Sleep issues before and during withdrawal

[Junior]

Ok.. so I'm finally getting it through my thick skull that I need to get off this drug. My sig shows my history. Only problem is that just in the past 2 weeks I've hit a period where my brain is already crying out for more Paxil. I promised myself that I wouldn't updose beyond 30mg and I haven't. I was originally on 40mg.

I've heard many stories about people having sleep issues during withdrawal so I guess I'm just trying to collect them in one thread. I'm currently waking every 1-2 hours. I get back to sleep but it's not quality sleep. Or..if I DO manage to get a decent block of sleep, I still wake at @5am and on work days, don't get back to sleep (I get up just before 7am). It's been suggested that the early wakening could be, at least in part, due to menopausal symptoms beginning (I'm nearly 4 and I am going to look into this... but... I'd like to know how people have managed their sleep issues. Especially those who needed to maintain a job.

Thanks

[palm]

Originally Posted by Junior

Ok.. so I'm finally getting it through my thick skull that I need to get off this drug. My sig shows my history. Only problem is that just in the past 2 weeks I've hit a period where my brain is already crying out for more Paxil. I promised myself that I wouldn't updose beyond 30mg and I haven't. I was originally on 40mg.

I've heard many stories about people having sleep issues during withdrawal so I guess I'm just trying to collect them in one thread. I'm currently waking every 1-2 hours. I get back to sleep but it's not quality sleep. Or..if I DO manage to get a decent block of sleep, I still wake at @5am and on work days, don't get back to sleep (I get up just before 7am). It's been suggested that the early wakening could be, at least in part, due to menopausal symptoms beginning (I'm nearly 4 and I am going to look into this... but... I'd like to know how people have managed their sleep issues. Especially those who needed to maintain a job.

Thanks

You're talking to the insomnia queen.

All jokes aside, last night I went to bed at 9pm and woke up at midnight with my heart beating really fast. It felt like an adrenaline rush big time.

By the way, my diet was nearly perfect as the only cup of coffee I had consumed was before 6am. Didn't eat any junk food. Got plenty of exercise out in the sunlight.

Fortunately, by eating turkey and drinking warm milk, I got back to sleep. But it wasn't good quality.

The night before, I slept all the way through and felt great. But that is because the night before, I only got 3 hours of sleep.

How do I deal with it since I am temping and looking for full time work? The best I can.

It isn't easy. When I don't get sleep, I simply say to myself I have managed before and I will manage again.

I supposed mine could be hormonal. But I strongly feel since tapered off of 4 meds, including two specifically for sleep, I think it is safe to say, mine is med related.

Have you been at your job for awhile and have a good track record? That might help in case you have med withdrawal moments.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

Palm

[LCrawford67]

Your sleeping pattern is how I've been sleeping for the past year or two. I just turned 43 so I absolutely know it's hormonal.

As long as I get 5 hours sleep, I'm good. It's not like that every night, but I go through patterns, I'm in one now, actually.

I use to try and fight it, I don't any more. I don't feel like I'm dragging and I'm functioning just fine at work, so no biggie. However, I do drink Traditional Medicinals Nighty Night tea, when I remember, and believe it or not, it really does relax you.

Other than the tea, exercise early in the day. Other than that; I just deal with it. What I found, and this is most important, if you fret about it, it makes the insomnia worse. I've never been a deep sleeper, even while on Paxil and always woke up at least once in the night.

We always laugh about older folks getting up at the butt crack of dawn...well, we all eventually become like that! LOL!!!

[rangerNY]

The biggest problem I had was the constant waking, and my eyes snapping open at 4 AM when I didn't need to be up for another 3 hours or so. It was sooooo hard, often impossible, to get back to sleep. What you're experiencing is very common around here.

The best I could do was to try to get to bed as early as was practical for me. I'm naturally a night person, so there's very little chance that I'm going to sleep at 9 PM, but I had to force myself into bed with the lights out by 11 PM. Did it help? Eh. Maybe a little.

I also had to resort to trying to block every last bit of light from entering my bedroom windows, and I still have a sleep mask on my nightstand from those days. I also got into the habit of using soft earbuds to listen to satellite radio while I was lying there. Talk radio actually helped take my mind off the fact that I couldn't sleep, which would often help me relax and drift off.

[palm]

Originally Posted by rangerNY

The biggest problem I had was the constant waking, and my eyes snapping open at 4 AM when I didn't need to be up for another 3 hours or so. It was sooooo hard, often impossible, to get back to sleep. What you're experiencing is very common around here.

The best I could do was to try to get to bed as early as was practical for me. I'm naturally a night person, so there's very little chance that I'm going to sleep at 9 PM, but I had to force myself into bed with the lights out by 11 PM. Did it help? Eh. Maybe a little.

I also had to resort to trying to block every last bit of light from entering my bedroom windows, and I still have a sleep mask on my nightstand from those days. I also got into the habit of using soft earbuds to listen to satellite radio while I was lying there. Talk radio actually helped take my mind off the fact that I couldn't sleep, which would often help me relax and drift off.

Interesting Ranger as I use audio books for the same purpose.

The downside is because I can't remember where I felt off, I have listened to many segments several times. Improves my comprehension

Palm

[LCrawford67]

I listen to Echoes, on NPR

[Junior]

Originally Posted by palm

Have you been at your job for awhile and have a good track record? That might help in case you have med withdrawal moments.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

Palm

Thanks Palm. I've only been in the job a few weeks so I don't really have any 'credit'. I've already had to take sick leave when I had a heavy cold. Plus I took two weeks off - unpaid - to have the holiday to Cairns that we had booked before I was offered the job.

I've been debating whether to get sleeping tabs (to which I"m not addicted) and just using them maybe twice a week to get me through work. I work 3 days a week.

[Junior]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

Your sleeping pattern is how I've been sleeping for the past year or two. I just turned 43 so I absolutely know it's hormonal.

As long as I get 5 hours sleep, I'm good. It's not like that every night, but I go through patterns, I'm in one now, actually.

I use to try and fight it, I don't any more. I don't feel like I'm dragging and I'm functioning just fine at work, so no biggie. However, I do drink Traditional Medicinals Nighty Night tea, when I remember, and believe it or not, it really does relax you.

Other than the tea, exercise early in the day. Other than that; I just deal with it. What I found, and this is most important, if you fret about it, it makes the insomnia worse. I've never been a deep sleeper, even while on Paxil and always woke up at least once in the night.

We always laugh about older folks getting up at the butt crack of dawn...well, we all eventually become like that! LOL!!!

Yeah I can manage on 5 hours but I need it in a block. Not the broken version.

Have you ever had your hormone levels checked? I've been on HRT for nearly 6 yrs now because I've had both ovaries removed but it has been suggested that I may need to have it adjusted.

[palm]

Originally Posted by Junior

Thanks Palm. I've only been in the job a few weeks so I don't really have any 'credit'. I've already had to take sick leave when I had a heavy cold. Plus I took two weeks off - unpaid - to have the holiday to Cairns that we had booked before I was offered the job.

I've been debating whether to get sleeping tabs (to which I"m not addicted) and just using them maybe twice a week to get me through work. I work 3 days a week.

Hi Junior,

Do you mean OTC sleeping remedies?

If they work, that might not be a bad idea as long as you're ok with any potential downsides.

I know that ideally, we shouldn't take anything. But sleep deprivation is horrible, especially when you have to function at work.

I simply haven't had much success with OTC remedies so that is why I have decided not to touch them. But fortunately, while my sleep isn't ideal, I am getting enough where I am not severely impaired.

Palm

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by Junior

Yeah I can manage on 5 hours but I need it in a block. Not the broken version.

Have you ever had your hormone levels checked? I've been on HRT for nearly 6 yrs now because I've had both ovaries removed but it has been suggested that I may need to have it adjusted.

I was referring to getting 5 hours total; it's always broken. But, as I said, I've learned to deal with it and I'm fine. It's not every night; I go through phases.

No, I had an ultrasound a year or so ago and my ovaries have shrunk. I'll never do HRT, it's just not something I believe in.

[Junior]

Originally Posted by palm

Hi Junior,

Do you mean OTC sleeping remedies?

If they work, that might not be a bad idea as long as you're ok with any potential downsides.

I know that ideally, we shouldn't take anything. But sleep deprivation is horrible, especially when you have to function at work.

I simply haven't had much success with OTC remedies so that is why I have decided not to touch them. But fortunately, while my sleep isn't ideal, I am getting enough where I am not severely impaired.

Palm

Hi Palm

No those don't help. I've got something from my naturopath called Redormin and it helps with mild anxiety but nothing else. Mild anxiety isn't my problem atm. The same applies for things like Valerian. Basically I can get very relaxed and mentally calm, and still not be able to fall asleep. In the past when I was like that I was told it was Clinical Anxiety - so it could be that my body is screaming for more Paxil - but I don't want to do that.

It's Mon morning here. On Friday night I woke every 1-2 hours. Not ideal but ok. On Sat night I went off to sleep ok but woke at 3am and didn't get back to sleep until @5.30am. Last night I just couldn't get to sleep. It would have been 2am I'd say.

Thanks
Junior

[stan]

my solution works during withdrawal,

i go sleep when my body wants, so i sleep in the morning
my cycle is wrong but i take nothing to sleep
and if a day no much sleep, the next i sleep much

but of course we cannot work, and hopefully i am retired

[Songbird]

I've had a lot of sleep problems, mainly with falling asleep. I've cut out caffeine and alcohol and try to avoid scary/dramatic TV and strenuous exercise close to bedtime. Going to bed earlier seems to help, as I usually find the later it gets the harder it is for me to fall asleep. I do relaxation exercises each day.

I use the herbs passionflower and skullcap (I used to use valerian but it turned paradoxical on me). When the herbs are not enough, I use small doses of melatonin (too much turns paradoxical). When the insomnia is severe I use zopiclone, I use the lowest effective dose and taper off it again as my sleep improves. So far I've managed to not become addicted (touch wood!).

I also use psychological tricks for bedtime anxiety. I usually leave a bedside lamp on and read a book for a while. Once I start feeling drowsy I just put the book down to have a 'rest'. If I turn the light out my brain thinks I'm trying to sleep and gets anxious about it.

[WhatIsNormal]

Tapering Paxil did wacky things to my sleep. This last drop was awful. I spent one full week so tired I could barely move and I just couldn't get enough sleep and then the next week I could barely sleep 3 hours a night. It eventually evens out after a few weeks.

[musicfan1976]

I am in my almost fourth month of w/d. Since last night I went to bed at 1230am, didn't fall asleep until 1:30am, slept until 630am, didn't fall back asleep until 830 and then had to wake up at 10am. I am worried that I am going to experience insomnia really bad. The reason I came off of it was b/c I was too tired all the time now I worry about going through insomnia. I can handle distrubances but not insomnia. thank you for reading this. C