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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jjjaspar on March 20, 2008, at 19:35:54
I need help for someone who has multiple diagnosed sleep disorders since childhood. Now on hundreds of MGs of Seroquel to sleep... wonders of wonders, got that significantly lowered by adding extended release melatonin and a product called NutraSleep.
That then gave the hope that maybe something else might help? Doctor freaked out at even the mention of Tryptophan. Not sure why. Is that because it is bad to take with Seroquel (also Wellbutrin)???
Doctor may have this individual try Rozerem.
Ideas? Oh - already taking vitamins. Really scared about combining stuff with the Seroquel and Wellbutrin.
Posted by nolvas on March 21, 2008, at 5:56:58
In reply to Severe Sleep disorder/Insomnia Help Needed, posted by jjjaspar on March 20, 2008, at 19:35:54
I would also be interested in any suggestions. I have a friend who has severe sleep problems and very bad nightmares every night. A sleep centre that she attended suggested Zyban I believe but she never took the medication. They found she was extremely tense at night and this medication could relax the muscles and help apparently. The side effect profile didn't look that great, that's maybe why she never too the medication.
Posted by bleauberry on March 21, 2008, at 17:28:44
In reply to Severe Sleep disorder/Insomnia Help Needed, posted by jjjaspar on March 20, 2008, at 19:35:54
One of the more common side effects of wellbutrin is insomnia and sleep problems.
Aside from that, the sleep problems may be in other circuits not directly touched by seroquel. Sure the strong antihistamine effect of seroquel can make someone sleep, but the underlying problem is still there going full force. If it is some kind of undiagnosed form of mania, depakote would be worth a try. If it is some kind of anxiety, one of the benzodiazepines should be tried. An older tricyclic like amitriptyline is known for excellent sleep. If serotonin is low, an ssri might need to be onboard.
Since you are asking about natural things, they would include:
GABA
Magnesium glycinate
Magnesium citrate
Glycine
5htp
tryptophan
lithium orotateI don't see any problem adding these to seroquel and wellbutrin, though a bit more caution should be used with 5htp and tryptophan.
Something else that can help is an epsom salt bath, beginning with 1 cup per 15 minute soak working up to 3 cups. This gets magnesium into the body transdernally when gut or liver issues are interfering.
More than likely it will take a multipronged approach. Try each of the above one at a time. Then begin combining them. If serotonin, gaba, and magnesium are all in optimal supply, sleep should be robust. If still not, then lithium orotate may be in order.
Also helpful would be a 24 hour saliva cortisol test. If it is real high or real low, expect all kinds of serious health, mental, and sleep problems. This could be a common case of adrenal fatigue. This is commonly diagnosed, understood, recognized, and treated by integrative or alternative mds, but mainstream mds are out of the loop.
Thyroid needs to be checked too. If it is haywire, it could take a boatload of different drugs or supplements to calm things down and yet still not fix the problem. You want more than the basic TSH. You need freeT3, freeT4, and the 3 thyroid antibodies checked.
If a doc won't give these tests, they are available online from popular national labs. They send you a kit, you do the test and send it back and they email you the results.
This is the end of the thread.
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