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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MichaelJr on January 2, 2005, at 3:18:53
So my sleep schedule is atrocious. It's about 3:15 right now, and I won't be tired until about 9 am. I have tried sleep pills, staying awake all day and trying to shock my system back to normal, but nothing has really helped. Luckily I just finished college and have no real obligations, but that may be part of the problem. This has cost me a job, and I missed a fair amount of classes last semester because of my schedule. I've been on this inverted schedule for about 6 months now, and am really at a lost as to what to do. any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by waki on January 2, 2005, at 5:40:20
In reply to need help getting sleep schedule back to normal, posted by MichaelJr on January 2, 2005, at 3:18:53
I find Remeron is the best Breakfast of Champions over all other sleep aids. Remeron is an Anti Depressant but many take it for it's sleep help propertys.
Posted by tensor on January 2, 2005, at 9:29:28
In reply to Re: need help getting sleep schedule back to normal, posted by waki on January 2, 2005, at 5:40:20
> I find Remeron is the best Breakfast of Champions over all other sleep aids. Remeron is an Anti Depressant but many take it for it's sleep help propertys.
I agree.
/Mattias
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 2, 2005, at 10:37:38
In reply to Re: need help getting sleep schedule back to norma » waki, posted by tensor on January 2, 2005, at 9:29:28
Are you looking for a pill to take or are you looking for a solution to your problem? If you are just looking for a pill, then Remeron might be a good idea, but if you are looking for a solution to your problem then there are a number of non-medication things that you should try before resorting to a pill.
Do you get enough exercise every day? If you go for a jog or do some other aerobic activity durring the day, that may be a good way to tire you out.
Are you getting enough sunshine durring the day, or just staying inside? If you are outside and active durring the day, you may have an easier time falling asleep at night.
Not having a regular schedule, as you mentioned, can play havoc on a sleep schedule. If you force yourself to set an alarm every day and try to keep yourself on a regular schedule where you are awake early in the morning and up and out for the rest of the day, that should restore your sleep schedule in a matter of days.
If all else fails, then you may want to try Remeron, though melatonin works very well for many people (me included) and doesn't have the side effects of Remeron.
> > I find Remeron is the best Breakfast of Champions over all other sleep aids. Remeron is an Anti Depressant but many take it for it's sleep help propertys.
>
> I agree.
>
> /Mattias
Posted by cache-monkey on January 2, 2005, at 12:12:42
In reply to need help getting sleep schedule back to normal, posted by MichaelJr on January 2, 2005, at 3:18:53
"So my sleep schedule is atrocious. It's about 3:15 right now, and I won't be tired until about 9 am. I have tried sleep pills, staying awake all day and trying to shock my system back to normal, but nothing has really helped. Luckily I just finished college and have no real obligations, but that may be part of the problem. This has cost me a job, and I missed a fair amount of classes last semester because of my schedule. I've been on this inverted schedule for about 6 months now, and am really at a lost as to what to do. any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated."
I think what you have is "Delayed Phase Sleep Syndrome." Basically your circadian rhythms are totally out of sync with a "normal" sleep cycle. This happened to me, albeit to a lesser extent, last year. This could partially be a function of depression/anxiety (?) -- at least it was so for me. If that's the case, a medication might prove beneficial.
But another route you might consider trying is light therapy, which has been clinically shown to help reset circadian rhythms. It can also be of some benefit for depression, particularly of the seasonal variety. Apollo Health is one of the gold-standard places for light systems:
http://www.apollolight.com/I believe that Apollo's products are the ones most frequently used in clinical studies of light therapy. I got one of their portable products (the goLITE P1) fairly cheaply through Costco. I'm still assessing what and how much it's doing for me, but I think I'm a little more awake after using it and am having an easier time falling asleep earlier. You might want to search/post for other people's experiences with light therapy -- either here or on the Alternative board.
Good luck,
cache-monkey
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on January 3, 2005, at 11:39:56
In reply to Re: need help getting sleep schedule back to normal, posted by cache-monkey on January 2, 2005, at 12:12:42
You mentioned sleeping pills, but I wasn't sure if they were OTC or Rx'ed? In terms of Rx'ed pills, Ambien really helped me get my sleep schedule back to normal. If you haven't tried it, it might beworth looking into.
EE
Posted by Sabina on January 3, 2005, at 21:56:53
In reply to need help getting sleep schedule back to normal, posted by MichaelJr on January 2, 2005, at 3:18:53
I have had quite a tendency to slip into a backwards sleep schedule all my life. It can become a torment. I no longer work outside the house and have no alarm clock to face at 6am, so I face an ongoing struggle to get to bed and rise somewhat on par with the rest of the world. Having emotional and physical challenges can make a person feel isolated enough without being the only one awake in town at 3am; not to mention feeling like a lazy slug for still being asleep in the afternoon!
I know that this is easier said than done, but a gradual, progressive schedule like the one below might help you as it works on the principal of staying up *later* every night instead of trying to go to bed earlier, usually in vain in my case. This sort of thing has helped me in the past when I've gotten too far out of whack:
1st night: sleep at 4 a.m., wake at 12 p.m.
2nd night: sleep at 7 a.m., wake at 3 p.m.
3rd night: sleep at 10 a.m., wake at 6 p.m.
4th night: sleep at 1 p.m., wake at 9 p.m.
5th night: sleep at 4 p.m., wake at 12 p.m.
6th night: sleep at 7 p.m., wake at 3 a.m.
7th night: sleep at 10 p.m., wake at 6 a.m.You get the idea...and can tailor it to suit where you are right now, hours-wise. I'm sure you know all the normal advice: Don't drink alcohol, caffeine, use tobacco, exercise, etc. before bedtime. You might also want to try a magnesium supplement, chamomile tea, or whatever calmative works for you before your scheduled bedtime. Other things help me relax too, like essential oils and guided imagery. Still, there have been nights (mornings) when I just kept choosing another pill from my arsenal every few hours until I finally fell asleep. I don't advise that route, mind, I'm only being honest.
I hope you get some relief.
Posted by borderliner on January 7, 2005, at 4:32:23
In reply to need help getting sleep schedule back to normal, posted by MichaelJr on January 2, 2005, at 3:18:53
The best thing i find... is a low dose os Seroquel (used in massivwe amounts to treat schitzofrenia) you may have problems getting this from a GP but my psych gives it to me for free.
I prefer this drug over Stilnox (ambien, zolpidem) as stilnox for me has too much of a high abuse profile. the hypnotic effect of taking a few Stilnox is dramatic and gives me a warm sense of euphoria. however in my darkest days, i would wet myself once i passed out from its effects.... so learn from my mistake DONT GET AMBIEN UNLESS U TRUST YOURSELF.
borderliner
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