Schizophrenic waking up 28 times

[ImInVogue]

Hello!
First off, I had a hard time deciding if this should be in the topic Schizophrenia or the topic called Sleep Disorders. Sorry if I didnt post it right. Anyways, here it is:
I have been plagued by lack of sleep for many years now. I dont have much of an issue falling asleep, (sometimes i take sleeping pills, other periods i dont) but I wake up around 23 to 28 times per night. Its every night for as long as I can remember.
I suffer from schizophrenia, and I am on anti depressant, anti psycotics and pills that is supposed to get rid of my side effects from the other pills.Through the years different doctors and psychiatrists have tried helping me. I am very hard to medicate and suffer greatly from side effects from all the pills I have tried. Ive tried all the pill combinations they can offer me, but didnt do anything better or worse for my sleep problem.
I also suffer from very bad dizzyness and ever since I was little, my skin has always hurt. All over the body but even more on my thighs, upper arms and lower back. It is very painful when people touch me, just the slightest.
It goes without saying that when youre on many pills, suffer from schizophrenia and has woken up 28 times every night for about 8 years or so, your life quality is very low and your energy to do anything is zero. My regular doctor and my psychiatrist have both giving up on helping me, since they both say they've done all they can.
My question to you is, what is your opinion on this? Is there a kind of sleeping pill that affects you so you will get one long night of sleep and not just make you tired enough to fall asleep?
I have tried many things myself too. I made sure my bed is only for sleeping, I tried sleeping in total silence.. I even tried to loose weight but non of these things helped.
I'm also having nightmares or very abnormal dreams every night, but I dont feel that is what is causing me to wake up. I think its more a side effect of my sleeping pills, which causes abnormal dreams.
Im a 23 year old woman, dont have kids, overweight, been tested regurally for diabetes, high and low blood pressure and all those things, since I need to be tested every month to make sure my pills arent ******* up.
If you could tell me about a pill that i mentioned earlier, or give me some kind of opinion, I would very much appriciate it.
Kind Regards from Denmark
-Betina

[ImInVogue]

Thank you for your answer. I was on Zyprexa too, and I also gained a massive amount of weight very fast. My mother had to call the hospital many times, before she was so worried how sick I got. This has happened many times with many different pills. Although, I have not heard about latuda, maybe we don't have it in Denmark, or perhaps my shrink didnt think it would work on me. They have however started talking about electroshock treatment, which is not because Denmark is far behind, but simply its the only thing I havent tried.
I will deffently mention this, and see what my shrink says.
I really do appriciate your response, Its worth as much as a doctors answer in my opinion, since you also know what youre talking about.
Sadly, it is a very hard illness to live with, and I really do feel for you too.

[molly_bdenum]

Hello,

I also have schizophrenia and I also wake up a lot in the night from strange dreams, so I sympathize with your question. I was on zyprexa and that made me gain a lot of weight, but what I want to tell you is that I recently switched to a new anti-psychotic medication called Latuda. It's a bit tricky to get to sleep on, but once I'm asleep, my sleep is deeper, and somewhat less interrupted. I find if I drink a lot of water and no caffeine on Latuda that this also helps me get a better night's sleep. I am not a doctor, merely a patient who knows what works for me. Even if everyone has different reactions to meds, maybe it's worth bringing up Latuda as a possibility with your doctor. It's helped me a lot. Good luck to you. This illness is not easy.