Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 269817

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Chloral Hydrate - anyone been on it? Info?

Posted by jerrympls on October 15, 2003, at 20:24:23

I'm having MAJOR insomnia - due to Nardil or whatever - and nothing works - 45mg Restoril + 20 Ambien and 2mg Klonpin and I'm wide awake. My doc want sto try Chloral Hydrate. Anyone been on it? Does it work? Or doesn anyoneknow anything about it?

Thanks in advance
Jerry

 

Re: Chloral Hydrate - anyone been on it? Info? » jerrympls

Posted by Ame Sans Vie on October 15, 2003, at 21:46:28

In reply to Chloral Hydrate - anyone been on it? Info?, posted by jerrympls on October 15, 2003, at 20:24:23

Though it didn't work for me, next to nothing works for my occasional insomnia. My grandmother had great success with occasional use of Noctec, though she says she always got a barbiturate-like hangover from the stuff. It's certainly worth a try -- but if your doc's willing to prescribe chloral hydrate, you might want to think about a barbiturate instead. Phenobarbital at a dose of about 300mg is still used for treatment-resistant insomnia these days, while chloral hydrate is rarely encountered... I'd do a little research if I were you. I just think there may be a reason that barbiturates are usually preferred over chloral hydrate, but I'm not 100% sure. Phenobarbital is a Schedule IV controlled substance (like benzodiazepines) so it isn't insanely difficult to get a prescription for, but there are also Seconal, Amytal, and especially Nembutal which all may be more useful if your main problem is falling asleep and not staying asleep. They're Schedule II though. Whatever you end up deciding to use, the problem lies in that none of these sleep aids will be useful for more than a few weeks as tolerance develops very rapidly if used every night.

I wonder, is ethchlorvynol (Placidyl) or glutethimide (Doriden) still manufactured in the U.S.?

 

Re: Chloral Hydrate - anyone been on it? Info? » jerrympls

Posted by galkeepinon on October 16, 2003, at 2:22:48

In reply to Chloral Hydrate - anyone been on it? Info?, posted by jerrympls on October 15, 2003, at 20:24:23

I was given Chloral Hydrate when I was in the hospital one time and it didn't do anything for me. Restoril (Temazepam) didn't either. Ambien at 10mg worked wonders but is *usually* used for short-term insomnia among other reasons.
Here is some info that may help you:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202123.html

Here's is a Chloral Hydrate data sheet:
http://www.psyweb.com/Drughtm/noctec.html

As far as Barbiturates go, they are grouped — according to how fast (and how long) they work in the body and what they're prescribed for:

~Ultrashort-acting. (ex~Sodium Pentothal) They produce their effects quickly, usually within 20 minutes. They're used most often to prepare surgical patients for anesthesia.

~Short- (or intermediate-) acting. (ex~Seconal, Nembutal) This group takes a little longer to start their effects, but works over a longer period of time. They're prescribed as sleeping pills, and are most subject to abuse.

~Long-acting. (ex~Phenobarbital) Long-acting barbs may not achieve full effectiveness for hours or days. They're often used to reduce seizures and calm anxiety.

I was also given a combo at one time of Phenobarbital and Halcion, and it worked GREAT!

Good luck, I hope you get some sleep soon:-)



> I'm having MAJOR insomnia - due to Nardil or whatever - and nothing works - 45mg Restoril + 20 Ambien and 2mg Klonpin and I'm wide awake. My doc want sto try Chloral Hydrate. Anyone been on it? Does it work? Or doesn anyoneknow anything about it?
>
> Thanks in advance
> Jerry
>

 

Re: Chloral Hydrate - anyone been on it? Info?

Posted by fuji on October 17, 2003, at 18:22:32

In reply to Re: Chloral Hydrate - anyone been on it? Info? » jerrympls, posted by Ame Sans Vie on October 15, 2003, at 21:46:28

From what I understand, Doriden are not made anymore (like Quaaludes) but Placidyls are still available.
fuji

 

Re: Chloral Hydrate - anyone been on it? Info? » fuji

Posted by Ame Sans Vie on October 17, 2003, at 21:44:55

In reply to Re: Chloral Hydrate - anyone been on it? Info?, posted by fuji on October 17, 2003, at 18:22:32

Thanks for the info -- that's what I thought (Doriden having been discontinued, I mean). I'll look around a bit and see if I can find any forms of ethchlorvynol still being sold. It's one of few drugs that puts my lights out, lol.

 

Re: Chloral Hydrate - anyone been on it? Info?

Posted by DepNYer on October 18, 2003, at 10:16:17

In reply to Re: Chloral Hydrate - anyone been on it? Info?, posted by fuji on October 17, 2003, at 18:22:32

I'm new here, but I've been reading this site regularly. I've been on Chloral Hydrate in the past for the horrible insomnia I get when severly depressed. It's common to see it's use in institutions because it's EXTREMELY cheap. Unfortunatly, it may be carcinogenic, particularly to the liver, and thus rarely used outside of institutions. It also can have a significant withdrwal syndrome if abruptly stopped after regular use. I would view it as a last ditch effort treatment for insomnia. I no longer use it, and, truthfully, wouldn't go back on it even if offered.


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