Posted by Elizabeth on June 8, 2001, at 23:46:01
In reply to Re: Phenergan or Atatax or Vistaril for Sleep?, posted by stjames on June 8, 2001, at 2:05:06
> Actually Imiprimime (and all TCA's, like doxipin and related to Remeron) were developed from sedating antihistamines; antihistamines that are sedating share the weight gaining side effect with these antidepressants.
That's true: doxepin and amitriptyline are the strongest antihistamines of the TCAs. (Doxepin is even available in a topical preparation for pruritis.) The phenothiazines, old antipsychotics (of which Phenergan (promethazine) is one) which are structurally close to TCAs, were also under investigation as antihistamines, for the purpose of augmenting surgical anaesthesia, when they were discovered to relieve psychosis.
> Generally one does not need to take a large dose to induce sleep and avoides the weight issue. Trazodone would be an option, it is sedating and not related to the antihistamines. While an AD, it is used for sleep. Should last long enough for early morning waking problems.
Trazodone is also an antihistamine (and can also cause the munchies if you don't go to sleep when the sedation sets in). I found it stopped working after a few days, as all antihistaminic sedatives do for me. Also, some people feel it causes daytime drowsiness.
> If I take benzos every day I eat like a horse, some do get this side effect from them.
Me too. Plus they don't generally continue to work for insomnia; most people grow tolerant to sedation from benzos.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:65611
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010605/msgs/65874.html