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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bonnie_CA on July 24, 2007, at 7:20:42
I want to try something to help me sleep. I don't know if it's the Lexapro or the Lamictal, but I have had a really hard time sleeping for awhile now. I want to ask my pdoc for something, but I wanted some feedback on the pros and cons of the different choices. Thanks!
-Bonnie
Posted by med_empowered on July 24, 2007, at 8:52:58
In reply to I want to try a sleep aid., posted by Bonnie_CA on July 24, 2007, at 7:20:42
I'd just go for old-school Ambien (not the CR)..I think its in generic now, which means you can save $$$. I think the only other sleep aids in generic are the benzos (which are good, but no longer first-line) and sedating ADs (trazadone, elavil, etc.) that tend to have unwanted side effects.
Good luck!
Posted by tensor on July 24, 2007, at 9:05:22
In reply to I want to try a sleep aid., posted by Bonnie_CA on July 24, 2007, at 7:20:42
Yeah, we have been discussing this in a thread above. It depends if you have trouble falling asleep, stay asleep or both. If it's initial insomnia, i.e. trouble falling asleep, then shoot for a hypnotic with a short half-life, like Halcion, Sonata or Ambien. Maybe Ambien is to prefer among these.
If early awakenings are a problem, then there are alot to choose from. I don't have much experience but Imovane(zopiclone) works really well, lets you sleep through the night without hangover. Lunesta should have same profile. All of these are the first-line meds if you exclude the OTCs. Which is why one should try them out first.Good luck.
Posted by Phillipa on July 24, 2007, at 11:33:38
In reply to Re: I want to try a sleep aid. » Bonnie_CA, posted by tensor on July 24, 2007, at 9:05:22
Since I'm pretty tolerant to benzos valium works great at one time when it was really bad I added lunesta. It was good only drawback was it's namebrand only so expensive. Good luck there are a lot of them out there. Love Phillipa
Posted by Nathan_Arizona on July 24, 2007, at 13:48:30
In reply to I want to try a sleep aid., posted by Bonnie_CA on July 24, 2007, at 7:20:42
I've been on trazadone for close to seven years now with no side effects.
It works like a sleep bomb for me.
Posted by greywolf on July 25, 2007, at 2:15:56
In reply to Re: I want to try a sleep aid., posted by Nathan_Arizona on July 24, 2007, at 13:48:30
It's not necessarily a sleep aid, but Seroquel is the pharmaceutical equivalent of every grade school concert or dance recital you've ever been to, all distilled into one little coma-inducing pill. I thought trazadone knocked me on my butt, but it's nothing compared to Seroquel.
Posted by cactus on July 25, 2007, at 6:34:27
In reply to Re: I want to try a sleep aid., posted by greywolf on July 25, 2007, at 2:15:56
I'd go for temazepam first, it's short acting and doesn't leave you groggy the next day, it's quite mild and if it doesn't work, try something stronger.
Posted by Oppycat on July 25, 2007, at 7:13:42
In reply to I want to try a sleep aid., posted by Bonnie_CA on July 24, 2007, at 7:20:42
> I want to try something to help me sleep. I don't know if it's the Lexapro or the Lamictal, but I have had a really hard time sleeping for awhile now. I want to ask my pdoc for something, but I wanted some feedback on the pros and cons of the different choices. Thanks!
>
> -Bonnie
I can't add anything to what has already been suggested, but I did want to say that it's probably the Lexapro causing your sleep problems. If I take more than 10mg daily, I have sleep problems.
Posted by Bonnie_CA on July 29, 2007, at 9:41:25
In reply to I want to try a sleep aid., posted by Bonnie_CA on July 24, 2007, at 7:20:42
My pdoc thinks that my sleep problems are coming from the Lamictal. He is having me try ambien. If that doesn't work for me, then I'll try trazadone, and then seroquel. Just small doses of those, not the antidepressant dose. I do actually see the guy thinking during my appointments, so I trust his judgement. :)
-Bonnie
Posted by Oppycat on July 30, 2007, at 12:37:11
In reply to Been prescribed Ambien, posted by Bonnie_CA on July 29, 2007, at 9:41:25
> My pdoc thinks that my sleep problems are coming from the Lamictal. He is having me try ambien. If that doesn't work for me, then I'll try trazadone, and then seroquel. Just small doses of those, not the antidepressant dose. I do actually see the guy thinking during my appointments, so I trust his judgement. :)
>
> -Bonnie
I had good results with Trazodone for many years when I was taking Parnate for depression. Seroquel works, but it gave me horrible dreams and blurred vision in the morning, even at only 25mg.
This is the end of the thread.
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