Posted by BrightEyed+Blueberry on May 8, 2008, at 10:25:06
In reply to Re: Emsam - still not sleeping much, posted by LongRoad on May 8, 2008, at 8:52:21
I'm glad the Neurontin worked for you last night...yeah, I've had the *wake-up early but easy to fall back to sleep* on it straight-away too. That tends to mean I won't have morning hangovers from the medication if I can find the proper dose and am not reliant on the medication...an ideal balance. Which is also why I don't want to go up on my EMSAM...even more insomnia. It's weird, insomnia - from this atypical who never ever had this problem. Whew I couldn't imagine adding that to the rest of my problems. Now, well, it's not THAT bad, and depression is gone--just real life stuff that's difficult going on, but I can see that I'm able to cope with it and continue to live MY life.
So last night, only got 6.5 hours (fell asleep pretty quick, but technically this morning awoke restless with the morning light - 5 hours sleep). Not enough! For me, "lightly tired all day" feels like mild depression, you know? Dampener. But, part of the problem is me...last night I was on the computer too long, and yet maintained I had to read my book and have my midnight snack, and when i looked up at was 1am-and I forced my hand and the book down and promptly turned off the light.
There's a constant struggle between my obsessing mind AND my, uh, WILL? the Controller? Would that be prefrontal cortex? Stranely, it seems the EMSAM has strengthened both of these --maybe they are part of the sane thing? It's like a power that needs to be balanced and channeled for GOOD. ;)
I'm my own superhero/worst nightmare!
Yes we can Babble about the minutiae of the sleep war we wage: the armies of little pills/technology/strategic war plans needed to SLEEP!
-Bright
Plan tonight: Use my newfound superpowers to make myself to-bed early. Aim (real-time) 11:30pm. Patch off by...9pm. Assume last night's lack of sleep will be enough to not need Neurontin ....will reconfig if power nap helps!BTW, For me, the early morning wake up is definitely related to the morning light that I'm now more sensitive too on EMSAM. I've experimented with the eye patch (Walgreens nylon/poly blend NOT comfortable, and the little light that gets in is ...searing!) Not anyone else? I will have to get dark drapes if it continues even when i get to bed early. Don't like the thought--dark is not something I like to "see" in my room in the day. Depressing!
BTW2 - I might ask my pdoc for trazodone--never got hangovers from that. But I bet she won't give it to me, what with having Neurontin and Xanax in my bedside arsenal.
> > This week I've started to take the patch off.
> >
> > I've been using Neurontin 300-600mg - I'm at my 6th week with EMSAM 6mg. I have Xanax (1mg) but I don't like to use it--addiction issues too--don't want to use things unless absolutely necessary anymore!
> >
> > I don't like to feel drowsy in the morning either. Neurontin is ok if I take it a couple hours before going to bed. Doesn't always work.
> >
> > But I stopped the Neurontin method and "resigned" myself lately to taking the patch off--it's so expensive you wish you could reuse it for that 8 hours in the morning, you know? I just paid my $500 deductible (wasn't hard to reach - 1 month's worth reached it!), and I still have to pay $150/mo. per calendar year (and pay health insurance. Funny, the pharmacists were shocked FOR me...guess it's not a commonly used medication :) ...yet?
> >
> > Taking the patch off seems to work. I mean to take it off an hour before but so far don't remember to until I'm laying there. Still could be that not getting enough sleep at night is what works for the following night. But for me, 7 hours is barely enough sleep--I need my 8. Sometimes I can keep going THROUGH the tired--in that obsessive, on-the-internet way. So I have to force myself. Maybe read a book - easier to fall asleep reading a book than reading web sites.
> >
> > I started power napping 20 minutes-that helps so i don't end up staying up late. Versus taking a 2 hour nap, which seems delicious after time in the pool and the sun (try bathing in chlorine +sunlight for sleep?!)
> >
> > Been thinking about exploring those brainwave acoustic CDs out there for sale on Amazon...or some websites like neuroprogrammer2....haven't gone there yet, but I'm close.
> >
> > May I ask how long you've been on your current dose, and how long you were on 6mg?
>
> Hi. I was on the 6mg for a couple of weeks and then went to 9mg for 3 weeks before going to 12mg. The insomnia started midway through the 9 and I think got worse with 12.
>
> Going back to 9, taking the patch off at 6pm (going to bed around midnight), and taking 200mg Neurontin helped me actually sleep last night. I woke up throughout the night, but was always able to quickly fall back asleep. This is miles ahead of how it's been up until now.
>
> I did not experience insomnia on 6mg, but I wasn't on it for as long as you - it may have eventually crept in. I'm interested in the idea of potassium citrate, b/c it was touted by the poster d0pamine as working so well (he is on 12mg Emsam). He said he took 600mg with a snack at bedtime. I might try it. If you want, let's keep each other informed as to what works and what doesn't. Babble me if you like.
poster:BrightEyed+Blueberry
thread:827724
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080430/msgs/827914.html