Posted by BeardedLady on December 2, 2002, at 15:10:09
Hi.
I'm sure no one will read this or be able to help me. It's way too long. But I am desperate and so will think these thoughts out loud in case there's a generous soul with extra spare time.
I have early-morning awakenings and have been suffering with them since my pregnancy (when they started once a month) and after I quit nursing (my dog, my grandmother, and my father-in-law had recently died).
I was taking 250 mg. of Serzone and doing fine, with an occasional 10 mg. Sonata at 2:30 a.m. over the summer--once a week, maybe.
In October, I started needing the Sonata more and more.
In November, Sonata died on me. I took one and was up from 2:30 on. The next night, I took two and was up from 2:30 on.
My pdoc prescribed Ativan. I have no trouble falling asleep (usually), so I wait until I wake up in the middle of the night. I usually wake at midnight to pee but manage to sleep til 2:30 after that.
I don't know why. I am very frustrated.
So I started taking Ativan (when I need it) three weeks ago. I needed 2 mg. in the middle of the night every day for a week, and then I got a few days off--five in a week (three in a row, even!). Now I've used it three nights this week, with a Sonata thrown in their on the fourth night. It didn't work at all, though I managed to fall asleep three hours after I took it.
Last night I had a cold and opted for Ativan instead of Nyquil, worrying that I might not sleep (though I always do) with Nyquil. I was up for two hours after I took it. I don't know if it was the cold that kept me awake or what. But now I'm freaked.
Questions:
Does Serzone poop out? I've been on it four years with only a few short-lived problems that were situational. My doc said it is one of the few meds that doesn't poop.
Does Ativan stop working so soon? Or did my anxiety just break through this huge dose?
How long can I take Ativan without bugging out?
Will Sonata ever work for me again--say, if I haven't taken it in several months? It was really a dream come true for me, literally!
WHY DO PEOPLE WAKE UP THE SAME TIME EVERY NIGHT OF THEIR LIVES AND HAVE TROUBLE FALLING BACK TO SLEEP?
And why, when it goes away, do I still wake up at that exact time and have luck falling asleep?
My doc wants me to up my Serzone (we upped it a few weeks ago to my old dose, 300, from 250) to 400. I'm afraid, but I don't know why. I think it will help my depression but worry that it won't help my sleep.
Any wisdom?
beardy
poster:BeardedLady
thread:130274
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021127/msgs/130274.html