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Re: update (insomnia) » Boba Fat

Posted by Larry Hoover on June 10, 2003, at 7:05:00

In reply to Re: update (insomnia), posted by Boba Fat on June 10, 2003, at 3:48:48

> I've followed this thread with interest. My problem with sleep was that it used to take me hours to get off. No matter how tired I was I would be tossing and turning. I was also a waker, I would wake 7 or 8 times, sometimes bolt upright - wide awake over a 5-6 hour 'sleep'. My other problem was occasional sleep paralysis and regular nightmares. Over the years my doctors have been reluctant to prescribe sleep aids and I have had to rely on Valerian, chamomile tea and warm milk - not the greatest sleep aids for someone with serious sleep problems.

No kidding! What is wrong with your friggin' doctors?

I'll tell you, without a shred of doubt, that getting my sleep back to being restorative was the turning point in my own struggle with mood.

>Recently since giving up most alcohol and stimulants I have had tons of energy which has manifested my problems into true insomnia. I concur that lack of sleep worsens anxiety and mood so I sought a solution. My doctor would only prescribe dothiepin but this only helped marginally. After only a few weeks stopped working at all. I had to stop taking it anyway because of the e-numbers, lactose and wheat starch it contained (because of my pesky diet) but it was neither helping my depression or sleep anyway.

I don't understand these e-numbers. You've mentioned them before.

>Now I rely on self medicated Klonopin, Diphenhydramine, codeine and the old Valerian and chamomile, often combining all five. This isn't a permanant solution though as I don't want to become tolerant or dependant to klonopin as I would rather save it for social anxiety and panic attacks (it is also expensive). There is a risk of tolerance with Diphenhydramine with long term use and the problems with possible codeine addiction are scary. The valerian and chamomile on their own just don't cut it though. I am interested in melatonin but it is not available here in England so I would have to mail order it (don't worry Bob, I won't ask where I can get it though! ;) ). Anyway that is my story. Sorry about the length but I just thought I would add my 2 cents to this interesting and relevant thread.

It's totally relevant. What I don't understand is the attitude of your doctors. You're forced to resort to inadequate alternatives with possible long-term adverse effects.

Here's my slant on benzos for sleep (e.g. temazepam). I think the situation is analogous to opiate use in chronic pain. If the correct dose of the correct opiate is chosen, the pain sufferer experiences no psychogenic effects, but merely a relief from pain. Rather than becoming addicted, these individuals experience a substantial increase in functionality, and do not experience tolerance.

I do believe it's the same with benzos for sleep disorders, at least for me. I have been on a stable dose for years, and it's the same dose I started at. No tolerance has developed. It remains effective for me. I'm not addicted to it, or dependent on it (I went off it in the winter when I started a trial of Remeron, and I went cold turkey).

Have you asked what your doctor's reticence in prescribing hypnotics arises from? I don't understand it.

Lar

 

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