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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 B2chica on February 13, 2012, at 10:20:46
my insomnia is gradually getting worse.
last night it was 2 before i could get to sleep.
id say mostly due to anxiety but just couldnt seem to close my eyes.
my pdoc once mentioned sleep med.
any comments on lunesta, and would it work on someone with evening anxiety?
do you NEED to have 8 hours sleep with this one?
b2c.
Posted by bleauberry on February 13, 2012, at 11:51:03
In reply to Lunesta and anxiety?, posted by B2chica on February 13, 2012, at 10:20:46
Since everyone responds differently to meds it is hard to predict what might be best for you. But in my experience lunesta is one of the better choices. The problem with any of those types of meds....GABA meds....is that eventually their effectiveness diminishes and anxiety can be worse than it started. I prefer to view sleep meds as something to not use daily. For some real knockout power, ask for 15mg remeron pills, then cut the pill into quarters or eights. Dose ranges of 1mg to 7.5mg are more sedating than higher doses, and higher doses can sometimes actually be stimulating instead. While lunesta will pretty much be worn off in the morning, remeron will carry through most of the next day, so it comes with some grogginess usually. Other popular options include the sedating antipsychotics such as seroquel. But again, next day carryover is fairly significant.
If I were you I would try some inexpensive earth-made sleep aids first, which would include:
Skullcap
Passionflower
Valerian
Lemon BalmTry them each one at a time, and then combine your favorite 2 or 3.
In terms of vitamins, extra niacinamide can help as well as magnesium. A combo of magnesium, glycine, and gaba can work pretty well in mild to moderate sleep problems. These are natural substances in your body, but not uncommon to be deficient in them.
For any of the herbs I prefer the tinctures because they work as good or better than pills and allow for easy customized dose sizes. There is clinical research to back up the herbs and have been shown to be comparable to prescription meds except without the side effects and without the carryover.
Posted by Phillipa on February 13, 2012, at 12:31:41
In reply to Lunesta and anxiety?, posted by B2chica on February 13, 2012, at 10:20:46
B2Chica at one time mine got so bad I took 3mg of lunesta and valium. It worked. I've always waken halfway through the night bathroom. And I really didn't find it strong at all. But at one time I also had to take chloralhydrate to sleep with benzos. It was when going through menopause. Lunesta just stopped it no problem no tappering at all. Since can't taste or smell I didn't have the complaint I hear of bitter taste. I'd try it. Oh I only take .125mg of xanax and 7.5mg of valium now heading lower as I just don't need them anymore. Phillipa
Posted by B2chica on February 14, 2012, at 8:13:34
In reply to Re: Lunesta and anxiety?, posted by bleauberry on February 13, 2012, at 11:51:03
i'm noticing that effect now. i've been taking gabapentin and xanax for sleep.
well the xanax isn't working as well, was having to take more. and making it harder to get up.
i decided that if' its after midnight and still cant sleep i'll try other methods.
gabapentin just isn't working for late night anxiety.last night i was so tired i could hardly even talk. i was able to take a nap for about 40min in the evening and did fall asleep about 11:30 which was great. but i didnt take my 3:30 adderall either.
which made my mood worse but it was worth the rest.
i left a message with my pdoc. so wait to hear back.
maybe i'll try one of those sleep aids you mentioned. which ever one i can find.
i've heard several people here mention skullcap and lemon balm so i'll look for one of those first.
i go to pharmacy tonight anyway to pick up pristiq.thanks Bleauberry.
Posted by B2chica on February 14, 2012, at 8:14:25
In reply to Re: Lunesta and anxiety? » B2chica, posted by Phillipa on February 13, 2012, at 12:31:41
Posted by Beckett on February 14, 2012, at 11:29:23
In reply to Lunesta and anxiety?, posted by B2chica on February 13, 2012, at 10:20:46
Lunesta I gave eight hours or else I had a hangover. It was less likely to give me a dicey mood. Ambien and Sonata are shorter acting, but they also effected my memory and mood the next day, so I don't take them. Actually I do not take any Z drugs any more because I felt they contributed to mood instability. Lunesta was least likely to of them all for me.
You could try temazapam in place of Xanax for sleeping. Just a thought. Longer acting--about six hours maybe. With the gabapentin. Good luck.
Posted by SLS on February 14, 2012, at 14:22:55
In reply to Re: Lunesta and anxiety?, posted by Beckett on February 14, 2012, at 11:29:23
> Lunesta I gave eight hours or else I had a hangover. It was less likely to give me a dicey mood. Ambien and Sonata are shorter acting, but they also effected my memory and mood the next day, so I don't take them. Actually I do not take any Z drugs any more because I felt they contributed to mood instability. Lunesta was least likely to of them all for me.
>
> You could try temazapam in place of Xanax for sleeping. Just a thought. Longer acting--about six hours maybe. With the gabapentin. Good luck.Some people on Psycho-Babble have discovered that combining a BZD receptor agonist (benzodiazepines and Z-drugs) with an antihistaminergic drug like hydroxyzine or cyproheptadine is very effective to treat insomnia. Cyproheptadine has some serotonergic properties that enhance its effects on insomnia.
I like lorazepam (Ativan) as my BZD drug. For me, it is clean and without a hangover effect. From time to time, I use zaleplon (Sonata) to address awakenings towards the middle or end of the night. It has a very short half-life, and is unlikely to produce a hangover. It is a good choice if you only need some help falling asleep (sleep initiation). I combine it with lorazepam or temazepam (Restoril) for the really bad nights.
Melatonin helps some people address their insomnia. However, it can make depression worse. I am guessing that this occurs in a minority of people who take it.
- Scott
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