times. It was okay, but wouldn't want it long-term.
I've realized that most of the time I'm just a poor sleeper. I get some insomnia, but I also have more and more hypomania. I don't want to use anything nightly, so sometimes I'm just up for a couple of days. I try not to drive if I haven't slept, though. It's as dangerous or more dangerous than driving drunk. I stay home. I miss some appointments. Life goes on.
I figured out that Xanax sometimes relaxes me enough to sleep, so if I'm on a 2 or 3 day roll and haven't slept much or slept at all, I'll take that at bedtime. Admittedly, I hoard it. I don't want to use it too often and I don't want to run out. I'm willing to take it maybe twice a week for whichever, except when I'm caring for my grandparents and then I usually have to take it at least once a day. The doc worries about that drug and is super-careful about me using it, so I'm vigilant, too.
When I am totally desperate, I can take a prescription anti-nausea medication that knocks me out. I normally take it once a month or every couple of months when I have a sickening migraine, so it's one of those prescriptions that lasts forever. (I don't usually get nausea or vomiting with migraines, thankfully).
Am I losing it or didn't we have a discussion about this a while back? And didn't someone suggest masturbation? It's foggy, but there is something in my brain telling me this is all very familiar. Anyway, I haven't tried it specifically for that purpose, but I'm going to say masturbation couldn't hurt. And, it's natural :-)
I've been taking antihistimines for a couple of months, but not specifically to sleep. It is to counteract the decongestant (pseudoephedrine) that can cause me all kinds of trouble. However, I have to breathe... I have been more than happy to take advantage of the antihistimine's side effects.
Years ago, I sometimes used Tylenol PM or similar. When things have gotten bad, I have requested and used valium. That seems to work well. I also tried Ambien a couple of times. It was okay, but wouldn't want it long-term.
I've realized that most of the time I'm just a poor sleeper. I get some insomnia, but I also have more and more hypomania. I don't want to use anything nightly, so sometimes I'm just up for a couple of days. I try not to drive if I haven't slept, though. It's as dangerous or more dangerous than driving drunk. I stay home. I miss some appointments. Life goes on.
I figured out that Xanax sometimes relaxes me enough to sleep, so if I'm on a 2 or 3 day roll and haven't slept much or slept at all, I'll take that at bedtime. Admittedly, I hoard it. I don't want to use it too often and I don't want to run out. I'm willing to take it maybe twice a week for whichever, except when I'm caring for my grandparents and then I usually have to take it at least once a day. The doc worries about that drug and is super-careful about me using it, so I'm vigilant, too.
When I am totally desperate, I can take a prescription anti-nausea medication that knocks me out. I normally take it once a month or every couple of months when I have a sickening migraine, so it's one of those prescriptions that lasts forever. (I don't usually get nausea or vomiting with migraines, thankfully).
Am I losing it or didn't we have a discussion about this a while back? And didn't someone suggest masturbation? It's foggy, but there is something in my brain telling me this is all very familiar. Anyway, I haven't tried it specifically for that purpose, but I'm going to say masturbation couldn't hurt. And, it's natural :-)
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