Coping with Sleep Challenges

[texgirl]

I've had insomnia since my first (and only) full-blown panic attack in December 2004, triggered by a single 10 mg dose of Lexapro. Paxil actually worsened my insomnia because of the horrible dreams, which woke me 4-5 times a night and made me too anxious to sleep. Now, about 7 months off, the dreams are gradually becoming less intense and less frequent, but I still don't sleep more than a few hours a night and seldom feel really rested.

This just proves how different our body chemistries are, and how one drug most definitely does not fit all.


Tex

[Sugarpeeps]

I had absolutely no sleep problems before pills. During the pills, I couldn't sleep enough. I had a very bad sneaking suspicion that my sleep was going to be nasty once I went off just because the pills enhanced it so much while taking them. I was right. The sleep issues have enhanced my anxiety as well. I never had morning anxiety before, now I do. Maybe if I could get a handle on the racing thoughts at 5 am, I would be able to go back to sleep. Sigh...

[crystalstar]

I have had insomnia for a long time, even before PAX.
Now though I am not only up until late at night, I am awake for near 36 hours in a 2 day period. Catching Zzzz's once in a while, a hour or 2.
I am so tired, you can see it in my eyes. My face has a greyish hue, and I look drained. After I sleep for a short little while You can really see the bags under my eyes, because it wasn't enough sleep.
I fall asleep typing on the computer, and watching tv, sometimes while talking to someone. I know I have to make myself sleep. I was on klonopin for a while and yeah I slept real good, but I had these dreams, like many say they have on Pax. I had these on Klopo. During the day I was like stunned and not living in reality. Nothing seemed normal. I got sick of side effects of Klopo, and I cold turkeyed, after a month of taking it. I had WD from hades for 2 weeks. Never again.... I wanted so bad to pick up the bottle and take one more klopo to relieve the WD but I knew if I did that the WD would become worse and drag out longer.
I am perscribed trazadone but I only take it if a really need to. Instead of the 100 mg pill, I cut the thing in 4ths and take one of those.
I was taking the tylenol pm everynight to but dr told me can cause liver problems if you take to much of it.
So I take a flexeral which has been perscribed, for my muscle pains. I cut it in half to take 5 mg. I use melontoin but not often cause it worsens my mood swings.

[texgirl]

Crystalstar, acetaminophen can be bad for the liver, that's probably why your doctor warned you about Tylenol PM. But the ingredient in Tylenol PM that makes you sleepy is diphenhydramine, the same active ingredient as in Benadryl, which some people do take occasionally for sleep. Tylenol also makes a product called Simply Sleep, which is diphenhydramine without the pain reliever, but there's really no reason to spend the money on it when Benadryl in generic form is widely available for much less.

[KATURN]

Originally Posted by silence4now

Nightmares and nighttime horrors and the such are not unprecedented! You are doing a great job and on the right track. I would think twice about increasing your dose of Klonopin or adding any other drug to try to quel this, which is what some docs might recommend. Klonopin withdrawal is no easy ride either. Time and healing will do the trick.

I recently tried Calms Forte when I had a relapse of this condition, and it works pretty good to get me settled down and back to sleep. Others have had good luck with Rescue Remedy. A good Mag/Cal supplement is good for the evening too.

Silence is correct Klonopin can have some addictive properties as well please visit the following sites...

www.benzo.org.uk
http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm

[texgirl]

I had good luck with the lavender oil therapy Elisa suggested, but I had to quit putting it on my pillow because it was making my face break out. I use lavender body lotion on my upper body now. (I found a brand recommended by a clerk as being closest to lavender in its natural state at a health food store.) It seems to have the same calming effect.

[elisa]

I'm glad the lavender works for you Tex. Personally, I sprinkle some lavender extract on a face cloth and put it beside my pillow. It's said it's calming and good for depression as well.

[Samalabear]

I'm coping with major sleep challenges in months 7-8 off Paxil. Like others, I couldn't get enough sleep when I was on Paxil and the vivid dreams I was having, of course, made the constant fatigue even worth. Now, of course, I have the opposite problems. I can sometimes fall asleep okay in the beginning of the night but staying asleep is a problem.

Here's what I'm trying as of last night:

Bach Rescue Sleep
Nutra Sleep from GNC -- Chamomile, Passion Flower, Lavender and Valerian Blend
Lavender incense
Lavender pillow spray

[Kristin]

My BIL is a homeopathic doc from India and has practiced for almost 40 years. When I discussed the issue of A/D W/D he said he could make a remedy that would alleviate W/D using the basic homeopathic model of super dilution. He said if I gave him a few drops of my Zoloft he would dilute it down 1,000 times or so. He said the drug causes an electrochemical reaction so if you take out the chemical part by diluting then you are left with only the electrical signal. According to him, that would satisfy the body without having the nasty chemicals and their side effects. It sounded logical and I've used many of his remedies with success, but my tapering method was going so well I didn't want to change course at that time. It sounds intriguing though. I wish I could get him on the site so there could be a discussion. Apparently not that many years ago there were 17 homeopathic colleges in the U.S. but the AMA moved in and moved that show out of town...surprise, surprise.

Alto- I'm glad the remedy for sleep worked for you.

[Kristin]

Originally Posted by altostrata

What's a BIL, Kristin?

Was he saying this is a way to treat withdrawal symptoms, or insomnia?

Very interesting theory.

Sorry, BIL is brother in law. He was saying this would treat withdrawal, with the electrical signal satisfying the brain's need for the Paxil but the body not having to deal with the chemical.

It's what homeopathy is based on, the theory that a substance is diluted so many times that the initial substance isn't there anymore in a molecular way but the essence of it is there. (On the label of each homeopathic it says how many times it has been diluted, for example 1,000x, then it is put in a soluton of alcohol.)

According to this theory, the body recognizes the (don't know what to call it, if I say 'traces' it implies it could be measured but it can't, I could say 'memory' or 'suggestion' )so, essence of the substance and this triggers the body's memory of what to do to correct itself. (Thus, 'homo', one cure to correct any part of the body that is off course. As opposed to western medicine that would focus on the organ(s) or system(s) that are the result of the initial cause of those problems.

Homeopathy could loosly be compared to vaccinations where a small amount of a substance is remembered or recognized by the body and the body reacts accordingly.

[jeanie]

Texgirl, I wanted to thank you for telling me about the Healthful Journeys Sleep CD. I received it and put it in everynight and I have been sleeping very good! Although my husband finds it rather amusing!! Anyways a big THANK YOU.

[slappyintheface]

I sleep with a fan on, the window open (when the weather is nice), and with a sound machine on. I have also been taking tart cherry extract and (knock on wood) it has been working.

[jeanie]

Hi Scotia, I have been sleeping with the fan on also, the noise helps!

[palm]

Originally Posted by jeanie

Texgirl, I wanted to thank you for telling me about the Healthful Journeys Sleep CD. I received it and put it in everynight and I have been sleeping very good! Although my husband finds it rather amusing!! Anyways a big THANK YOU.

I also use a music CD to fall sleep. It is "Soothing Music" from the Relaxation Company.

Last night, I was concerned that I had taken supplements too late in the day. When I went to bed, I thought there was no way I was going to fall asleep right away. But I forced myself to keep listening to the music way past the point that I might normally listen to it. Much to my shock, I fell asleep. When I kept waking up, I used to again and fell right back asleep.

I had also been taking supplements to help with sleep. But because one is so expensive, I was really reluctant to keep buying it. So I made a renewed commitment to the sleep CD.

In the past, if I wasn't feeling relaxed with the CD when trying to sleep, I would get up again. But I think I have just decided that come heck or high water, this is going to work.
Of course, when I start reducing my nighttime meds, things won't be that easy. For now though, I will enjoy the good days.

Just thought I would share my experiences in case this helps someone else.

Palm

[Betsy]

Palm,
If you take about 15 minutes a couple of times a day to lie down and listen to the relaxation music, just doing abdominal breathing and letting your thoughts come in and go out of your mind without really concentrating on them, it helps your body relax more throughout the day. You will find that if you do that two or three times a day, it will b even more effective at night. My relaxation CD works great, especially when I take the time to do it each day. To get that relaxation response, you have to do it about 11 days out of two weeks. It has helped me greatly. Good luck to you!

Altostrata,
Thanks for all of that great information! I've got to copy this off for reference.

Betsy

[palm]

Originally Posted by Betsy

Palm,
If you take about 15 minutes a couple of times a day to lie down and listen to the relaxation music, just doing abdominal breathing and letting your thoughts come in and go out of your mind without really concentrating on them, it helps your body relax more throughout the day. You will find that if you do that two or three times a day, it will b even more effective at night. My relaxation CD works great, especially when I take the time to do it each day. To get that relaxation response, you have to do it about 11 days out of two weeks. It has helped me greatly. Good luck to you!

Altostrata,
Thanks for all of that great information! I've got to copy this off for reference.

Betsy

Thanks Betsy, I will try your suggestions.

Palm

[Paxilalmostkilledme]

Magnesium is nature's tranquilizer...I find the sleep inducing benefits of magnesium are lessened if you take it with calcium, so I take it alone.

[carlyse_09]

I do have sleep challenges on my own...I can sleep for aboutb more than 12 hours a day...do you think it's normal?