![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 42. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rculater on March 26, 2012, at 5:25:39
Currently on no medication, I can get off to sleep like a light however, every night I wake very early (3-4AM) and although I feel tired, I cannot get back to sleep and the remainder of the night is spent tossing and turning or I might get back to a light/low quality sleep.
I dont want to go down the benzo route, Ive tried Melatonin but it made me depressed, Valerian made me tired the next day. Amitriptyline gave me to many cognitive effects.
I seem to remember some posters here using a ultra low dose of a SSRI or maybe it was a AP but cant remember which. Any ideas ? This need to be long term as ive suffered with this for years.thanks
Posted by tensor on March 26, 2012, at 8:07:40
In reply to Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by rculater on March 26, 2012, at 5:25:39
> Currently on no medication, I can get off to sleep like a light however, every night I wake very early (3-4AM) and although I feel tired, I cannot get back to sleep and the remainder of the night is spent tossing and turning or I might get back to a light/low quality sleep.
> I dont want to go down the benzo route, Ive tried Melatonin but it made me depressed, Valerian made me tired the next day. Amitriptyline gave me to many cognitive effects.
> I seem to remember some posters here using a ultra low dose of a SSRI or maybe it was a AP but cant remember which. Any ideas ? This need to be long term as ive suffered with this for years.
>
> thanks
>
>Low dose of Remeron 7.5-15mg or Seroquel 25-100mg. Are you against zopiclone/zolpidem as well?
/t
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2012, at 10:04:08
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » rculater, posted by tensor on March 26, 2012, at 8:07:40
The med that is like a z med that you can when wake up now what is that one? Never personally took it but that's one you don't need a full night of sleep with. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2012, at 10:12:41
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2012, at 10:04:08
Is it sonata? Phillipa
Posted by rculater on March 26, 2012, at 10:33:32
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » rculater, posted by tensor on March 26, 2012, at 8:07:40
I build a tolerance within days to Zopiclone. have not tried zolpidem. I end up worse than when i started after a week or two on Z drugs with no sleep a all which is why im looking for something longer term..
thnaks
Posted by gostrider on March 26, 2012, at 13:21:33
In reply to Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by rculater on March 26, 2012, at 5:25:39
Sorry but 4am is not that early to wake, why not just go to bed a little later , problem solved .
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2012, at 19:00:26
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by gostrider on March 26, 2012, at 13:21:33
Must too early for me. Phillipa
Posted by phidippus on March 26, 2012, at 19:58:58
In reply to Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by rculater on March 26, 2012, at 5:25:39
You could try a low dose of Remeron or Luvox
Eric
Posted by SLS on March 26, 2012, at 20:20:29
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » rculater, posted by phidippus on March 26, 2012, at 19:58:58
Linkadge has suggested using cyprohepadine (Periactin) as an alternative to mirtazapine (Remeron). I would never have thought of it myself, and it is a pretty heady choice.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2012, at 20:50:02
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » rculater, posted by phidippus on March 26, 2012, at 19:58:58
Is this the reason I can't get off the 50mg of luvox? Phillipa
Posted by sigismund on March 27, 2012, at 1:53:31
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » phidippus, posted by SLS on March 26, 2012, at 20:20:29
Careful dosing with trimipramine taken early in the evening, as low as possible, no more than 12.5mg.
Better, IMO, than cypro or mirtazepine. Less hangover and deeper sleep with lots of dreams.
Shorter acting than mirtazepine.
Posted by gostrider on March 27, 2012, at 3:31:59
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by gostrider on March 26, 2012, at 13:21:33
Depends on the posters sleeping habits,if retiring to bed at say 9pm thats 7 hours sleep till 4am the norm.But if they retire at 12pm then in therory will wake at 7am an 7 hour,s again. I actually would love 7 hours sleep,the poster also said they carry on with light sleep again normal.Why interfere with meds on a normal sleep pattern, unless the poster is going to bed at 2am an wakeing at 4am now that is a problem .
Posted by rculater on March 27, 2012, at 5:29:30
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by gostrider on March 27, 2012, at 3:31:59
I go to sleep easily about 1130-12. After i've awaken at 3 or 4am I lie awake for about a hour or 2 ,then I finally get a semi concious very light unrefreshing, vivid dream, broken sleep,till 7am. Get out of bed very tired and miserable.
Posted by SLS on March 27, 2012, at 6:06:43
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by sigismund on March 27, 2012, at 1:53:31
> Careful dosing with trimipramine taken early in the evening, as low as possible, no more than 12.5mg.
>
> Better, IMO, than cypro or mirtazepine. Less hangover and deeper sleep with lots of dreams.
>
> Shorter acting than mirtazepine.
Good reporting, Sigi. Will you be staying with trimipramine (Surmontil)?Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on March 27, 2012, at 6:11:29
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » gostrider, posted by rculater on March 27, 2012, at 5:29:30
> I go to sleep easily about 1130-12. After i've awaken at 3 or 4am I lie awake for about a hour or 2 ,then I finally get a semi concious very light unrefreshing, vivid dream, broken sleep,till 7am. Get out of bed very tired and miserable.
For situations like that, I take Sonata (zaleplon). It is potent enough to put you to sleep, but exits the body rather quickly so there are few lingering effects upon waking in the morning. I find it to be a very clean drug. It does not have side effects that dull or slow the mind.
- Scott
Posted by sigismund on March 27, 2012, at 13:59:01
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » sigismund, posted by SLS on March 27, 2012, at 6:06:43
Well the night before last I woke at 1am and despite temazepam did not really return to sleep, and then was a wreck all day.
Last night at 6pm I took around 10mg trimipramine and slept much better. Normally I don't sleep deeply enough to dream so it was nice to have some last night.
Posted by torrid2 on March 27, 2012, at 18:44:53
In reply to Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by rculater on March 26, 2012, at 5:25:39
atarax is a antihistamine used to treat anxiety it's by perscription. I have had long lasting success with melitonin and atarax. I may be missspelling it hydroxizine is the chemical name but that to is likely miss spelled.
PLEASE THOSE SUFFERING WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO STAY ASLEEP TRY IT.
Posted by phidippus on March 28, 2012, at 17:52:56
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » phidippus, posted by SLS on March 26, 2012, at 20:20:29
why so heady?
Posted by SLS on March 28, 2012, at 19:01:21
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » SLS, posted by phidippus on March 28, 2012, at 17:52:56
> why so heady?
Linkadge took into consideration the 5-HT2a/c antagonist actions of cyproheptadine (along with H1 antagonism) when he made it his choice of an adjunct to hypnotics. I was impressed.
- Scott
Posted by torrid2 on March 28, 2012, at 19:32:38
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » SLS, posted by phidippus on March 28, 2012, at 17:52:56
not understanding whay offends you
Posted by Raisinb on March 28, 2012, at 21:55:48
In reply to Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by rculater on March 26, 2012, at 5:25:39
Both Seroquel and Remeron are likely to work for you, but they might be more sedating than you want or need. Paxil is an option, as it makes many people very sleepy, even though it is not a sleep drug.
Posted by Phillipa on March 28, 2012, at 23:16:41
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by Raisinb on March 28, 2012, at 21:55:48
You know I think in the beginning was tired on l0mg of paxil first ad with xanax .25 three times a day. At the time thought it was the 25mg of lopressor the pdoc insisted I go on first in his words "To prepar my body for paxil". Prepare in what way cause anxiety so bad at the time. This calls for a google search? Phillipa
Posted by Vincent_QC on March 30, 2012, at 8:43:35
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening, posted by sigismund on March 27, 2012, at 13:59:01
> Well the night before last I woke at 1am and despite temazepam did not really return to sleep, and then was a wreck all day.
>
> Last night at 6pm I took around 10mg trimipramine and slept much better. Normally I don't sleep deeply enough to dream so it was nice to have some last night.Hi mister,
I plan to ask my Family Doc next week about a med to help me to fall asleep faster and stay asleep and I read that trimipramine (surmontil) is by far one of the best med as a sleep aid so maybe I should try it?Right now I take some mirtazapine (Remeron) but can't take more than 3.5 mg if so I feel the noradrenaline effect the next day ( I know it's not normal but i'm very sensitive with all the meds who act as a potent A2 antagonist or NE reputake) and have worse anxiety...also it's not working anymore, so have to take extra dose of benzo meds (Klonopin and Xanax or sometimes valium but that one do nothing even at 20 mg dose) all the time at night to be able to fall asleep and return to sleep when i'm awake...
For the trimipramine, do you know the lower dosage needed to induce sleep without having too much problem with the noradrenaline, since the trimipramine don't act directly as a noradrenaline reputake but more as a A1 + A2 (less potent than the Remeron on that one I think) antagonist, who is different from the others TCA's? Also do you know if it's better to go with the Doxepin (another potent H1 antagonist) since i'm having chronic tension headache (I assume that the Doxepin is worse cause of it's effect on the NE reputake as well as the A1 and A2 effect?
I'm very sensitive to the H1 antagonist effect, so I don't need a high dose normally.
I used in the past the seroquel as a sleep aid but I try it again 4 months ago and almost had a heart attack with it...seriously my heart rate was too high on it, I assume it's because of it's effect on the A1 receptor...
Since now my anxiety is all related to somatization symptoms mainly heart issues(tachycardia , irregular heart beat, low blood pressure, chronic chest pain and left arm numbness) and also head pain (tension headache, jaw pain, eyes pain)... I need a med who will not make me feel like I will die from a heart attack, if you understand what I mean...Also most of the time now I wake up in the middle of the night sweating from the forehead and my back and with a panic attack, it's happening every night now and I HATE IT!!!
Anyway thanks for any kind of advises about that med... really want to know how it's working, if the effect last all day long like feeling tired forever and like on some illegal drug until noon, if it's affecting the heart rate and the blood pressure since mine is on the low side and take some Inderal to lower the heart rate...also drug interractions with it?
Thanks ;-)
Vince
Posted by phidippus on March 30, 2012, at 13:04:34
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » phidippus, posted by torrid2 on March 28, 2012, at 19:32:38
What offends me?
Eric
Posted by torrid2 on March 30, 2012, at 13:07:45
In reply to Re: Benzo free med suggestions for early awakening » SLS, posted by phidippus on March 28, 2012, at 17:52:56
> why so heady?
seems like this responce took offence
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.