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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 shadowmon on November 29, 2004, at 23:19:50
Hi,
I just got given some trial samples of respirdal to help me sleep.
I used to be on trazodone, which abruptly stopped working once I tried to change my AD from paxil to lexapro. Well, that didnt work, and now I am on paxil cr at 75mgs which seems to be fine for me. I have tried remeron (made me groggy and eat way too much) and ambien, which would put me to sleep after tossing and turning, purchasing things off the internet that I didnt remember for hours.
I know that respirdal is an anti-psychotic medication, and I am wondering if I should be concerned with it's other pharmocological effects. I'm actually kinda wigged out that I am taking some heavy medication just to help me sleep.
I'm not bi-polar either, just unipolar. Is anyone out there just taking this medication to help them sleep? How did it work for you? Is there anything other than tardic diskonesia that I should be worried about?
Posted by anxiety_free on November 30, 2004, at 2:37:22
In reply to respirdal taking care of insomnia, posted by shadowmon on November 29, 2004, at 23:19:50
hi! The use of anti-psychotics for insomnia is becoming a lot more common...personally, I've taken seroquel for sleep, as have a number of my friends. With APs, you obviously have TD as a risk; there's also akathisia (inner turmoil...been there, its rough) and the possibility of neuroleptiic malignancy syndrome (NMS) which causes fever, suffering, and ends in death for some people...but its rare (1/20,000 I think is the figure). Personally, I think the risks of APs are too great to justify their use in those who don't require them, so I'd probably bitch at my doc until something was done. Neurontin is sometimes used for sleep, and works OK...if you're really insistent, and don't have a substance abuse history, your doc might go for a benzo...some will even Rx for phenobarbital (its a safer barb.). Good luck!
> Hi,
>
> I just got given some trial samples of respirdal to help me sleep.
>
> I used to be on trazodone, which abruptly stopped working once I tried to change my AD from paxil to lexapro. Well, that didnt work, and now I am on paxil cr at 75mgs which seems to be fine for me. I have tried remeron (made me groggy and eat way too much) and ambien, which would put me to sleep after tossing and turning, purchasing things off the internet that I didnt remember for hours.
>
> I know that respirdal is an anti-psychotic medication, and I am wondering if I should be concerned with it's other pharmocological effects. I'm actually kinda wigged out that I am taking some heavy medication just to help me sleep.
>
> I'm not bi-polar either, just unipolar. Is anyone out there just taking this medication to help them sleep? How did it work for you? Is there anything other than tardic diskonesia that I should be worried about?
Posted by King Vultan on November 30, 2004, at 17:53:05
In reply to respirdal taking care of insomnia, posted by shadowmon on November 29, 2004, at 23:19:50
> Hi,
>
> I just got given some trial samples of respirdal to help me sleep.
>
> I used to be on trazodone, which abruptly stopped working once I tried to change my AD from paxil to lexapro. Well, that didnt work, and now I am on paxil cr at 75mgs which seems to be fine for me. I have tried remeron (made me groggy and eat way too much) and ambien, which would put me to sleep after tossing and turning, purchasing things off the internet that I didnt remember for hours.
>
> I know that respirdal is an anti-psychotic medication, and I am wondering if I should be concerned with it's other pharmocological effects. I'm actually kinda wigged out that I am taking some heavy medication just to help me sleep.
>
> I'm not bi-polar either, just unipolar. Is anyone out there just taking this medication to help them sleep? How did it work for you? Is there anything other than tardic diskonesia that I should be worried about?
I haven't tried an AP, but this is the one I would probably inquire about if I wanted to try one. I would only be interested in trying it at a very low dosage, though, as Risperdal is apparently quite selective for the 5-HT2A receptor at low dosages, and I am not particularly interested in blockading my dopamine D2 receptors. I guess I have a somewhat different perspective than the other poster, as I actually have a more favorable view of Risperdal than Neurontin (the major reason being that a friend of mine developed depression and suicidal thoughts while on Neurontin). I used to have a strong prejudice against atypical antipsychotics being prescribed for non-schizophrenic or non-bipolar patients, but my views have changed somewhat. I now believe these drugs do have a valid place in other situations, including insomnia in some cases, but their side effects and cost need to be factored into the equation.Todd
This is the end of the thread.
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