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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TheOutsider on March 2, 2005, at 16:40:44
I've been so preocupied with my other problems that I've neglected sleep troubles
Now I'm paying the price
I very tired by the end of day because my job is so physical, but I can't switch off and go to sleep, I talked to a GP and he said "I can't prescribe sleeping pills there addictive".
He prescibed me Remeron, this gave me a wicked hangover and Nightmares, so I could barely function during the day.
Trazadone does the same.I can probably find a better doctor, I was just wondering what sleep meds are available in the UK?
When will Lunesta be available here?
Posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2005, at 17:23:46
In reply to What sleep meds don't cause horrible hangovers?!, posted by TheOutsider on March 2, 2005, at 16:40:44
What's wrong with valium? It works for me with no hangover. If you don't abuse it, it's not addictive as far as I'm concerned. I know it's available in the UK. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Spriggy on March 2, 2005, at 18:42:35
In reply to Re: What sleep meds don't cause horrible hangovers?! » TheOutsider, posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2005, at 17:23:46
Well, I'm taking 30mg's of Restoril for sleep and don't feel the least bit hung over inthe morning.
I actually noticed I seem to wake up BEFORE the alarm clock lately and feel more alert.
Restoril is, I believe, another Benzo but it sure helps me sleep. I notice I dream a ton on it so I must be hitting the good sleep state.
Posted by Colleen D. on March 2, 2005, at 20:41:43
In reply to What sleep meds don't cause horrible hangovers?!, posted by TheOutsider on March 2, 2005, at 16:40:44
It's inexpensive and at a low dose of 25mg at bedtime, it works very well for me. Good sound sleep. I wake up feeling good too. Trazodone gave me a terrible hangover effect the next morning.
Colleen
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 2, 2005, at 21:44:32
In reply to My GP prescribed doxepin. It's a TCA. » TheOutsider, posted by Colleen D. on March 2, 2005, at 20:41:43
Posted by Ritch on March 2, 2005, at 22:30:59
In reply to What sleep meds don't cause horrible hangovers?!, posted by TheOutsider on March 2, 2005, at 16:40:44
Posted by shoebox on March 3, 2005, at 6:42:45
In reply to How about Keppra 250mg HS? (nm) » TheOutsider, posted by Ritch on March 2, 2005, at 22:30:59
My money's on Sonata. It's amazing.
Posted by celticmom on March 3, 2005, at 10:53:35
In reply to How about Ambien? I love it! (nm), posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 2, 2005, at 21:44:32
Ugh - Ambien knocked me out fast, but I was awake after 3 hours and fuzzy the entire next day.
My son takes Clonodine (a BP pill) to help him sleep. Is that an option? He sleeps pretty well now. He also doesn't seem to be "hung over" in the morning. It's the only one that we've had him on long term that doesn't have some side effect manifest itself after a couple of months.
Posted by Ritch on March 3, 2005, at 12:08:49
In reply to Re: How about Ambien? I love it! » Emily Elizabeth, posted by celticmom on March 3, 2005, at 10:53:35
> Ugh - Ambien knocked me out fast, but I was awake after 3 hours and fuzzy the entire next day.
>
> My son takes Clonodine (a BP pill) to help him sleep. Is that an option? He sleeps pretty well now. He also doesn't seem to be "hung over" in the morning. It's the only one that we've had him on long term that doesn't have some side effect manifest itself after a couple of months.
>
>
>
>
>Does your son have ADHD? Just wondering what his doctor's thinking was on trying the clonidine - if you don't mind sharing. I've heard that clonidine is used in ADHD. Also, it is supposed to suppress anger and temper as well from what I've read.
Posted by celticmom on March 3, 2005, at 12:25:42
In reply to Re: question about clonidine » celticmom, posted by Ritch on March 3, 2005, at 12:08:49
My DS has anxiety and OCD, his pdoc just prescribed the clonodine to help him get to sleep. He is also on Abilify and Luvox and they tend to activate him. I have heard about clonodine being used for ADHD, but it just knocks my DS right out and he is on a tiny dose (.05 mg). I guess if you take if around the clock, the sedative effect may be diminished.
Posted by Ritch on March 3, 2005, at 13:33:30
In reply to Re: question about clonidine » Ritch, posted by celticmom on March 3, 2005, at 12:25:42
Posted by Phillipa on March 3, 2005, at 17:24:40
In reply to Re: question about clonidine » Ritch, posted by celticmom on March 3, 2005, at 12:25:42
They also use it for bad W/D from cocaine. Fondly Phillipa
Posted by TheOutsider on March 4, 2005, at 5:40:52
In reply to Re: How about Keppra 250mg HS?, posted by shoebox on March 3, 2005, at 6:42:45
A big thank you to everyone who responded!
Your contribution is apreciated
I'm particularly intrigued by Doxepin and Kepra as sleep aides.
Does anyone elses have experience with these meds?UK GPs are probably to conservative to prescribe Kepra.
I would love to try Ambien, but unfortunatly it is seen as being the same as a benzo in eyes of UK GPs.
I will try and find a better GP, I think
Posted by ed_uk on March 4, 2005, at 8:14:35
In reply to Thanks everyone! Any other Doxepin experiences?, posted by TheOutsider on March 4, 2005, at 5:40:52
Hi,
You could try zopiclone (Zimovane). It's prescribed a lot in the UK, it's very similar to Lunesta. Try to use it intermittently or short-term, for a few days only. If you use it regularly you may suffer withdrawal symptoms when you stop.
Ed.
Posted by KaraS on March 4, 2005, at 15:25:27
In reply to Thanks everyone! Any other Doxepin experiences?, posted by TheOutsider on March 4, 2005, at 5:40:52
> A big thank you to everyone who responded!
>
> Your contribution is apreciated
>
> I'm particularly intrigued by Doxepin and Kepra as sleep aides.
> Does anyone elses have experience with these meds?
>
> UK GPs are probably to conservative to prescribe Kepra.
>
> I would love to try Ambien, but unfortunatly it is seen as being the same as a benzo in eyes of UK GPs.
> I will try and find a better GP, I think
Hi,
I've used low dose (25 mg.) doxepin for years. It helps with sleep and it's a tremendous help for anxiety. It does leave me a bit groggy though. I went off of that and tried 25 mg. of maprotiline which worked well for me with less grogginess. Unfortunately, now it gives me tachycardia so I'm back on the doxepin. The great thing about doxepin is that you can stop taking the 25 mg. at any point without any fear of side effects or withdrawal.If you do decide to try it, build up to the 25 mg. dose as it's extremely sedating until you're accustomed to it. In fact, if you took another 25 mg. by accident, you'd be much too sedated to go to work the next day and you wouldn't be able to drive.
Kara
Posted by ed_uk on March 4, 2005, at 15:54:35
In reply to Re: Thanks everyone! Any other Doxepin experiences? » TheOutsider, posted by KaraS on March 4, 2005, at 15:25:27
Hi Kara,
Funny how some people take up to 300mg/day of doxepin for depression! I would be on the floor!
Did you get a beta blocker for your anxiety?
Ed.
Posted by KaraS on March 4, 2005, at 18:04:48
In reply to Re: Thanks everyone! Any other Doxepin experiences? » KaraS, posted by ed_uk on March 4, 2005, at 15:54:35
> Hi Kara,
>
> Funny how some people take up to 300mg/day of doxepin for depression! I would be on the floor!Same here though maybe if we were to build up really slowly we'd be able to tolerate it.
> Did you get a beta blocker for your anxiety?
No, I haven't decided yet what I'm going to do. I'm leaning towards building up on the doxepin to maybe 75 mg. and then seeing if that will allow me to start on Zoloft.
Hope you're feeling better, Ed.
k
Posted by ed_uk on March 5, 2005, at 10:04:21
In reply to Re: Thanks everyone! Any other Doxepin experiences? » ed_uk, posted by KaraS on March 4, 2005, at 18:04:48
Hi!
>No, I haven't decided yet what I'm going to do. I'm leaning towards building up on the doxepin to maybe 75 mg. and then seeing if that will allow me to start on Zoloft.
OK, good luck :-)
>Hope you're feeling better, Ed.
Yes, I'm ok now thank you.
Ed.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 5, 2005, at 21:16:17
In reply to How about Keppra 250mg HS? (nm) » TheOutsider, posted by Ritch on March 2, 2005, at 22:30:59
I'm not familiar with Keppra. To which class of drugs does it belong? Is it a benzodiazapine?
Posted by Ritch on March 5, 2005, at 21:52:33
In reply to Re: How about Keppra 250mg HS? » Ritch, posted by Sarah T. on March 5, 2005, at 21:16:17
> I'm not familiar with Keppra. To which class of drugs does it belong? Is it a benzodiazapine?
It's an antiepileptic drug (AED). Benzodiazepines are used as AED's also. It just happens that I found Keppra effective for sleep. It isn't a benzodiazepine, though.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 5, 2005, at 22:24:48
In reply to Re: How about Keppra 250mg HS? » Sarah T., posted by Ritch on March 5, 2005, at 21:52:33
Thank you, Ritch. I'll look into it and mention it to my doctor. I have very bad DSPS, delayed sleep phase syndrome. Melatonin, which may help DSPS in some people, seems to make me feel more depressed the following day, and I've never been able to figure out the correct dosage. I've read that 0.3mg is the best dose, but that doesn't do much for me. Just today, I read in "Alternative Medicine" magazine that 5mg is the recommended dose for DSPS. Such confusion! I'd probably be better off looking into Keppra.
Posted by Ritch on March 6, 2005, at 9:53:42
In reply to Re: How about Keppra 250mg HS? » Ritch, posted by Sarah T. on March 5, 2005, at 22:24:48
> Thank you, Ritch. I'll look into it and mention it to my doctor. I have very bad DSPS, delayed sleep phase syndrome. Melatonin, which may help DSPS in some people, seems to make me feel more depressed the following day, and I've never been able to figure out the correct dosage. I've read that 0.3mg is the best dose, but that doesn't do much for me. Just today, I read in "Alternative Medicine" magazine that 5mg is the recommended dose for DSPS. Such confusion! I'd probably be better off looking into Keppra.
Just a thought but, Neurontin at bedtime helps a lot too, in fact, I think I've read where it specifically can help DSPS when taken at bedtime. Hope this helps.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 7, 2005, at 0:45:06
In reply to Re: How about Keppra 250mg HS? » Sarah T., posted by Ritch on March 6, 2005, at 9:53:42
Hi. Thanks for mentioning Neurontin. I'm fearful about taking things that might exacerbate my depression. I guess I could try a microscopic dose and see how that goes.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 7, 2005, at 0:51:22
In reply to Re: Thanks everyone! Any other Doxepin experiences? » TheOutsider, posted by KaraS on March 4, 2005, at 15:25:27
Kara, hi. How are you managing the anticholinergic effects of Doxepin? Are they wearing off? Is the same dose still sedating enough to help with sleep?
I took maprotiline a long time ago. It made me gain weight more quickly than any other TCA, or any other AD, for that matter. It also gave me palpitations and some other problems. In spite of all the difficulties I had with tricyclics (or tetracyclics), I still think they are far superior to the current AD's for unipolar depression.
Posted by KaraS on March 7, 2005, at 3:54:08
In reply to Re: Thanks everyone! Any other Doxepin experiences? » KaraS, posted by Sarah T. on March 7, 2005, at 0:51:22
> Kara, hi. How are you managing the anticholinergic effects of Doxepin? Are they wearing off? Is the same dose still sedating enough to help with sleep?
Hi Sarah,The side effects are pretty mild right now but I'm only on 25 mg. I still sleep incredibly well.
>
> I took maprotiline a long time ago. It made me gain weight more quickly than any other TCA, or any other AD, for that matter. It also gave me palpitations and some other problems. In spite of all the difficulties I had with tricyclics (or tetracyclics), I still think they are far superior to the current AD's for unipolar depression.
I'm already fighting the weight gain. I'm not used to watching it as the last few months I've been trying keep the weight on. When I was much younger I managed to lose weight while taking doxepin but I was very motivated at the time. The TCAs are not ideal but they definitely have their benefits.K
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