If, for insomnia...

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

...you have tried the typical avenues of treatment, including hypnotics (Z drugs, such as Zopiclone and Zolpidem), tranquillisers (such as Xanax and Ativan) and low doses of sedating antidepressants (such as Dosulepin), would you be happy to try a low dose of a sedating antipsychotic? One example is Seroquel, which, in low doses has no antipsychotic properties but, by gum, it will knock you for six!

Would you be comfortable with such a drug? Would you be more amicable to the idea of an alternative therapy such as hypnotherapy or acupuncture?

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I'm on a high dose of Abilify, which is an anti-psychotic, also Ativan. I only have trouble sleeping once in a blue moon, believe me. When I can't sleep I get out of bed and read or otherwise occupy my mind until I feel drowsy. I would try an alternative therapy, but my insomnia isn't severe enough to warrant it.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I'm on a high dose of Abilify, which is an anti-psychotic, also Ativan. I only have trouble sleeping once in a blue moon, believe me. When I can't sleep I get out of bed and read or otherwise occupy my mind until I feel drowsy. I would try an alternative therapy, but my insomnia isn't severe enough to warrant it.

I rather liked Abilify when I took it, but it didn't do the job (in my case), so I had to stop it and try something new. One of the very few drugs that didn't make me feel drowsy all the time!

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

FWIW, I don't think anti-psychotics deserve the rap they get. They help a lot of people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, seizures and yes, insomnia. It's all a question of dose and how much they can help you.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I’d do acupuncture as I’ve done it for pain and it worked great for that for me - I shy away from a lot of medicine as I have problems with them - not crazy about hypnosis but that’s just me YMMV

 

[AnnaS]

edited/deleted by accident

 

[DCLMP]

FWIW, I don't think anti-psychotics deserve the rap they get. They help a lot of people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, seizures and yes, insomnia. It's all a question of dose and how much they can help you.

Have you tried Zyprexa? It worked for a member of my family that is bipolar. It cured the insomnia, and the mania, but caused akinesia. I don't think anti-psychotics get a bad wrap if you have a mental illness and they help you. They save lives. I'd be wary of taking a anti-psychotic if your not mentally ill and just have a sleep disorder. All meds have side effects. The benefit has to out weigh the risks.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Have you tried Zyprexa? It worked for a member of my family that is bipolar. It cured the insomnia, and the mania, but caused akinesia. I don't think anti-psychotics get a bad wrap if you have a mental illness and they help you. They save lives. I'd be wary of taking a anti-psychotic if your not mentally ill and just have a sleep disorder. All meds have side effects. The benefit has to out weigh the risks.

Yeah, tried Zyprexa, not strong enough again. It was engineered to be the successor to Clozapine, as effective as but without the side effects. Unfortunately, it stopped short. Good sedative properties though. May make you eat sugar out of the bag!

 

[DCLMP]

Yeah, tried Zyprexa, not strong enough again. It was engineered to be the successor to Clozapine, as effective as but without the side effects. Unfortunately, it stopped short. Good sedative properties though. May make you eat sugar out of the bag!

I think it really depends on why you are having trouble sleeping? I know Trazadone is prescribed a lot for insomnia. I've never understood why they'd prescribe an anti-depressant for someone that's not depressed. Why not just prescribe Ambien. Trazodone is not even approved for insomnia.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I think it really depends on why you are having trouble sleeping? I know Trazadone is prescribed a lot for insomnia. I've never understood why they'd prescribe an anti-depressant for someone that's not depressed. Why not just prescribe Ambien. Trazodone is not even approved for insomnia.

Thing is, with Z-drugs, they become habituating and less effective over more than 7 days running. I was put through most of if not all sedatives, but ended up on Dosulepin at a micro dose. I felt drowsy and more at peace with the world!

 

[DCLMP]

Thing is, with Z-drugs, they become habituating and less effective over more than 7 days running. I was put through most of not all sedatives, but ended up on Dosulepin at a micro dose. I felt drowsy and more at peace with the world!

Wouldn't all drugs cause dependency if you use it for sleep?

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Wouldn't all drugs cause dependency if you use it for sleep?

Over-the-counter sleep aids sure do. I had a bit of a problem with them about a decade ago or a little longer. Now I don't go near the things.

 

[bsmcneil]

Seroquel did not work for me. Zolpidem has, for the most part. Unfortunately, nights where I don't sleep with the aid of medication end up being the worst because of very, very bad flashbacks (two specific major traumas while I slept - but also, as a kid, my parents fought a lot during bedtime and it was very traumatic - not like, arguing but major violence, being kicked out of the house and having to walk to my grandmother's with my mom bleeding sorts of things). All of that said, I'd give anything a shot.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Wouldn't all drugs cause dependency if you use it for sleep?

Z-drugs especially though - it's quite chronic. Some doctors will prescribe them en masse, whilst many doctors and psychiatrists will only issue 7 tablets only. Taking them on non-consecutive days means you can safely take them for longer.

 

[elaine amj]

My doctor wasn’t too worried about zoplicone and prescribed them to me without any warnings. 3 months later, I realized I was still taking my magic blue pills nightly when my DD suggested I think about weaning off them.

Did some research and got rather freaked out. My doctor never expected me to take them every single night. Went on a half dose for a couple of nights and then quit cold turkey. Sleep was a bit messed up but manageable.

Doctor then prescribed trazadone as an alternative. It didn’t put me to sleep at all. Eventually, when I got desperate, I doubled it up with melatonin and that did the trick.

I’ve been super careful with sleeping pills since the zoplicone thing though and use them maybe 1-2x a month.

Thankfully my sleep patterns have normalized and I sleep ok with a sound machine now.

 

[3rd_time_the_charm]

Yada Yada yada....lots of reasons people take sleep meds and lots of reasons why not to or should take narcotics versus not. Disney boards are the last place I take advice.

 

[DCLMP]

Z-drugs especially though - it's quite chronic. Some doctors will prescribe them en masse, whilst many doctors and psychiatrists will only issue 7 tablets only. Taking them on non-consecutive days means you can safely take them for longer.

Totally makes sense. Sleep and sleep habits...and what works for people varies greatly. I have a sleep routine and have never had an issue with sleep. I sympathize with people that do and many times it's due to an underlying condition. I've have family members that have those issues. I wish you the best.

 

[DCLMP]

Yada Yada yada....lots of reasons people take sleep meds and lots of reasons why not to or should take narcotics versus not. Disney boards are the last place I take advice.

I'm not sure what being a "Disney board" has to do with it. Would reddit be better? A lot of people turn to social media to talk to people suffering from the same health conditions. It's not a bad thing. It's probably one of the few positives of social media.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I'm just going to say no, I would not be comfortable taking any of that. Try reading a dull book, or doing a meditation. Stay away from screens leading up to bedtime, including...scratch that, especially this one.

 

[DCLMP]

I'm just going to say no, I would not be comfortable taking any of that. Try reading a dull book, or doing a meditation. Stay away from screens leading up to bedtime, including...scratch that, especially this one.

I totally agree with that for normal people. If you've ever had to deal with someone that is bipolar or has ADHD totally different set of circumstances. All the stuff you mentioned helps, but they may need more help than that.