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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by stalwart on July 16, 2004, at 4:15:13
i HAVE NOT SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS.
I am having a hard time using Xanax XR.
I take 1.0 XR in the AM.....and .5 XR around 9-10pm. I am awake hourly!
In the past, I was taking between 6-10mg of Valium at bedtime but eventually was not sleeping through the night and a waking like a zombie.
Recently, my pdoc prescribed Ambien which works to a small degree but leaves me waking and feeling like I need a coffee I.V.(perhaps the Xanax XR does not go well with the Ambien). Sonata is the same.
Basically, I am seeking some anecdotal accounts of med(s) for sleep but that also allow one to wake in the AM and be a productive employee at work.
My pdoc doesn't quite understand that being alert and fully functioning in the AM is as important to me as the absence of sexual side-effects for many of his non-compliant patients.
I am wondering if Restoril would be better and back off the last dose of Xanax XR.
Posted by King Vultan on July 16, 2004, at 8:16:23
In reply to SLEEP NEEDED!, posted by stalwart on July 16, 2004, at 4:15:13
Restoril is a very effective sleep aid but has a longer half life than either Ambien or Sonata, so you would be more likely to sleep longer and/or wake up not as clear headed IMO. According to my "Psychotropic Drugs" book these are the elimination half lives of the common sleep meds and some of the others you mentioned:
Sonata 1 hour
Halcion 1.5-5.5 hours
Ambien 2.6 hours
Restoril 10-15 hours
Valium 20-80 hoursSorry my book does not list Xanax XR, but Xanax is shown as having a half life of 12-15 hours. Based on what you've said, if you haven't tried it before, you might want to try Halcion, which has a relatively short half life, and is regarded by my pharmacist, anyway, as one of the most powerful sleep meds available. I take 0.125 mg every other night myself, and the maximum recommended dose is 0.25 mg/night (it used to be 0.5 mg, but there are now concerns about that dosage). My pdoc does not want me taking it more often than three or four times a week. I use Benadryl the other nights, which is not nearly as effective.
Todd
Posted by Sad Panda on July 16, 2004, at 10:43:31
In reply to SLEEP NEEDED!, posted by stalwart on July 16, 2004, at 4:15:13
I would try Remeron or a sedating TCA such as Doxepin, Trimipramine or Amitriptyline.
What other drugs are you taking?
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by stalwart on July 16, 2004, at 12:45:30
In reply to Re: SLEEP NEEDED! » stalwart, posted by Sad Panda on July 16, 2004, at 10:43:31
I am taking Segeline,
Posted by Ktemene on July 16, 2004, at 15:49:33
In reply to SLEEP NEEDED!, posted by stalwart on July 16, 2004, at 4:15:13
Hi Stalwart,
I asked you whether you had insomnia before starting Selegiline in my reply to your Selegiline dose post. I wouldn't have needed to ask if I had read this post first.
Trazadone is a standard med for insomnia and is often used in conjunction with MAOIs. I have had some luck with the old fashioned remedies and OTC stuff: hot milk at bedtime, valerian, calcium, magnesium, benadryl.
Ktemene> i HAVE NOT SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS.
>
> I am having a hard time using Xanax XR.
>
> I take 1.0 XR in the AM.....and .5 XR around 9-10pm. I am awake hourly!
>
> In the past, I was taking between 6-10mg of Valium at bedtime but eventually was not sleeping through the night and a waking like a zombie.
>
> Recently, my pdoc prescribed Ambien which works to a small degree but leaves me waking and feeling like I need a coffee I.V.(perhaps the Xanax XR does not go well with the Ambien). Sonata is the same.
>
> Basically, I am seeking some anecdotal accounts of med(s) for sleep but that also allow one to wake in the AM and be a productive employee at work.
>
> My pdoc doesn't quite understand that being alert and fully functioning in the AM is as important to me as the absence of sexual side-effects for many of his non-compliant patients.
>
> I am wondering if Restoril would be better and back off the last dose of Xanax XR.
Posted by griswald on July 16, 2004, at 16:33:16
In reply to SLEEP NEEDED!, posted by stalwart on July 16, 2004, at 4:15:13
Hi stalwart. I have had an extremely difficult time sleeping my entire life. I have only recently got it under control. Is there an underlying cause of insomnia for you, i.e., apnea, bipolar, restless legs?
Posted by Slinky on July 17, 2004, at 14:56:16
In reply to Re: SLEEP NEEDED!, posted by Ktemene on July 16, 2004, at 15:49:33
Try trazodone
This is the end of the thread.
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