Posted by Larry Hoover on December 13, 2003, at 9:44:24
In reply to Re: Sleep Problems » Larry Hoover, posted by Ron Hill on December 12, 2003, at 16:13:19
> Hi Lar,
>
> > In the last month, I've tried Seroquel, trazadone (for the fourth time....frig, I hate that stuff), and now Zyprexa (olanzapine).
>
> What symptoms are you attempting to treat with these trials; just insomnia, or additional symptoms as well?Just insomnia.
> As an aside, I had no idea you were conducting these heavy-duty med trials.
I'm getting desperate. Some background....
My mood is stable. That's not a problem. I have no other psych symptoms that really cause me any concern.
The insomnia appears to be directly linked to the PTSD/chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia symptom cluster. I see those three disorders as lying on a multi-factorial continuum; diagnostic distinctions between them are arbitrary, IMHO. Insomnia is a problem that likely arises via HPA dysregulation....i.e. a centrally mediated symptom.....very hard to treat. When I don't get restorative sleep, I decline in global function (not surprisingly), but this all began over the summer, when I was doing quite well. I wonder about the "six month effect" of NADH.....but otherwise, I really don't have a clue how to effectively address this symptom.
> You are so great at helping others on this board, yet sometimes I wonder if it is difficult for you to ask for help so that the support can flow in both directions?
I appreciate your raising this question, but I don't know how to answer it. You're probably right.
> In any case, you are a good guy in my book; I just hope you can get the help you need (and deserve).
Yes, thank you.
> > I'm going to push to try mood stabilizers next....can't hurt, might help.
>
> Which one(s) do you have your eye on? Refresh my memory; please give me a list of all prescription medications that you are currently taking.Currently, temazepam, 30 mg at bedtime, and olanzapine 2.5 mg at bedtime. The temazepam effectiveness has diminished over time, so the shrink wants me off it. We're adding in the other meds to see if something will: a) get me back to restorative sleep; b) do so sufficiently well to permit withdrawal of the temazepam (which will very likely cause severe rebound insomnia).
I'm considering mood stabilizers solely because I really haven't been on them yet (save lithium, which so numbed my emotional state that it made me suicidal; if this was to be my state, fuggedaboudit).
I've been trying to tweak with magnesium (gives me drowsiness the next day), melatonin (same), SJW (stimulating), 5-HTP (no effect).....but I'm not tweaking right now, as I need to see the sole effect of the novel meds I'm trying.
> > > > How's life down in Texas these days?
>
> > > Phil lives in TX (as does Shar, if I recall correctly). But I live in Idaho (which, as you know, shares a short border section with western Canada).
>
> > I'm sorry Ron. I can't even keep my people straight ... But you didn't answer the question....
>
> Answer to the question: Things are good down here in Texas <smile>. I periodically have trouble with anhedonia, low motivation, and anergy which I believe to be attributable to poor dopaminergic pathway functioning. And if I give-in to the symptoms and start staying in bed, I cycle into a deep atypical depression for about five days, after which, I immediately cycle into a highly irritable dysphoric mood state (which perhaps fits into the category of a mixed state).You might want to look at Kraepelin's diagnostic concepts....he was way ahead of his time. Sorry, no link....I'll look later.
> It is my layman’s opinion that my dopaminergic pathways were damaged by taking Ritalin, Paxil, and other SSRI’s during the years that I was misdiagnosed as ADHD. But I could be wrong about this.Or you may simply have gotten older....
> As I look back over my life, it is clear to me that I’ve been bipolar II since childhood (starting at about age eight). My anhedonia, low motivation, and anergy symptoms are definitely worse now than they were prior to taking Ritalin and SSRI’s, but maybe that is merely reflective of the fact that the depressive side of bipolar disorder worsens with age.
Or delayed initiation of effective treatment....there's a new concept entering the nutrition literature....long-latency deficiency disease....they're finally catching on.
> Or it could be an outcome predicted by the “Kindling Theory” (i.e.; the more times the BP patient cycles, the worse the disease becomes).
Yes, the brain learns even adverse patterns.
> In any event, I have improved dramatically over the past couples of years by finding various nutrients to feed my brain. I’m still looking for the additional nutrients (or, perhaps, medications) necessary to complete this project of brainchemistry restoration.
Just keep your expectations reasonable, 'kay?
> Also, I self-medicated (unknowingly) with rigorous exercise most of my adult years prior to getting derailed with Ritalin and Paxil. I’m currently in the process of ramping up my exercise program to therapeutic levels.That's a good strategy....I'm pretty much so fatigued that I can't get going on exercise....I'm just going to have to will myself to do so....at the risk of triggering further decline through over-exertion....I walk more than one tightrope.
> Overall, I’m doing well. Thanks for asking!
>
> --RonI'm glad of that. Thanks for drawing me out.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:286464
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031204/msgs/289354.html