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Re: bad insomnia » bark2323

Posted by Minnie-Haha on March 29, 2005, at 18:46:53

In reply to bad insomnia, posted by bark2323 on March 29, 2005, at 17:52:05

I have Bipolar Type 2 and OCD. I recently had severe insomnia for 15 months. I went to sleep OK, but I would wake up 2-4 hours after falling asleep. I tried Ativan, Ambien, Klonopin, Sonata, Elavil (TCA), plus a host of alternative treatments. (I tried Zyprexa too -- one night, and a very low dose -- it knocked me out, but I felt like a zombie the next day. It wasn't the right med for me, but it certainly turned off the noise in my head.) An endocrinologist did a 24-hour urine test and my cortisol was twice the high-normal amount. This lead me to believe I had pseudo-Cushing's, which can result from un- or under-treated depression. (Actually, someone on this board, bless his or her heart, suggested this possibility.) Anyway, I don't know if the anxiety/insomnia caused the depression or the other way around, but I got no relief until I got on an antidepressant.

None of the drugs you listed as being on right now look like a true anti-depressant to me (unless I missed something) though some may have something of an AD effect. Have you talked with your pdoc/therapist about trying a good 2-3 week trial of an SSRI or SNRI? (If you are Bipolar, you should start off first with a mood stabilizer.)

Also, you seem to be on twice the recommended dosage of Provigil. Can you at least cut back on that, even if you're unwilling to quit it entirely?

Finally, what is your workload like? Can you let something go? And are you doing any kind of talk therapy? I think it really helps you get a little more out of your drug therapy.

Good luck!

PS: I take Trileptal (mood stabilizer), Cymbalta and Wellbutrin XL.


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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050326/msgs/477376.html