Strong Sleep Aid

[Brenndy]

I've been suffering from insomnia for a few years now.  Been prescribed almost every sleep aid available; the OTC's are of no benefit, and the sleep aids I have been prescribed have not been beneficial either because my tolerance to controlled substances is so high due to medicinal treatment for other chronic illnesses.

Can anyone suggestion a sleep aid that has helped them achieve more than 1-1/2-2 hours of continuous sleep?  I can't seem to get beyond stage I sleep and into REM (the restorative sleep that I so desperately need).
If you kindly respond, please take into consideration my very high tolerance to medications in the classification of the:(pams), as well as (benzos); as neither are of any help.  I'm looking to find a medication, as well as a sufficient mg dosage that will provide me with more than the 1-1/2 hours I have been getting for years now, and I'm really at my wits end.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[LarryBell]

A cocktail of 10 mg of belsomra and 1 mg of lunesta will allow you to sleep again. Should that not work then add 1 mg of lunesta. Finally, you can do 25mg of belsomra  and 3 mg of lunesta... for those with lupis wgo can never sleep. One could also at this point aleep whenever tired; like during the day without drugs. But then youd likely be done for the day; vut you did without medicating for one say. At this point your body is severly messed up and you cant work: so anytime is good. But regular cocktail will keep a sxedule. My unknown godt to you.

[specialmom]

Doesn't that cocktail make you sleepy like sleep hang over all day after taking it?

[Dr_Smita_S]

Hi

How are you doing?

Several factors are responsible for a disturbed sleep such as medical problems, stress, depression, anxiety, medications, poor sleep hygiene and declining hormone levels (in menopausal women).

Since you are informing that several medications have failed in providing a good sleep to you, it would be a good idea that you try out some cognitive, behavioral or natural therapies first.

You should practice good sleep hygiene such as going to bed at a regular time, keeping your bedroom dark and cool, avoiding any naps in between or watching TV in bedroom and getting out of bed if not getting sleep and then again trying after sometime. You may also consider trying out some acupuncturist or a massage therapist.

Even then if you are unable to sleep, you should consult your doctor for a complete evaluation. He might consider getting your estrogen levels checked.

You can discuss with him about the option of a short course of hormone therapy or some Non-benzodiazepine prescription drugs, including Ambien and Lunesta or some antidepressants such as mirtazapine, which have a sedative effect, and are prescribed off label to treat insomnia.

However, I must mention that these are just the options that have been mentioned, and all medications must be taken under proper medical supervision.

All these would surely help restore your sleep cycle.

Take care.

[kkunzie]

Iv been on Valerian Root capsules for about a week now and its worked wonders! Its just pure valerian, nothing else. I take 2 per night and its only $8 per 100 capsules so not too terrible on the wallet. I bought them at a helath food store. Hope this helps! Its also safe while your pregnant. FYI
-Karen

[cryuncle]

Forgot. Have you tried mirtazapine? An anti depressive, Used in low dose, it has significant antihystmine like qualities. You may want to do some research and ask your doc about this. 15mg is the usual dose for insomnia. This would be an off label use of the drug.

[cryuncle]

There may be hope in the not too distant future, I believe. There is a new drug for sleep issues that one of the large Pharma's will be filing a NDA ( new drug application) with the FDA by the end of this year. This drug is called eplivanserin and does not target the GABAa receptors in the brain like all the benzo's and other hypnotics. I have similar problems and have been following the clinical trials and other news on this drug.

In addition, there are other companies with drugs in Phase 2 and 3 trials with insomnia products that are non GABAa targeted.

In the meantime, there are lots of us out here praying for relief.