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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on August 2, 2009, at 14:03:26
Hi, have an important interview coming up. Before most events like this the chance that I will get insomnia is high - probaby 70-80%
I have a choice of
zopiclone, klonazepam, lorazepam, temazepam or nothing the night before.
The negative of taking the benzo is next day cognative problems, but these are probably much less than that of insomnia. There is a small possiblity that I will fall asleep and not need a pill, but the longer I wait the more drug I usually need (stress increases as the night goes on).
Any input on the decision?
Linkadge
Posted by ricker on August 2, 2009, at 14:31:07
In reply to Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by linkadge on August 2, 2009, at 14:03:26
My p'doc is a fan of zopiclone.... says he takes the occasional one when he can't sleep!!
I've used it on occasion as well and find it clears the system pretty fast.
Regards, Rick
Posted by SLS on August 2, 2009, at 14:54:33
In reply to Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by linkadge on August 2, 2009, at 14:03:26
I have had luck with lorazepam and found it to be a very clean drug cognitively. I had just a mild bit of sleepiness the first thing after waking up the next day. Lorazepam makes a good anxiolytic, too. I never tried eszopiclone to be able to compare. Klonopin affects some people by producing depression. It does so with me. The depression is not a latent effect. It starts almost right away.
If you have enough time, perhaps you could experiment and see how these drug affect you. You would also get a better idea as to what dosages will work best.
Good luck with your interview.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2009, at 15:19:54
In reply to Re: Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by SLS on August 2, 2009, at 14:54:33
Link guess you can't get xanax as short acting with the slight ad effect. Good luck Love Phillipa
Posted by Sigismund on August 2, 2009, at 21:09:40
In reply to Re: Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2009, at 15:19:54
temazepam
Posted by morganpmiller on August 2, 2009, at 21:23:59
In reply to Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by linkadge on August 2, 2009, at 14:03:26
Well ideally I think we would all just have to take one AD in the morning, feel pretty good all day, and fall asleep without any assistance from medication at night.
I have heard that benzos are not so good for sleep architecture. On the other hand, Lyrica may be great for falling asleep and sleep architecture. I have a feeling drugs like Lyrica, or that work more like Lyrica, will replace benzos for night time use in the future.
Posted by yxibow on August 2, 2009, at 22:06:22
In reply to Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by linkadge on August 2, 2009, at 14:03:26
> Hi, have an important interview coming up. Before most events like this the chance that I will get insomnia is high - probaby 70-80%
>
> I have a choice of
>
> zopiclone, klonazepam, lorazepam, temazepam or nothing the night before.
>
> The negative of taking the benzo is next day cognative problems, but these are probably much less than that of insomnia. There is a small possiblity that I will fall asleep and not need a pill, but the longer I wait the more drug I usually need (stress increases as the night goes on).
>
> Any input on the decision?
>
> LinkadgeStress is a natural reaction to things of this sort and patching them over isn't always going to make them go away.
Having said that, I'm not trying to be unaware of how I would feel -- so I would say zopiclone probably if anything -- Restoril's half life is longer.Or just doxylamine (Unisom) if its available where you are.
As for the interview itself, you obviously want to be alert -- if you are concerned about that itself, I would say a very small dose of propranolol the day itself.
Mainly, anticipating anticipatory anxiety will just feed on itself -- practice up on what you need to and then do something completely different the night before to distract yourself to sleep as well.-- tidings
Jay
Posted by Meltingpot on August 3, 2009, at 2:13:04
In reply to Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by linkadge on August 2, 2009, at 14:03:26
Hi,
I know Zyprexa is not a benzo but on two occasions I've taken one Zyprexa a couple of days before my interview and both times I got the job.
I don't particularly like the fact that I'm more likely to do well at an interview a couple of days after taking Zyprexa but I think it makes my head clearer, I feel more in control and as a consequence I seem more self assured.
Denise
Posted by SLS on August 3, 2009, at 5:47:30
In reply to Re: Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by morganpmiller on August 2, 2009, at 21:23:59
> I have a feeling drugs like Lyrica, or that work more like Lyrica, will replace benzos for night time use in the future.
Gosh, I hope not.
It seems that I react very badly to both Neurontin and Lyrica. They blunt my cognition and worsen my depression in a way where I become less functional. What's more, these effects last for 4-6 weeks after discontinuation. I think the reason for this is that both drugs are antagonist ligands for the alpha2delta subunit of the calcium receptor. No calcium influx equals no transduction of the action potential.
I like benzodiazepines.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on August 3, 2009, at 6:11:34
In reply to Re: Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by Meltingpot on August 3, 2009, at 2:13:04
> Hi,
>
> I know Zyprexa is not a benzo but on two occasions I've taken one Zyprexa a couple of days before my interview and both times I got the job.
>
> I don't particularly like the fact that I'm more likely to do well at an interview a couple of days after taking Zyprexa but I think it makes my head clearer, I feel more in control and as a consequence I seem more self assured.Sorry - quick off topic comment for Denise:
Denise, It occurs to me that your "pulsing" might be counterproductive. Have you ever tried taking Zyprexa every day and allow an antidepressant to work within a stable environment? I think Lexapro might be particularly well suited for this approach. Geodon might even be a better choice than Zyprexa for depression. The only thing about Geodon is that it is somewhat unpredictable. Either one does very well with it, or it produces undesirable psychiatric effects.
Linkadge, it is good that Jay gave you more information to work with. I was once forced to use diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for Parnate-induced insomnia. I felt like crap the next day. It felt like a hangover, and I did not feel rested. Perhaps doxylamine is a better choice as Jay indicates. Regardless of what BZD drugs may do to sleep architecture, I felt much better once I got some on board. After being on them for three years, I always felt rested the next day with little or no hangover.
I like Jay's endorsement of Lunesta. Since so many people like eszopiclone, perhaps zolpiclone will be equally effective with few unwanted effects. I have never tried it, so I wouldn't know. I would probably give it a try first.
- Scott
Posted by morganpmiller on August 3, 2009, at 15:46:07
In reply to Re: Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by SLS on August 3, 2009, at 5:47:30
Yeah I know they are powerful. From what I have read though, they do may improve sleep architecture, whereas benzos do not. Maybe future medications will be made that have the sleep improving and axiety relieving benefits of neurontin and lyrica, without such bad side effects. I guess that's what we are hoping for all of these medications.
Posted by SLS on August 3, 2009, at 17:20:42
In reply to Re: Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by morganpmiller on August 3, 2009, at 15:46:07
> Yeah I know they are powerful. From what I have read though, they do may improve sleep architecture, whereas benzos do not. Maybe future medications will be made that have the sleep improving and axiety relieving benefits of neurontin and lyrica, without such bad side effects. I guess that's what we are hoping for all of these medications.
How does the fact that benzodiazepines disturb sleep architecture translate into real life experience on a daily basis?
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2009, at 19:59:18
In reply to Re: Interview - bezno night before or not? » morganpmiller, posted by SLS on August 3, 2009, at 17:20:42
Didn't do that to me low doses 40 years and never raising them just switching to the newer ones when they came out and off all many times. I know some who took lyrica for a high and some for sedation. And they add weight from what I was told. I prefer the benzos. Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on August 3, 2009, at 20:38:21
In reply to Re: Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2009, at 19:59:18
I am aware of certain subtle cognative side effects of benzodiazapines.
What is more apparent to me is that going in on no sleep will likely produce more extreme cognative problems.
My goal is to start with a low (half) dose early in the eveneing (to reduce anxiety) then lie down when tired. If I can't sleep by a certain time (say 12:00) then take the rest to get to sleep.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2009, at 21:35:15
In reply to Re: Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by linkadge on August 3, 2009, at 20:38:21
Link sounds like a good plan what med did you decide on? Love Phillipa
Posted by tensor on August 4, 2009, at 13:38:19
In reply to Interview - bezno night before or not?, posted by linkadge on August 2, 2009, at 14:03:26
I have experience of them all. I recognize your problem and have often resorted to benzos in similiar situations. I have taken clon for eight years so I don't get sleepy on it, just the anti-SA effect. Last I had an important interview I used twice the amount of clon, 4mg, with 75mg of atenolol which was very effective. If you can get atenolol or propranolol, I would recommend it.
Use zopiclone only the night before, 7.5-11.25mg, it has short half-life and does not make you sleepy in the morning, much better than temazepam.Good luck,
Mattias
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