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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MJA on May 9, 2002, at 15:20:13
Hey I'm an 18 year old college student who has been battling insomnia for a year. First tried Sonata--no luck. Klonopin (.5mg) worked all right for a couple weeks, but now I am building tolerance...Buspar gave me intense heart beats. Ativan(.5) didnt help me sleep one bit. My doc has me on Paxil and says that should work in time. So anyone here have suggestions/success? I would really appreciate it.
Posted by JohnX2 on May 9, 2002, at 18:02:48
In reply to Insomnia--on meds, no luck...what next?, posted by MJA on May 9, 2002, at 15:20:13
> Hey I'm an 18 year old college student who has been battling insomnia for a year. First tried Sonata--no luck. Klonopin (.5mg) worked all right for a couple weeks, but now I am building tolerance...Buspar gave me intense heart beats. Ativan(.5) didnt help me sleep one bit. My doc has me on Paxil and says that should work in time. So anyone here have suggestions/success? I would really appreciate it.
Paxil is sedating for a lot of people. So it may help you
after it builds up in your body over the coming weeks.Also insomnia can be a symptom of depression, so taking an
antidepressant may relieve a chemical imbalance that causes
insomnia (in Paxil's case the chemical serotonin).Another medicine that is *very* effective to treat insomnia
is the antidepressant Remeron. At the lower dose range
(say around 15 mg) it works pretty fast (like the day you
start it usually) to give a good nights sleep. You are unlikely
to build up tolerance to its effect.Serzone is another antidepressant that is well known
for its ability to improve sleep architecture.I have had luck with all 3 medicines (Paxil,Remeron, and Serzone)
to improve sleep. Remeron and Serzone effectively cured
insomnia due to build up of tolerance to Klonopin.As always, these are trends and your results may vary.
Good Luck,
John
Posted by Janelle on May 9, 2002, at 18:29:51
In reply to Re: Insomnia--on meds, no luck...what next? » MJA, posted by JohnX2 on May 9, 2002, at 18:02:48
JohnX2 - don't know if you saw my thread just a wee bit up asking for people who have tried Remeron and/or Serzone, especially those like you who've tried BOTH, to share their experiences in terms of which was more sedating, which had more of a hangover effect or made them more foggy if taken in the day, and the weight gain thing with Remeron.
I would LOVE to have YOUR take/comparison of these two meds under that thread - thanks ever so much.
Posted by Janelle on May 9, 2002, at 18:32:47
In reply to Sorry to butt in, but JohnX2 need your input: » JohnX2, posted by Janelle on May 9, 2002, at 18:29:51
If/when you respond to that thread, could you also indicate which of those meds, if either, you are currently on, why you stopped whichever one you stopped, etc. (a brief synopsis of your history so to speak, with them). THANKS! :-)
Posted by sl on May 9, 2002, at 21:40:21
In reply to Insomnia--on meds, no luck...what next?, posted by MJA on May 9, 2002, at 15:20:13
> Hey I'm an 18 year old college student who has been battling insomnia for a year. First tried Sonata--no luck. Klonopin (.5mg) worked all right for a couple weeks, but now I am building tolerance...Buspar gave me intense heart beats. Ativan(.5) didnt help me sleep one bit. My doc has me on Paxil and says that should work in time. So anyone here have suggestions/success? I would really appreciate it.
You can try Seroquel (anti-psychotic in much larger doses, just majorly sedating in smaller doses), Ambien (sleep-aid which can be habit-forming but that doesn't seem a prob for you), and then there's the "alternative" therapies.
Valerian, Kava Kava, Melatonin, etc.luck...
sl
Posted by DonnaM on May 9, 2002, at 22:13:21
In reply to Insomnia--on meds, no luck...what next?, posted by MJA on May 9, 2002, at 15:20:13
I found 10-30Mg doxepin helped the first night I took it, Paxil worked after about 3 days(even at 5 mg) and Imovane (in Canada, similar to Ambien in the US) worked the first night and has worked most of the time for the last two years.Also Depakote (Epival) worked great with Zoloft the first night and lasted for a year or so.
> Hey I'm an 18 year old college student who has been battling insomnia for a year. First tried Sonata--no luck. Klonopin (.5mg) worked all right for a couple weeks, but now I am building tolerance...Buspar gave me intense heart beats. Ativan(.5) didnt help me sleep one bit. My doc has me on Paxil and says that should work in time. So anyone here have suggestions/success? I would really appreciate it.
Posted by chefmws on May 10, 2002, at 8:55:42
In reply to Re: Insomnia--on meds, no luck...what next?, posted by DonnaM on May 9, 2002, at 22:13:21
my son takes trazedone 50mg about an hour before bed. sleeps like a baby.
you could try that one. it once was a highly prescribed AD but it is very sedating so it is not used much as an AD. it is mainly used as a sleep aide since it also has not proved to be habit forming and stopping that med has not shown any sort of withdrawl problems
good luck
mark
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 : )>
Posted by Emily E on May 10, 2002, at 15:11:22
In reply to Re: Insomnia--on meds, no luck...what next?, posted by chefmws on May 10, 2002, at 8:55:42
Trazadone has also worked very well for me. (only been on 2 months though)
20 minutes after I take 50 mg. I am off to a good night's sleep. There is no hangover or drugged feeling in the morning and I have been have the most pleasantest dreams. Hope this helps.
Posted by lereto on May 11, 2002, at 15:32:33
In reply to Re: Insomnia--on meds, no luck...what next?, posted by Emily E on May 10, 2002, at 15:11:22
There is an insomnia board at www.sleepnet.com
I have learned alot about insomnia there. There are also boards on that site for other sleep problems, like narcolepsy, sleep apnea, shift work, etc.
Posted by skills on May 14, 2002, at 11:20:03
In reply to Re: Insomnia--on meds, no luck...what next?, posted by lereto on May 11, 2002, at 15:32:33
I have been taking Rohypnol and it really works. I do forget an awful lot though. Give it a try. Good Luck
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