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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sheilac on March 26, 2012, at 13:49:13
I have been taking 30mg of Restoril to sleep. It works after a while, but I have had the worst anxiety in the morning. At first I thought it was the low dose lithium - so I dropped that. Then I thought it was the cup of coffee (never had anxiety with one cup of coffee before).
I thought Restoril is a benzo that is supposed to help with anxiety and sleep.
I am wondering if I wouldn't be better going back to 2mg Klonopin in the evening and Ambian or melatonin for sleep.
Could it be akathesia I am experiencing with Restoril?
Posted by SLS on March 26, 2012, at 14:42:45
In reply to Anxiety with Restoril?, posted by sheilac on March 26, 2012, at 13:49:13
> I have been taking 30mg of Restoril to sleep. It works after a while, but I have had the worst anxiety in the morning. At first I thought it was the low dose lithium - so I dropped that. Then I thought it was the cup of coffee (never had anxiety with one cup of coffee before).
>
> I thought Restoril is a benzo that is supposed to help with anxiety and sleep.
>
> I am wondering if I wouldn't be better going back to 2mg Klonopin in the evening and Ambian or melatonin for sleep.
>
> Could it be akathesia I am experiencing with Restoril?
No.I don't think you have anything to worry about.
When a benzodiazepine wears off, some people experience something called "rebound anxiety".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebound_effect#Sedative_hypnotics
This is nothing dangerous, but you might have to find another treatment for the insomnia. Klonopin might not produce a daytime rebound anxiety because it stays in the body much longer than Restoril. However, Klonopin sometimes produces depression. I would look for another treatment if possible. Speaking only for myself, I am not afraid of using low dosages of Seroquel for insomnia if other treatments are ineffective or intolerable.
You could try melatonin to be used at night. You would have to experiment to determine what the optimal time is to take it. Melatonin is another substance that can sometimes produce depression. However, the odds are in your favor that it won't.
- Scott
Posted by Sheilac on March 26, 2012, at 15:41:01
In reply to Re: Anxiety with Restoril? » sheilac, posted by SLS on March 26, 2012, at 14:42:45
The rebound anxiety with Restoril is weird. I didn't have anxiety before bed, but after taking the Restoril I wake up with it.
I can't take aero quell because even a small dose makes me mean. For some reason my doc really likes ambian for sleep.
Any other suggestions? Klonopin doesn't make me sleepy.
Posted by phidippus on March 26, 2012, at 19:57:24
In reply to Anxiety with Restoril?, posted by sheilac on March 26, 2012, at 13:49:13
One of Restoril's side effects is irritability.
Eric
Posted by SLS on March 26, 2012, at 20:38:48
In reply to Re: Anxiety with Restoril? » sheilac, posted by phidippus on March 26, 2012, at 19:57:24
> One of Restoril's side effects is irritability.
I believe that it is also an effect of withdrawal rebound. It is the timing of the anxiety and irritability relative to dosing that leads me to believe that we are looking at a rebound phenomenon. Klonopin would be less likely to cause this to occur the morning after an evening dose because its half-life is so long. Restoril is a good drug for most people, though.
I am curious. Is the irritability that you say is produced by Restoril the result of disinhibition? Disinhibition usually involves activation, including irritability.
- Scott
Posted by Sheilac on March 27, 2012, at 7:56:36
In reply to Re: Anxiety with Restoril? » phidippus, posted by SLS on March 26, 2012, at 20:38:48
I don't have irritability anymore now that I am on Trileptal. I just have the morning nervousness and anxiety.
Usually this will go away if I take Klonopin with my morning Trileptal.
Scott, another odd side effect I have with Trileptal is a little increased urination. When I took even a low dose of Lithium with it, the urination was really increased.
Would increased urination go away after a while of being on Lithium? It really helped with my depression.
Posted by SLS on March 27, 2012, at 8:57:25
In reply to Scott - Re: Anxiety with Restoril?, posted by Sheilac on March 27, 2012, at 7:56:36
> I don't have irritability anymore now that I am on Trileptal. I just have the morning nervousness and anxiety.
>
> Usually this will go away if I take Klonopin with my morning Trileptal.
>
> Scott, another odd side effect I have with Trileptal is a little increased urination. When I took even a low dose of Lithium with it, the urination was really increased.I believe I mentioned this previously. There is a very serious side effect associated with Trileptal known as hyponatremia. This means that too much sodium is escaping the body, and you are excreting comparable amounts of water as the body tries to maintain electrolytic (ions) balance. I consider it an urgent matter that you must attend to right away with a blood test.
> Would increased urination go away after a while of being on Lithium? It really helped with my depression.
Ah, I see. Yes, lithium can cause someone to urinate more.
1. When did the more frequent urination first appear?
2. What drugs were you taking at the time?
* You should get the blood test for hyponatremia regardless of what you are I might think. You might have to take in more salt to compensate for this condition if you have it. If necessary, stopping Trileptal will make the hyponatremia go away immediately.
- Scott
Posted by sheilac on March 27, 2012, at 10:44:45
In reply to Re: Scott - Re: Anxiety with Restoril? » Sheilac, posted by SLS on March 27, 2012, at 8:57:25
Scott - what makes you think that at 600mg of Trileptal I have hyponatremia? Is it because of the more frequent urination?
The frequent urination started when I combined the Trileptal with the Lithium. If I stop the Lithium I am ok, but even a small amount of lithium combined with the Trileptal makes me miserable (up all night peeing!).
I am wondering if cutting my evening dose of Trileptal to 150mg instead of 300mg will make me urinate less often during the night?Or if I try switching the low dose lithium back to a low dose of Adderall.
I remember years ago when I tried Trileptal I complained that it caused increased urination.
I have increased my salt intake since being on Trileptal and I don't think I have a problem.
Posted by crazyjoe on March 29, 2012, at 22:48:30
In reply to Re: Scott - Re: Anxiety with Restoril?, posted by sheilac on March 27, 2012, at 10:44:45
why not take 2 mg of ativan for sleep
This is the end of the thread.
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