Posted by beardedlady on May 10, 2002, at 10:45:14
In reply to Re: Insomnia--on meds, no luck...what next?, posted by chefmws on May 10, 2002, at 8:55:42
I've had insomnia for three years, but it's virtually gone with Serzone (I was at 300 mg. but am now at 250.) I wouldn't take any more than 300, or it stops having anti-anxiety effects.
I was previously on Trazadone for a month, along with Xanax, but both petered out. We fiddled with times, and they worked again, but eventually petered out after another month.
In three years, this has not happened with Serzone, though an occasional bad sleep night happens (as it would with anyone). I use Sonata in those cases. Alone it hadn't worked, but with the Serzone in emergencies, it's perfect.
By the way, Ambien and Sonata are essentially the same, I believe. Ambien is the longer acting, though--last about six to eight hours, depending on how anxious you were to start. I prefer Sonata because my trouble now is staying asleep rather than falling asleep.
Another word about ADs: if you're going to take a sedating one, take it at night--all of it. Maybe scatter the dose so you take it at 9:00 p.m. and then again when you're ready to crash. (I crash at 9:30, so I take it at about 9:15 and then again when I wake up (as I always do) at midnight or one or two, and then I usually go right back to sleep. That way, many of the side effects are gone when you wake up.
Hope it helps. I've been there, and it's worse than any place I've gone.
beardy : )>
poster:beardedlady
thread:105760
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020510/msgs/105883.html