Posted by Snoozy on April 18, 2003, at 19:37:01
In reply to To answer your question... » Snoozy, posted by Janelle on April 18, 2003, at 17:31:42
There is variation in what people's natural need for sleep is (those folks who only "need" 5 or 6 hours love to tell you that!) Have you always needed a little extra, or is this just since you've been on medication?
Depakote - I've been on 250 and 500 mg. If it does cause me drowsiness, it's pretty subtle. If it's doing some good for you, that's great.
I'd like to know what others here think, but I would think that you would want to stay on the Buspar while coming off the Klonopin, and then stop the Buspar after that. Buspar is not supposed to cause drowsiness (I never noticed any myself). You can just stop taking Buspar without suffering any withdrawl symptoms, unlike Klonopin. The Buspar won't ease withdrawl from Klonopin, but if it is doing something for your anxiety, I would think that would help in getting off the Klonopin. Also, if anything is making you drowsy, it's probably the Klonopin, not the Buspar, so wouldn't you want to get off of Klonopin first? If you've been taking it for a while, I would highly recommend tapering off. (I'm sure your dr will set up a taper schedule for you).
And if worst comes to worst and you're totally desperate, there's always exercise ;)
> First, thanks for your sympathies!
>
> To address your question - I do sleep normally but still feel tired; I used to sleep excessively and still feel tired, but no more.
>
> Also, I seem to need more than the *traditional* 8 hours/night of sleep - 10 is what I'd call ideal for me.
>
> I'm on such a low dose (250mg/night) of Depakote I doubt it's the culprit, although I just now realized that this constant daytime tiredness has become more problematic ever since Depakote was added to the cocktail.
>
> But it's a catch-22 situation because I was operating at minimal capacity until the Depakote was added! The changes/improvement (knock on wood) since the Depakote was added have been incredible! :-)
>
> I used to just take 1 mg Klonopin/daytime but for some reason this pdoc has me on 1mg of it daytime and 1 mg night time.
>
> I have an appointment with him very soon and he said he was going to start "streamlining" (his word) my meds, with the first thing being to go off the Buspar. I then hope to reduce the Klonopin and maybe switch the time I take the Celexa.
>
> My problem has been groggy nights (not terribly so but definitely groggy) already and then a feeling that I can't wake up all day the next day.
>
> I've thought about what you mentioned - taking an activating med to counteract these sedating ones, but I already feel like a human drug store as it is. I'm hoping that getting off and/or reducing the sedating meds will do the trick.
poster:Snoozy
thread:220167
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030417/msgs/220464.html