Posted by suffragette on October 29, 2004, at 12:47:58
I've been on Effexor for awhile and it has helped my depression. I have had sleep problems forever, and have been on the day depression meds (Prozac/Zoloft) and the night depression meds (Doxepin/Elavil) combo for 2 decades. Still, sleep was the problem. So my dr, in his infinite wisdom, took me off Doxepin and gave me Restoril. I think I am going thru Doxepin withdrawal now. It's been 2 weeks and I've gone from no sleep to sleep periods of 4 hours then wakefullness and walking zombie status all day. The Restoril did not help, neither does Sonata. So I'm going to stop taking night meds altogether and try Valerian at night. I have a job, which thankfully allows me to pretty much make my own hours. I work in the mental health consumer empowerment field, and I'm being forced to look at my mh life now in a more empowered way. All these meds! Is it marketing? Is the idea of Recovery valid with all these meds fighting in our systems? I believe I will always need a chemical boost, but I'm ready now to learn how to sleep as naturally as my husband, who zzz's away while I look at the ceiling. My dr, I believe, made a huge mistake in not weaning me from Doxepin, which I've been on for probably 5 years. His nurse refused to put me back on Elavil, which I asked for, and just had him prescribe Sonata. I want to end this cycle and help my body regulate itself. I guess the whole concept of recovery involves constant monitoring of yourself so that you don't become complacent with your own mh.
poster:suffragette
thread:408765
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041029/msgs/408765.html