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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 Angel Girl on June 23, 2002, at 23:42:58
I have been dealing with insomnia now for at least 5 weeks. Well actually, I started having insomnia when I started Effexor XR last November but it's been under control until about 5 weeks ago. I have tried several sleeping meds all to no avail.
I need something that is STRONG enough to knock me out immediately and then wear off quickly. No matter what I've been taking now, I'm still awake until about 5:30am and then I find I can't stay awake the following day. It's a neverending viscious cycle that I need to get under control asap.
So, does anybody know what I can take that will knock me out immediately but not leave me feeling groggy the next day???? I need something that works FAST!!!!!
I'm getting DESPERATE!!!!
Thanks for any help anybody can offer.
Angel Girl
Posted by Ed O`Flaherty on June 24, 2002, at 4:49:44
In reply to BAD Insomnia - need help desperately, posted by Angel Girl on June 23, 2002, at 23:42:58
> I have been dealing with insomnia now for at least 5 weeks. Well actually, I started having insomnia when I started Effexor XR last November but it's been under control until about 5 weeks ago. I have tried several sleeping meds all to no avail.
>
> I need something that is STRONG enough to knock me out immediately and then wear off quickly. No matter what I've been taking now, I'm still awake until about 5:30am and then I find I can't stay awake the following day. It's a neverending viscious cycle that I need to get under control asap.
>
> So, does anybody know what I can take that will knock me out immediately but not leave me feeling groggy the next day???? I need something that works FAST!!!!!
>
> I'm getting DESPERATE!!!!
>
> Thanks for any help anybody can offer.
>
> Angel GirlI am surprised that your dr cannot get you to sleep with medication.As a natural sleeping method try omega-3 fish oil,avalable in Walmart.Take 3-5grams,indeed up to 10g before going to bed.Do not take if on any blood thinning medication.It may help your depression too.Have a look at www.omega3.20megsfree.com
Posted by Bill L on June 24, 2002, at 8:56:56
In reply to BAD Insomnia - need help desperately, posted by Angel Girl on June 23, 2002, at 23:42:58
Ambien is safe, strong, works immediately, and will not make you groggy in the morning. Ask your doc for a prescription.
Posted by crepuscular on June 24, 2002, at 11:14:37
In reply to BAD Insomnia - need help desperately, posted by Angel Girl on June 23, 2002, at 23:42:58
if not ambien, then go directly to trazadone or seroquel (imho). they will have some morning fuzziness at first, but if yer' on the ragged edge of insomnia you need to take serious steps.
Posted by johnj on June 24, 2002, at 14:47:51
In reply to Re: BAD Insomnia - need help desperately, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on June 24, 2002, at 4:49:44
I took them for about 10 days, and at first tried about 1 mg or a little less. They seemed to help and I felt calm, but I started to have sleep problems that I never had before (like heavy dreaming and waking right after/during the dream). I would use supplements with caution, and remember no actual dose for any disorder has actually been set, as far as I know. I always wondered what an excess would cause and if a "stable" dose can ever be reached? Just some comments, since nothing has proven to be a cure all.
Posted by Angel Girl on June 24, 2002, at 18:49:16
In reply to BAD Insomnia - need help desperately, posted by Angel Girl on June 23, 2002, at 23:42:58
Thanks for your suggestions. I'll give my dr a call and give them a try. The problem is since I can't actually get to sleep until about 5:30am, it is EXTREMELY difficult to force myself not to 'nap' in the daytime, therefore repeating the cycle. That's why I need something that will kick in right away so that I can actually fall asleep before midnight and get enough sleep that I don't feel the need to nap the next day. I've never had a problem with waking up in the middle of the night after actually getting to sleep. Getting to sleep is where the problem starts.
Thanks again for all of your advice. This has been going on far too long and I need to get it under control so that I can get back to work.
Angel Girl
Posted by fachad on June 24, 2002, at 20:29:18
In reply to BAD Insomnia - need help desperately, posted by Angel Girl on June 23, 2002, at 23:42:58
Have you tried Remeron? 15mg or 30mg is usually VERY effective for insomnia.
Zyprexa is also an extremely effective sleep med.
Doxepin is very inexpensive, and works very well for insomina.
If you really need to get to sleep, any of those three would be effective.
> I have been dealing with insomnia now for at least 5 weeks. Well actually, I started having insomnia when I started Effexor XR last November but it's been under control until about 5 weeks ago. I have tried several sleeping meds all to no avail.
>
> I need something that is STRONG enough to knock me out immediately and then wear off quickly. No matter what I've been taking now, I'm still awake until about 5:30am and then I find I can't stay awake the following day. It's a neverending viscious cycle that I need to get under control asap.
>
> So, does anybody know what I can take that will knock me out immediately but not leave me feeling groggy the next day???? I need something that works FAST!!!!!
>
> I'm getting DESPERATE!!!!
>
> Thanks for any help anybody can offer.
>
> Angel Girl
Posted by Pattisun on June 26, 2002, at 1:06:05
In reply to Re: BAD Insomnia - need help desperately » Angel Girl, posted by fachad on June 24, 2002, at 20:29:18
Angel Girl,
GOOD LUCK to you! Let us know what works. I've been unable to sleep since I got in an accident and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.
I've tried: Melatonin (feels icky, but not sleepy)
Elavil 50 mg (bump into walls and zombie like, but no sleep)
Trazadone (sleep paralisis and HORRIBLE nightmares)
Maybe I'll try the fish oil thing......Keep us posted. You have my sympathy.
Pattisun
Posted by morgan26 on June 26, 2002, at 9:22:38
In reply to BAD Insomnia - need help desperately, posted by Angel Girl on June 23, 2002, at 23:42:58
Try Sonata. My experience with Ambien was that it left me with a pretty significant hangover the next morning. Sonata is great for initial insomnia, and wears off much sooner, so no morning after effects. One caution, though: all of these drugs can cause amnesia, and in my case it has been pretty profound. I can carry on whole phone conversations, type e-mails, etc. and never remember. It's a pretty rare side effect, but I recommend turning off the phone anyhow :-)
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