Posted by KaraS on April 6, 2005, at 3:07:19
In reply to Re: Tabitha, ChrisO, KaraS and anyone else - question » KaraS, posted by Sarah T. on April 6, 2005, at 0:03:04
> Hi Kara,
>
> That's interesting that you feel best on seven hours of sleep. Unfortunately, I think I need more than that; however, oddly enough, when I'm not on any antidepressants, I can get by on less, and when I am on AD's, I seem to need more in order to function. For example, I'm not on any AD's now. There have been several times in the last few months when I got only 4-5 or 6 hours of sleep, which is much less than I need, and yet, I was still able to function. I couldn't have done anything that required a lot of abstract thought, but I was able to get through the day and do what I had to do. Contrast that with the times when I was on Celexa, which was disruptive to my sleep. I spent many more hours in bed on Celexa, but I think very few of those hours were spent in any good, restful, restorative sleep. When I got only 4, 5 or 6 hours of sleep on Celexa, I was completely non-functional. That occurs with some other AD's also. I'm starting to believe that the REM-suppression that occurs with many AD's may not be good for me. Or, perhaps some other stages of sleep are so disrupted that I'm severely impaired the following day.
>
> I think that was really wise of you to move to a warmer climate. I'm seriously considering doing that in the next few years. I can't take the long cold winters anymore.
Hi Sarah,That's a good point about possibly needing more sleep time when taking an antidepressant. I don't know if I needed more time when I was on Effexor. It could be. I was under the impression then that I needed at least 8 hours of sleep. I'll have to check it out next time I'm on a significant dosage of an AD. I wonder if maybe the doxepin is actually working to make sleep better. I sleep sooooo soundly on this stuff and I have good dreams.
Warmer weather is great but there are other things that you have to put up with out here. It's very expensive and crowded. Traffic is horrible.... but you won't freeze!
poster:KaraS
thread:478017
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050323/msgs/480578.html