Major Insomnia

[lemonflavor]

Last night I never got to sleep. Not until 7:45 am and I slept for 4 hours. That's the worst night of insomnia I've ever had. Usually I at least get to sleep by 2:00. My old doctor hasn't really addressed sleep and I don't see my new doc until the 27th.

I've been using Remeron for sleep but anything above a small dose of 7.5mg causes other problems. So I use generic Benadryl or Unisom but those don't work very well. I took 2 Benadryl last night. I have some Trazodone but that doesn't work very well either.

I use Ativan for anxiety but would have to take a pretty huge amount for it to get me to sleep.

I will discuss Ambien, Lunesta etc with new doc if they have samples of it but for now I'm really concerned. I feel worse today than I've felt in a long time. And I seem to keep saying that recently.

There is no rhyme or reason for why this stuff happens other than I'm very slowly tapering off Zyprexa. (Zyprexa paradoxically seemed to cause insomnia to get worse.) Please pray that I will swing back to getting to sleep, even if it means I feel sedate.

 

[berry2000]

Yeah sleep problems can be a sign of worsening bp or can trigger bp to get worse so I see why you are concerned. Perhaps the med change is exacerbating things too. I wouldn't worry too much unless it happens again tonight. But if it continues to be a problem I would definately get a doctor involved do you have a GP or primary doc that can help with the sleep issue?

 

[Alive again]

Praying for you lemonflavor, let us know how last night went for you! I pray it went better than mine. My hubby and son where listening to a music concert on tv that kicked in my ptsd, so for the first time in almost a year, I was playing my music and Bible relaxation tapes over and over to sleep. It helped some.

 

[rushingwind62]

Last night I never got to sleep. Not until 7:45 am and I slept for 4 hours. That's the worst night of insomnia I've ever had. Usually I at least get to sleep by 2:00. My old doctor hasn't really addressed sleep and I don't see my new doc until the 27th.

I've been using Remeron for sleep but anything above a small dose of 7.5mg causes other problems. So I use generic Benadryl or Unisom but those don't work very well. I took 2 Benadryl last night. I have some Trazodone but that doesn't work very well either.

I use Ativan for anxiety but would have to take a pretty huge amount for it to get me to sleep.

I will discuss Ambien, Lunesta etc with new doc if they have samples of it but for now I'm really concerned. I feel worse today than I've felt in a long time. And I seem to keep saying that recently.

There is no rhyme or reason for why this stuff happens other than I'm very slowly tapering off Zyprexa. (Zyprexa paradoxically seemed to cause insomnia to get worse.) Please pray that I will swing back to getting to sleep, even if it means I feel sedate.

Lemon,
It sounds to me like you are having anxiety attacks and that is what is keeping you awake. I say that because I went through the same thing when I was first diagnosised with BP. I went several days without sleep. I was tired and my mind was blank but I just couldn't sleep. It ended up triggering a brief psychoitic episode for me. So I do not recommend you mess with it. Get in to see your Dr ASAP.

I too take Trazadone for sleep and it does an excellent job for me. It might for you too once you get proper meds to address the anxiety side of your BP. Hope this helps...God Bless...Rush

 

[lemonflavor]

I slept last night but that's just one night and I was really tired.

It feels more like hypomania than anything else although GAD plays into it I'm sure. I don't feel all that bad when I can't sleep. I alternate reading and watching TV. But then the next day I feel absolutely awful.

Would appreciate continued prayer. Thanks.

 

[berry2000]

Praying. I get like that w/ hypomania sometimes when it is really bad. You have my thoughts and prayers.

 

[PrairieGurl]

Last night I never got to sleep. Not until 7:45 am and I slept for 4 hours. That's the worst night of insomnia I've ever had. Usually I at least get to sleep by 2:00. My old doctor hasn't really addressed sleep and I don't see my new doc until the 27th.

I've been using Remeron for sleep but anything above a small dose of 7.5mg causes other problems. So I use generic Benadryl or Unisom but those don't work very well. I took 2 Benadryl last night. I have some Trazodone but that doesn't work very well either.

I use Ativan for anxiety but would have to take a pretty huge amount for it to get me to sleep.

I will discuss Ambien, Lunesta etc with new doc if they have samples of it but for now I'm really concerned. I feel worse today than I've felt in a long time. And I seem to keep saying that recently.

There is no rhyme or reason for why this stuff happens other than I'm very slowly tapering off Zyprexa. (Zyprexa paradoxically seemed to cause insomnia to get worse.) Please pray that I will swing back to getting to sleep, even if it means I feel sedate.

Dear Lemonflavor

I was really debating whether to post this or not.
Of course this is only my experience...
2003 was the year insommnia became my enemy. As time went on and I couldn't fall asleep and could not function during the next day...I asked my doc for sleeping pills. They worked for about a year. You are to take them (sleeping pills) only when you can't fall asleep...I started taking them when I wanted a nap, when I was trying to run from problems and soon they had no effect on 'putting' me to sleep.
Long story short...I added other substances to help the sleeping pill work 'better'...multi doctored myself, ending up with even more sleeping pills...and as I am sure you have seen thru my posts...the bottom fell out of my life sending me into the depths of dispair.

I do pray Lemonflavor that this insommnia does pass quickly for you! I so understand the need for sleep and the consequences of not getting any.

Your request has been written down and lifted up.

s & s,
Wendy

 

[COVINABP]

Lemonflavor,

I can relate with you on this issue a little, I have been having trouble falling asleep lately, my depacote went from 5oomg to 2000mg & with my wife not @ home I lay in bed 1/2 an hour, and start thinking the thought "think of nothing think of nothing" over & over, cause my mind wants to go all over, I end up giving up, reading, going online etc. I don't know if it is a sign of the increased meds, the fact my wife is not home, or now after reading the posts, what does it mean the bi poloar getting worse? I finally end up able to sleep @ 1-130 in the morning, & have to be up by 6:30.

You are in my prayers

 

[PrairieGurl]

Lemonflavor,

I can relate with you on this issue a little, I have been having trouble falling asleep lately, my depacote went from 5oomg to 2000mg & with my wife not @ home I lay in bed 1/2 an hour, and start thinking the thought "think of nothing think of nothing" over & over, cause my mind wants to go all over, I end up giving up, reading, going online etc. I don't know if it is a sign of the increased meds, the fact my wife is not home, or now after reading the posts, what does it mean the bi poloar getting worse? I finally end up able to sleep @ 1-130 in the morning, & have to be up by 6:30.

You are in my prayers

William,
I think your not sleeping could be a mixture of all you've mentioned above.
I believe lack of sleep due to bipolar getting worse, is that whole brain chemical thing that messes with our total functions.
Make sense?

s & s,
Wendy

 

[RockChic23]

I get that pretty bad, I hardly sleep especially during my manic stages.

 

[lemonflavor]

Duplicate

 

[lemonflavor]

2003 was the year insommnia became my enemy. As time went on and I couldn't fall asleep and could not function during the next day...I asked my doc for sleeping pills. They worked for about a year. You are to take them (sleeping pills) only when you can't fall asleep...I started taking them when I wanted a nap, when I was trying to run from problems and soon they had no effect on 'putting' me to sleep.
Long story short...I added other substances to help the sleeping pill work 'better'...multi doctored myself, ending up with even more sleeping pills...and as I am sure you have seen thru my posts...the bottom fell out of my life sending me into the depths of dispair.

I do pray Lemonflavor that this insommnia does pass quickly for you! I so understand the need for sleep and the consequences of not getting any.

Your request has been written down and lifted up.

s & s,
Wendy

Thanks for the warning. I'm usually so careful about those things I don't think it would be a problem. What I would want to do is alternate weeks of Ambien and something else like Remeron because I always seem to need something. Unless my main drug will work to sedate me at night, which is what Zyprexa was supposed to do but didn't. Seroquel would be great if it didn't give me parathesia. Trileptal was somewhat sedating so going back on something like that may help. We'll see. Thanks.

 

[Alive again]

lemonflavor, I recently had a class and ocunseling for insomnia. 2 things to avoid if you vannot sleep are the tv and the computer. The ligth from the elctronics is extra bright and actually will awaken the brain and can reset your internal clock and screw up your sleep pattern. The best thing to do when you are in bed and cannot fall to sleep is to sit up in a cjhair in a dark room, or with very low light read a very boring book until you get drowsy. That's what the so called experts adi.

 

[lemonflavor]

It's back. I've had two bad nights of it. Three is about all I can handle before I really start breaking down. I even got out some old Trazodone and... nothing. I hope my new psychiatrist can address this on Wednesday. I don't understand why the insomnia keeps getting stronger and the pills weaker. I cycled out of it last week and had two not so bad days. Maybe that will happen again.

The frustrating thing about this bipolar stuff is it's always a moving target (for me anyway). No two cycles are the same. Things come in randomly and things change on a longer time period also like in months. If I ever got "stable" it would change within a month.

Just put me in a coma until they have this stuff figured out.

 

[angelkiss]

I've sure had my battles with insomnia. My therapist said that I haven't lost "nights" of sleep I've lost "years" of sleep. I was on Remeron for my insomnia, but it only worked for a short while and then it started coming back. When I did sleep it was nightmare city, and then I didn't care if I did sleep, but I knew that my body really needed the rest, so I told my therapist a couple weeks ago and she added Serequel to it at night. Now, I'm on 30 mg of Remeron and 50-100 Serequel at night. Sometimes, the 50 don't work, so I take 100. It has worked really well so far. You may suggest Remeron to your doc. It may work well for you. You're in my prayers!
's and es!!

 

[lemonflavor]

I take Remeron, but at 15mg or above it causes anxiety attacks and messes with bipolar stuff causing mixed states. Seroquel gives me parathesia. Trazodone doesn't do much. TCAs (amitryptyline etc) are similar to Remeron. Zyprexa has no sedating effects for me. Trileptal is somewhat sedating but wasn't enough for sleep. So sleeping pills may be a last resort.

 

[angelkiss]

I take Remeron, but at 15mg or above it causes anxiety attacks and messes with bipolar stuff causing mixed states. Seroquel gives me parathesia. Trazodone doesn't do much. TCAs (amitryptyline etc) are similar to Remeron. Zyprexa has no sedating effects for me. Trileptal is somewhat sedating but wasn't enough for sleep. So sleeping pills may be a last resort.

I hope you find what works for you soon lemonflavor. You're in our prayers!
's and es!!