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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by morel1 on December 20, 2003, at 21:02:52
Hello,
I am a 23 year old male who has been dealign with insomina for 8 years now. My situation has always been the same. i fall asleep fine but always wake up after 5 hours and the fall back asleep right away and then from then on i suffer from broken sleep for another 4-5 hours and wake up feeling like crap. Does anyone have this same problem. i feel i may have anxiety and am taking xanax but it seems to keep me tired and not refreshed. Same effect with valerian root. I dont remember what its like to feel like to be refreshed. i am in a haze what feels like my whole life. i've gone to a sleep clinic and have no sleep apnea of any sort. Sleep doc precribed remeron and that just made me feeel even worse thru out day and still woke up thru out night. This might not seem like a big problem to some but i'm losing hope. I'm just frustrated i look and feel sick and tired all the time. Damn I feel like I'm missing out on the best years of my life. I've been reading your posts and just comforting to know that others are dealing with issues too.
Posted by Mimi on December 20, 2003, at 21:37:28
In reply to CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!!!, posted by morel1 on December 20, 2003, at 21:02:52
Posted by KellyD on December 20, 2003, at 21:42:00
In reply to CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!!!, posted by morel1 on December 20, 2003, at 21:02:52
Have you consulted with your sleep doctor again? Or prehaps, your regular doc? It would seem the plan they put in place didn't work and you need another.
It is indeed a big deal to not be sleeping or not getting restful sleep. The effect on your mind and body is horrible and I'm sure you already know that.
Keep advocating for yourself until you find a workable solution - scream, shout, throw fits - whatever it takes!!
Suppliments may be of help and you might try posting on alternative board for other suggestions.
Posted by shadows721 on December 20, 2003, at 23:17:39
In reply to CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!!!, posted by morel1 on December 20, 2003, at 21:02:52
Have you tried melatonin?
Posted by mtdew on December 21, 2003, at 0:08:53
In reply to CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!!!, posted by morel1 on December 20, 2003, at 21:02:52
I am also a 23/m and I know what you feel like. One possible avenue to look into is hypoglycemia. Some people respond to carbohydrate-laden meals by releasing too much insulin and suffering a blood sugar drop, about 2-4 hours after eating, which can wake you up and make you feel anxious. I eat basically the atkins diet for this reason. You could give it a try for a week or even just a few days and see how it goes. I felt relief almost immediately. Unfortunately, I still can't get decent sleep, and have had dark circles under my eyes for years. I also take melatonin and a small dose of Klonopin before bed. You may find that Klonopin helps you sleep better than Xanax.
Good luck!
Posted by btnd on December 21, 2003, at 0:57:29
In reply to CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!!!, posted by morel1 on December 20, 2003, at 21:02:52
The best med for insomnia is DEFINITELY Xyrem [GHB]. No benzo or benzo-like drug (Ambien) can even compare to good old GHB-based drug. Try convincing your pdoc (print out old studies done on GHB and sleep and show them to pdoc) to prescribe you Xyrem. It is approved only for narcolepsy now, but soon it will probably change. And pdocs have the ability to RX for whatever the reason (I think :)
Posted by KarmaFairy on December 21, 2003, at 1:23:23
In reply to Re: CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!! Xyrem Xyrem Xyrem! » morel1, posted by btnd on December 21, 2003, at 0:57:29
I believe GHB has been approved for use in treating insomnia, or at least it is in the process. I would urge one to do some serious research before taking such a drug - even by prescription. GHB was always thought of as a particularly *nasty* drug among my milder addict friends (years ago...). Still, not sleeping for 8 years, I'd imagine, is pretty *nasty* as well. Just make sure you do your research...
You can check out some basic information at http://www.dancesafe.org/
Posted by KarmaFairy on December 21, 2003, at 1:24:02
In reply to Re: CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!! Xyrem Xyrem Xyrem!, posted by KarmaFairy on December 21, 2003, at 1:23:23
Good luck finding relief.
Posted by Mememe on December 21, 2003, at 3:56:31
In reply to Re: CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!! Xyrem Xyrem Xyrem!, posted by KarmaFairy on December 21, 2003, at 1:24:02
I had the same reaction to Xanax. I felt sleepy all the time. I have suffered from insomnia and tried several different meds before my doc gave me a perscription for Seroquil. I only take a small piece of the 25 mg and I have been surprised how well it works. You might try that. I have also heard that a low dose of Tharazone helps with insomnia and you feel refreshed the next day (instead of hung over). Best wishes to you.
Posted by morel1 on December 21, 2003, at 16:47:07
In reply to CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!!!, posted by morel1 on December 20, 2003, at 21:02:52
Wow,
I didn't think I would get such a response so quickly. Oh yeah I probably forgot to mention a couple of things. I did a melatonin test and sleep doc sez that my melatonin levels are fine and sez that my broken sleep pattern looks like symtoms of depression and/or anxiety. He prescribed trytophan for me and i took it for about 5 days. It seemed to make me urinate 2 - 3 times a night and didn't really help my sleep. I was only taking 1g. I stopped taking that not for that problem but i read that long term use runs the risk of bladder cancer and increases the risk of diabetes if it runs in the family which it does. i also took a serotonin test and showed i had low serotonin levels. So then i went ahead and bought 5-htp. I took 25mg pill before i went to bed every night for a week and in turn that just made me feel wired and got no sleep. i've been interested in Buspar for generalized anxity disorder. i'm going to a psy'doc in a week and plan to be assesed then. Hopefully something will come of this. I'll check out GHB info but i used to do the rave scene for a couple of years and i've seen the effects. Never did it myself though. Thanks to all who responded and i will keep you updated.
Posted by KimberlyDi on December 22, 2003, at 16:50:47
In reply to CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!!!, posted by morel1 on December 20, 2003, at 21:02:52
50mg of Imipramine plus 50mg of Trazadone at night has been a lifesaver for me. Normal dreams, sometimes mid of nite wakeups, but can go back to sleep immediately. Wake up in the mornings feeling ok to face the day.
I also trade off some nights with Benedryl. Other nights I try it alone to avoid developing a tolerance to my successful sleep cocktail.
Good Luck
KDi in TX> Hello,
>
> I am a 23 year old male who has been dealign with insomina for 8 years now. My situation has always been the same. i fall asleep fine but always wake up after 5 hours and the fall back asleep right away and then from then on i suffer from broken sleep for another 4-5 hours and wake up feeling like crap. Does anyone have this same problem. i feel i may have anxiety and am taking xanax but it seems to keep me tired and not refreshed. Same effect with valerian root. I dont remember what its like to feel like to be refreshed. i am in a haze what feels like my whole life. i've gone to a sleep clinic and have no sleep apnea of any sort. Sleep doc precribed remeron and that just made me feeel even worse thru out day and still woke up thru out night. This might not seem like a big problem to some but i'm losing hope. I'm just frustrated i look and feel sick and tired all the time. Damn I feel like I'm missing out on the best years of my life. I've been reading your posts and just comforting to know that others are dealing with issues too.
Posted by jms600 on December 22, 2003, at 16:52:49
In reply to Re: CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!! Xyrem Xyrem Xyrem! » morel1, posted by btnd on December 21, 2003, at 0:57:29
Hi,
I'm probably not really helping here, but I have found the best thing to help me sleep is about 150-200mg of Promazine, combined with alcohol, taken 1 hour before bedtime. You arern't suppopsed to consume alcohol with Promazine, but my doctor said that a SMALL amount should be OK. I usually have a glass or two of spirits with them. Not a good idea I know, so I rarely do it, but whoa, does it knock me out!!
Posted by paulk on December 24, 2003, at 17:22:22
In reply to CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE SOS!!!, posted by morel1 on December 20, 2003, at 21:02:52
I only found good sleep after I started stimulents.
Starnage as it may seem, taking a stim in the morning let me sleep all night. Your doc should let you try ritalin or dexedrine if other things are OK.
Sometimes I wonder if my depression - dysthemia, Atypical etc - is really a sleep disorder - and once I have lost so much sleep I'm fuzzy headed and depressed. BTW benzos won't help long term with sleep.
This is the end of the thread.
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