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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Poet on April 4, 2006, at 10:45:44
In reply to What do you take for insomnia?, posted by TylerJ on April 4, 2006, at 10:08:15
Hi Tyler,
Pdoc just put me on Gabitril which so far hasn't helped me at all, but it's only been a week. It's supposed to help induce stage four sleep- the real deep REM dream sleep. So far not so good, but as I say, I haven't given it much of a chance.
My insomnia isn't meds induced, it's racing thought induced, but Ambien used to help me sleep through the night. Though it did take more than an hour to make me sleepy. I never had any problems taking it and Effexor XR and Clonazepam, pdoc just doesn't think it is the right med for my chronic insomnia.
I've tried Trazodone and Amitriptyline, but neither helped as much as Ambien did. Lunesta put me to sleep right away, but then I'd wake up during the night and have trouble falling back asleep.
Poet
Posted by B2chica on April 4, 2006, at 11:22:19
In reply to What do you take for insomnia?, posted by TylerJ on April 4, 2006, at 10:08:15
trazadone really didn't work well for me.
seroquel at 100mg did the trick but left me with much cognitive blunting so i stopped. sonata did nothing for me. as of late the combo i have is zyprexa 10, xanax 2mg and ambien 10-20. but i have to take it about an hour or two before bed. took a while to kick in.
b2c.
Posted by RobertDavid on April 4, 2006, at 12:23:20
In reply to What do you take for insomnia?, posted by TylerJ on April 4, 2006, at 10:08:15
Lunesta has worked best for me.
Rob
Posted by Maxime on April 4, 2006, at 13:03:24
In reply to What do you take for insomnia?, posted by TylerJ on April 4, 2006, at 10:08:15
Good old benadryl. I think there is also a prescription antihistamine that people use called Atarax. I don't know if I spelled it correctly or not.
Maxime
Posted by CareBear04 on April 4, 2006, at 13:04:37
In reply to What do you take for insomnia?, posted by TylerJ on April 4, 2006, at 10:08:15
I usually need something else to knock me out completely, but for a few years now, I've relied on 2-4mg of Klonopin before bed. I'm interested to hear what everyone else uses.
CB
Posted by Phillipa on April 4, 2006, at 14:05:41
In reply to What do you take for insomnia?, posted by TylerJ on April 4, 2006, at 10:08:15
Tyler if you're there could you answer Tepis's posts below. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by blueberry on April 4, 2006, at 20:30:27
In reply to What do you take for insomnia?, posted by TylerJ on April 4, 2006, at 10:08:15
I switch off and on, nothing on a regular basis, and have some nights mixed in where I don't use anything at all, just to avoid tolerance and see how I do. Xanax .5mg keeps me asleep 8 hours. Lunesta 3mg keeps me asleep 6 hours, plus or minus.
Posted by tizza on April 5, 2006, at 3:57:02
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia?, posted by blueberry on April 4, 2006, at 20:30:27
mogadon (nitrazepam) it's a benzo and the best sleep aid I have ever used, it's related to (flunitrazepam- rohypnol) but both are not available in the US which I would find extremly annoying. It has a reasonably long half life of around 28 hours so it can take a few days to get use to it and not feel groggy in the morning unlike seroquel or zyprexa which alway left me in a fog land and never I never got use to those horrible side effects. It usually gives me a good 8 hours sleep but my insomnia is back again in full gear so I'm still getting reasonable but broken sleep which I'm use to. Valium also helps me sleep, Restoril/Normison makes me chatty and Rivotril/Klonopin messed with my head. Stilnox/Ambiem gave me an upset stomach and Imovane (zopiclone) didn't do jack really except leave a foul taste in my mouth and made my anxiety really bad the next day. IMO mogadon is fantastic for really bad insomnia. Paul
Posted by naughtypuppy on April 5, 2006, at 9:21:57
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia?, posted by tizza on April 5, 2006, at 3:57:02
Oxazapam is a short acting benzo that worked well for me when I was on Parnate. No morning hangover, but you might have to take some more if you wake in the middle of the night.
Posted by MARTY on April 5, 2006, at 12:10:44
In reply to What do you take for insomnia?, posted by TylerJ on April 4, 2006, at 10:08:15
Hi Tyler,My Pdoc tried me on "Gravol", but only had a effect for about 4 hours. Then she prescribe me 1000 mg of Tryptophan but since am I on a MAOI I got to educate herself about the possibility of simply KILLING ME with her uneducated decision.
And now the good news; Chloral Hydrate. This is what I'm on and it works quite good. But their is 2 drawbacks: your pharmacy may not be able to found the pill form of the drug, leaving you with a syrup who taste bad. And the possibility of getting addict to it, just like on Benzos for the matter.
Wish we had Ambien here in Canada. But it is very unlikely since our governement is doing very little to fight the online pharmacy selling to the US.
Marty
> Due to the wonderful drug induced insomnia I am experiencing because of Parnate, I am forced to use a sleeping aid if I am going to get any sleep at all.
> I was recently taking Trazodone for insomnia, it worked well for the insomnia, but left me groggy the next day.
> Yesterday, I talked my doc into letting me try ambien cr. It took me awhile to fall asleep, but once I did, I slept well. And so far today I feel pretty good.
>
> So what do you guys take for insomnia? Any Combos?
>
> Thanks, Tyler
Posted by JaclinHyde on April 5, 2006, at 12:13:42
In reply to What do you take for insomnia?, posted by TylerJ on April 4, 2006, at 10:08:15
Ambien CR with one .5mg klonopin to help me on my way to dream land. Nice combo and safe with Parnate.
Terri
Posted by ed_uk on April 5, 2006, at 14:21:33
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia? » TylerJ, posted by MARTY on April 5, 2006, at 12:10:44
Hi Marty
How do you react to Imovane and Starnoc?
Ed
Posted by MARTY on April 5, 2006, at 14:38:41
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia? » MARTY, posted by ed_uk on April 5, 2006, at 14:21:33
Hi Ed, How are you ?Imovane seems to help me but I just CAN'T stand the bad taste. In fact I'm sensitive enough to this taste that it often was waking me up! and so I had to go drink something with a lot of sugars.
I don't know about Starnoc. Guess I have some googling to do. Maybe you can introduce me to it.
Marty
> Hi Marty
>
> How do you react to Imovane and Starnoc?
>
> Ed
Posted by ed_uk on April 5, 2006, at 14:56:02
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia? » ed_uk, posted by MARTY on April 5, 2006, at 14:38:41
Hi
Starnoc is the Canadian brand name for zaleplon. Zaleplon is known as Sonata in the UK and the US.
Ed
Posted by john berk on April 5, 2006, at 16:37:23
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia? » MARTY, posted by ed_uk on April 5, 2006, at 14:56:02
Hi tyler, i take 1 mg. of klonopin an hour after i get home from work, [i work part-time evenings]around 10, then 10 mgs. of ambien a half hour before bedtime, works well. sometimes i use trytophan instead of the klonopin, 1 500 mg. capsule, but that is tricky with high dose ad's.
i'm off prozac now, so i don't worry about serotonin syndrome with tryptophan...john
Posted by Maxime on April 5, 2006, at 20:04:57
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia? » ed_uk, posted by MARTY on April 5, 2006, at 14:38:41
Starnoc isn't available in Canada anymore. It was for about 4 months. I used it when I was in the hospital in the '90s. I liked it.
Maxime
> Hi Ed, How are you ?
>
> Imovane seems to help me but I just CAN'T stand the bad taste. In fact I'm sensitive enough to this taste that it often was waking me up! and so I had to go drink something with a lot of sugars.
>
> I don't know about Starnoc. Guess I have some googling to do. Maybe you can introduce me to it.
>
> Marty
>
>
> > Hi Marty
> >
> > How do you react to Imovane and Starnoc?
> >
> > Ed
>
>
Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2006, at 20:18:05
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia? » TylerJ, posted by MARTY on April 5, 2006, at 12:10:44
Marty I took chloral hydrate too. But whatever you do do not drink alchohol with it it then is a Mickey Finn. Love Phillipa
Posted by MARTY on April 5, 2006, at 20:51:29
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia? » MARTY, posted by ed_uk on April 5, 2006, at 14:56:02
Ahh didn't know Sonata was in Canada. Thanks
Marty
> Hi
>
> Starnoc is the Canadian brand name for zaleplon. Zaleplon is known as Sonata in the UK and the US.
>
> Ed
Posted by ravenstorm on April 6, 2006, at 8:31:56
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia?, posted by MARTY on April 5, 2006, at 20:51:29
has anyone tried rozerem?
Posted by ed_uk on April 6, 2006, at 15:08:16
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia? » MARTY, posted by Maxime on April 5, 2006, at 20:04:57
Hi Maxie
I think you're thinking of zolpidem (Stilnox, Ambien). I don't know why, but zolpidem is not marketed in Canada.
Starnoc is the brand name for zaleplon, not zolpidem. As far as I know, Starnoc is still available in Canada. It is listed here....
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb/drugs-dpd/
Love
Ed xx
Posted by yxibow on April 7, 2006, at 2:41:22
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia? » Maxime, posted by ed_uk on April 6, 2006, at 15:08:16
Well, I'm a lifelong insomniac as is my mom.
Chloral Hydrate is a mickey finn even before it is mixed with anything, its a cheap way to go to sleep from what I've heard and probably will be phased out anyhow as it uses chlorocarbons to manufacture. But I can't speak for my own personal use, I haven't tried it and I am scared of a compound that puts you out that fast.
Dalmane (flurazepam) is the most scariest hypnotic benzodiazepine I've ever tried. It sucks you under and you feel like you're dying.
Restoril (temazepam) is a much more gentle "Dalmane", but you can't use either of the above long term -- well maybe you can, but hypnotic benzodiazepines are easier to acclimate to.
Trazodone I can say from my own personal experience is a psychiatrist's disdain from giving a depressed patient anything remotely benzodiazepine related. It is also a horrible, hypotensive (dizzy) way to go to sleep. It causes priapisms (unwanted erections in the male, and rarely some syndrome in females I think, but I dont recall) more than the black box would tell you. And it is just as bad of an acclimator as short term benzodiazepines. Before long the 50mg becomes 150mg and soon you're on an adult antidepressant dose of Trazodone, with mCPP in your system. If you're at all borderline psychotic or have symptoms mimicing that, mCPP, the metabolite is contraindicated.
Doxepin (Sinequan) is also a nasty way to go to sleep unless you acclimate to it. I took it over a weekend as a substitute in college for priapism induced by Trazodone. I was in a daze for 18 hours. I went back to Trazodone despite the problems. I once drank cider and thought it was out of my system. Took Trazodone and woke up on my friend's bathroom floor 2 hours later, apparently I guess in an attempt to use the loo.
So, those two definately do not mix.
Serzone does nothing for sleep like Trazodone and can damage your liver.
Sonata did nothing for me... it is a weak compound and probably would have to be dosed considerably above its PI. Some people report changes in their color vision.
Lunesta at its highest 3mg did do something for me but that shiny crisp metallic taste is something else. Mine just indicated I was going to fall asleep -- some people claim the lovely nickel mouth lasts until the morning after. I'm not quite sure why we went back to Ambien, either really would work I guess.
I now currently take 20mg of Ambien. As tested with Ambien CR, Ambien can be dosed long term, depending on the patient. But the Ambien mostly is an adjunctive to keep me asleep. The Seroquel I take, in a large dose for non-psychotic reasons is what really actually puts me to sleep. And it does similarly have an effect of hypotension, so I have to hit the hay before I faint.
Posted by Caedmon on April 7, 2006, at 15:40:05
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia?, posted by yxibow on April 7, 2006, at 2:41:22
My experiences:
trazodone - a little TOO effective, and does end up causing tolerance
Seroquel - yuck, way too sedating and I feel terrible the next day
amitriptyline - my personal choice, or was anyway, before I considered going onto Parnate
Ambien - useless
Lunesta - also useless, and unreasonably costly
benzodiazepines - useless and tolerance-forming
melatonin - surprisingly effective; cheap, tooSince I'll be starting up on Parnate I have to reconsider what hypnotics I'll use. My standby amitriptyline is out, so I'm thinking of something new. The Z-drugs w/ benzo-like action (e.g. Lunesta) are basically useless and way too expensive.
I'm going to ask for Neurontin (gabapentin). Anyone take gabapentin for insomnia? It has a short halflife, few side effects, and it's usually pretty sedating. Good things to have in a hypnotic.
Also, is melatonin contraindicated with an MAOI? If not, I may just stick to that.
- C
Posted by TylerJ on April 7, 2006, at 18:07:14
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia?, posted by Caedmon on April 7, 2006, at 15:40:05
> My experiences:
>
> trazodone - a little TOO effective, and does end up causing tolerance
> Seroquel - yuck, way too sedating and I feel terrible the next day
> amitriptyline - my personal choice, or was anyway, before I considered going onto Parnate
> Ambien - useless
> Lunesta - also useless, and unreasonably costly
> benzodiazepines - useless and tolerance-forming
> melatonin - surprisingly effective; cheap, too
>
> Since I'll be starting up on Parnate I have to reconsider what hypnotics I'll use. My standby amitriptyline is out, so I'm thinking of something new. The Z-drugs w/ benzo-like action (e.g. Lunesta) are basically useless and way too expensive.
>
> I'm going to ask for Neurontin (gabapentin). Anyone take gabapentin for insomnia? It has a short halflife, few side effects, and it's usually pretty sedating. Good things to have in a hypnotic.
>
> Also, is melatonin contraindicated with an MAOI? If not, I may just stick to that.
>
> - CYea, Ambien isn't working for me at all. So I'm back on Trazodone 150-200 a night. Let me know what you find out about melatonin, I'd be interested in trying it. Thanks.
Tyler
Posted by Caedmon on April 7, 2006, at 20:20:03
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia? » Caedmon, posted by TylerJ on April 7, 2006, at 18:07:14
Oh, I wanted to add, that my experiences re: hypnotics are *mine*, and not applicable to everybody. For example, some people really do well on some of the drugs that I responded poorly to. I know that's kind of a truism w/ psych meds, I just wanted to couch my post in more subjective terms though.
Hey Tyler,
I haven't found any info on melatonin being contraindicated w/ MAOIs. I read one website saying that MAOIs can potentiate melatonin. Still interested if anyone knows.
- C
Posted by Paulbwell on April 7, 2006, at 21:53:45
In reply to Re: What do you take for insomnia?, posted by Caedmon on April 7, 2006, at 20:20:03
> Oh, I wanted to add, that my experiences re: hypnotics are *mine*, and not applicable to everybody. For example, some people really do well on some of the drugs that I responded poorly to. I know that's kind of a truism w/ psych meds, I just wanted to couch my post in more subjective terms though.
>
> Hey Tyler,
>AME SANS VIE finds Seconal, and Tuinal- (Amytal+Secobarbital), (Barbiturates) very effective, and many here have said that that Nembutal, (no longer made0 gave the best sleep)-BUT hese are HEAVY duty measures!
Cheers
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