![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 sadaiy on September 7, 2005, at 14:16:44
Ok, I am dependant on drugs for sleeping, I now take 15mg Remeron to sleep, and it did not work last night, so I also had to take 30 mg Restoril...
Is is true that if you don't sleep you will go crazy , or that if you don't sleep you get brain damage ?
It seems like a lot of people on this forum are dependant on something for sleep, how long have they gone without sleep ?
Has anyone that is dependant on these drugs for sleep died because of lack of sleep ?
Posted by Guy on September 7, 2005, at 22:43:37
In reply to lack of sleep causes brain damage, posted by sadaiy on September 7, 2005, at 14:16:44
If insomnia caused death I would have been dead long ago! Also, I don't think insomnia causes brain damage...although I do believe that poor sleep can precipitate many nervous system disorders. Meds can knock you out, but I don't believe they can reproduce the restorative quality of natural sleep. I suffer from chronic pain, a condition that may be caused by a lack of stage 4 (deep) sleep. I've tried many times to get off the meds, but each time the insomnia and agitation return and I become suicidal. It's a catch 22.
Posted by rainbowbrite on September 8, 2005, at 0:54:39
In reply to lack of sleep causes brain damage, posted by sadaiy on September 7, 2005, at 14:16:44
This article is interesting it suggests death is possible, 'The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Brain and Behavior' Sarah Ledoux
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web3/Ledoux.html"One of the possible side effects of a continued lack of sleep is death. Usually this is the result of the fact that the immune system is weakened without sleep. The number of white blood cells within the body decreases, as does the activity of the remaining white blood cells. The body also decreases the amount of growth hormone produced (8). The ability of the body to metabolize sugar declines, turning sugar into fat. One study stated that people who sleep less than four hours per night are three times more likely to die within the next six years (11). Although the longest a human has remained awake was eleven days rats that are continually deprived of sleep die within two to five weeks, generally due to their severely weakened immune system (10), (11), (12)."
Posted by vbAgent on September 9, 2005, at 1:35:42
In reply to lack of sleep causes brain damage, posted by sadaiy on September 7, 2005, at 14:16:44
You won't go crazy or get brain damage. Judgment, overall functioning and performance at work will certainly suffer.
Posted by rjlockhart98 on September 9, 2005, at 22:11:41
In reply to Re: lack of sleep causes brain damage, posted by vbAgent on September 9, 2005, at 1:35:42
I have been waking up at 4:00 - 4:30, I cannot go back to sleep, and during the day i am in "intense mode".
I take Restoril 30mg with Clonazepam 1mg nightly and still i wake up and cannot go to sleep.
I dont know what to do.
I have stayed up the whole night before from insomnia from addreall before, i had to go to school then work, it was tremendous stress. I thought i was losing my mind, time would move so slow. I was vigelint but i was warped at the same time.
I would have a diffrent personality usally agitated.
What is this going to produce.
Posted by gardenergirl on September 10, 2005, at 0:25:12
In reply to Re: OH MY GOD, posted by rjlockhart98 on September 9, 2005, at 22:11:41
You would notice escalating signs of continued sleep deprivation long before any permanent brain damage or even death might occur.
Occasional insomnia will not damage your brain, nor will pulling occasional "allnighters" while in college.
gg
Posted by sadaiy on September 10, 2005, at 14:02:24
In reply to No wories, Matt » rjlockhart98, posted by gardenergirl on September 10, 2005, at 0:25:12
Ok... but i am having what is known as "rebound or withdrawl" insomnia...
If i didn't take anything for sleep, I could probably go 5 -6 days without sleep...
Would that cause "brain damage" ?
Posted by gardenergirl on September 10, 2005, at 14:32:12
In reply to Re: No wories, Matt, posted by sadaiy on September 10, 2005, at 14:02:24
> Ok... but i am having what is known as "rebound or withdrawl" insomnia...
>
> If i didn't take anything for sleep, I could probably go 5 -6 days without sleep...
>
> Would that cause "brain damage" ?Of course I have no way of saying with absolulte certainty, but I doubt it. Sleep deprivation can lead to symptoms that resemble mania or psychosis, though.
gg
This is the end of the 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.