Sleeping Pills

[andyelectrolux]

Okay, this is so off topic (and a bit long) but I need some opinions.

I've always had trouble sleeping ever since I was a teenager, but it seems like these past few months have been really bad. I used to not be able to fall asleep at all. I've mastered some meditational practices enough now to fall asleep, but I always wake up tired, and not wanting to get out of bed or do anything. Even if I go to bed as early as 9 pm, I still feel dead tired at 9 am.

After getting out of a horrible relationship a few years ago, I started taking over the counter sleeping pills, but as my tolerance increased, so did the dosage, until I was taking between 10-12 per night. Then I would have to counteract that in the morning with energy pills to be able to function. Obviously that was a very dangerous combination, so I talked to my doctor and he prescribed Lunesta. Worked ok for awhile, but then I started waking up groggy again.

Since then, I've just kind of tolerated uneven sleeping patterns, but I'm evolving into a new pattern that I REALLY want to break. I normally like to get up early and go to the gym, but I'm just so damn tired in the morning that I can't even do that. I used to be a clean freak, and now I have laundry piling up in the closet because I don't have the energy or the will to do housework.

Anyway, the point of this whole rant is to get some opinions on prescription sleep aids. I've seen the commercials for AmbienCR, has anyone used that? Or is there another besides Lunesta you would recommend? I don't want to take something for the rest of my life, I just want to establish a sleeping pattern, get some GOOD DEEP sleep, and then go on my way.

 

[hoover1060]

how about...

checking into a sleep clinic?

You could very well have sleep apnea or something medical like that which would indeed prevent you from getting a good nights sleep.

I'm not an expert, but at leats at a sleep clinic you would be under observation the entire night, and they may be able to give some answers about your physical state when you are trying to sleep.
Just a thought anyway

 

[gmmcnair]

Sometimes sleep patterns like that and the lack of rest signal something underlying...perhaps sleep apnea or low grade depression...both highly treatable.

They have some great sleep aids out there right now, but I would talk to your doctor about getting referred to a sleep specialist to see what's going on with your sleep patterns.

 

[gmmcnair]

LOL

Talk about great minds thinking alike!

 

[oxydolfan1]

I'm in agreement about the sleep clinic, and getting to the root of the problem (or at least trying)....

My friend is living through a nightmare, no pun intended, with Ambien right now, and I've known others. If you can at all avoid getting on that merry-go-round, try every other option first (as frustrating as sleeplessness is, I know)....

 

[andyelectrolux]

Jeff,

I didn't include this in the original post because it was so long winded to begin with, but I did have a sleep test done last year. I had to wait three months to get in, but when I finally did they hooked up all kinds of wires to me, and I slept in this little room overnight.

When I got the results back, the doctor told me that it wasn't apnea, and therefore not his or the sleep center's problem. When I pressed him for an explanation of what could be causing my sleep trouble, he shrugged and said "Well, you know, some people can just overextend themselves" and left it at that. I was so pissed at his cavalier attitude that I slammed the door on my way out, which is totally out of character for me.

I could go to a different sleep center, but then I'd have to wait another few months. This is something that I just wanna nip in the bud and get over.

 

[danemodsandy]

Ambien

Hi:

There are a lot of stories about people using Ambien who find themselves doing things in a weird state somewhere between wakefulness and sleep. They take the pill, they go to sleep, but then they get up- completely unaware of what they're doing- and go raid the refrigerator, or get in the car, or whatever. Once wakened fully, they often have no memory of what they did. I'm including a link to a Washington Post story about the phenomenon. I'd suggest taking Ambien only after talking it over with a doctor you know and trust, and only if you have a partner or other person who can keep tabs on you until your personal reaction to the drug is known. There are a lot of drugs that cause problems in SOME people, but MANY people take them without problems. It seems to be a matter of individual tolerance for the drug. Just know what you're getting into, and have some support in case Ambien makes you sleepwalk.

Also, if you're real unhappy about something, I suggest fixing it. New lover, reconciliation with old lover, maybe no lover, new job, more money, less stress, whatever needs work. Going to the gym in the morning suggests to me that you expect a lot of yourself. Maybe it's time to lighten up about something- "If all else fails, lower your standards" is the old joke about that. When my life is out of balance, I have sleep issues. When it isn't, I don't. Maybe that will work for you, maybe not, but I pass it on to you for what it's worth.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/13/AR2006031301315.html

 

[andyelectrolux]

Yikes!!

Okay, so maybe I better cross Ambien off the list.

Yes, there are some things in my life that I am unhappy about. In fact, the reason I am so concerned about all of this is that the effects of not getting quality sleep are getting in my way of overcoming these things.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[washernut]

A few years ago I was diagnosed with Depression. I was exhausted all the time but, when I got into bed I couldn't go to sleep. Or if I did it was for an hour or two and I would wake up again. I let the cleaning go, dishes and laundry. It even got to the point I didn't want to go to work. After being on an anti-depressant for a couple of months I couldn't believe what a difference it made. Also, I couldn't believe what an a-hole I had been to the people around me until I started thinking back to some of the things that had gone on. Please don't get me wrong I'm not diagnosing you...I'm just suggesting that it may be worth looking into. It's totally treatable and IF that is what is wrong you will be so glad that you did.
Bill

 

[zipdang]

Melatonin

I've been a terrible sleeper since I was a child. I was the only kid in grade 5 who knew everything happening on "Knots Landing" because I would lay awake in bed and listen to it on the radio. Falling asleep has never been easy for me.

As an adult I still stay up as late as I can, although at least now I recognize the need for deep, recuperative sleep. When I need to get back into a regular sleep pattern I usually take melatonin for a few nights. Melatonin is naturally produced in the brain (pineal gland), but taking a supplement helps adjust one's circadian rhythm, which is the cycle that tells your body it's time to sleep. Taking the melatonin helps me sleep deeper, and after a few nights my internal clock is usually reset to the point where I'm tired at night when I'm supposed to be.

If you haven't tried melatonin you might give it a whirl. It's sold OTC in most drugstores, and isn't expensive. A 2mg dose is sufficient for most people.

Good luck getting to sleep. I know how hard it can be.

 

[hoover1060]

Hmmm

Andy I am sorry to hear the sleep center was a bust, I'd seriously consider another one though, a 2nd opinion never hurt anyone.
The other advice is good too, maybe just change your routine some and see if that helps?
I'm usually at work every morning between 7-7:30, so the gym before work is out for me, I go at night usually.
Try stopping on the way home from work one night, see if that helps.
I guess my hope is you can find that restful sleep you need without having to pop pills...

 

[toggleswitch]

Melatonin 3mg.
Wehn I take it i fall asleep fast and wake-up fast. No groggy period of transition.

I use as needed, cyclically so as not to gain a dependence on it.


Said to be the fountain of youth as well. HA!
Youngins' have it in abundance, us mature fold lose it.

Havn't fully read contents of linkie.

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/melatonin.htm#Melatonin%20and%20Sleep

 

[andyelectrolux]

Melatonin..

Been there, done that. It makes me fall asleep quickly, then I wake up around 2 or 3 am, and crash around 9 or 10.

Hmmm, maybe I better look into the depression thing. That would be a hard thing for me to admit, but by this point I just need to get the problem solved.

 

[toggleswitch]

~Hmmm, maybe I better look into the depression thing. That would be a hard thing for me to admit.

I'm with ya! I'm trying not to beleive in such a thing, but hot-damn if I'm not going through all the symptoms. Serves me right for saying, in effect, (a long time ago)-- it's BS, snap out of it and get over it.

I seem to have gotten punishment from above (and from the earth-bound) for that one.

Good luck, It's no joke. Hope you get to the root of the issue.

 

[maytagbear]

I am on a marvellous

prescription something called Trazodone (generic name).

Technically it is an anti-depressant, but it's used more now for sleep than for depression.

I've been on it on and off for almost a year now, and it is wonderful, and does not sedate me in the daytime.

Nor is it considered to be addictive.

Since it's generic, I don't have a co-pay, but even so, it's pretty cheap, around 18.00 for 60 tablets of 50 mg. I take 50-150 mgm a night, when needed.

One of your docs can help you with it. I've gotten scrips from my internist as well as my psychiatrist.

I'll be taking 150 mgm tonight, because I just fell into a bag of my favourite imported coffee candies.

Good luck, guy. Continued sleeplessness is a F******
B*****!!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[washernut]

Andy,
Just remember depression is nothing more than a few chemical imbalance. It's not a result of what you do, what you eat, how you live. It's not personal.
Good luck
Bill

 

[whirlcool]

As most people here know, I'm in the airline industry and sometimes hopping time zones and continents leaves my body clock all screwed up sometimes. When I get home and have trouble sleeping sometimes I'll take an AmbienCR for a night or two. A 30 day supply lasts me 6-8 months. It does put you to sleep and keeps you there.
Almost instant adjustment to the time zone you are currently in.
I wake up refreshed and ready to go.

As others have pointed out, it could be a case of depression. Remember sometimes you can be depressed and not even know it. Sometimes depression can masqarade as anxiety. You may want to consider consulting a therapist for a session or two, just kind of a quick check up.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the obvious here. No caffiene after 3pm or so, no napping before bedtime. You may want to consider reading before you fall asleep. Reading a nice technical manual before you fall asleep usually does the trick!
Maybe even a little meditation before bedtime may be helpful.

 

[westyslantfront]

Hi Andy. I take Lunesta and it works great. I wake up less during the night, it is not habit forming, and I wake up ok in the morning. My doctor gave me long term prescription.

Ross

 

[foraloysius]

Andy,

You are way too young to use sleeping pills every night. At your age you shouldn't have problems sleeping. What was the reason you ever started using them? Perhaps that problem was never solved? If you are suffering from depressions you might look for counseling, cognitive therapy can solve that problem much better than any pill.

Louis