[Nicole]

Ok so the doxepin didn't work. I am desperate and feeling awful. My psychiatrist prescribed Cymbalta with the hopes that if my depression is treated then the insomnia will go away. The remeron just wasn't cutting it andI haven't been eating in addition to not sleeping. I have finally given in and agreed to 5mg Zyprexa at night to see if this works for the insomnia. Hopefully it will work and if it does hopefully it will just be until the Cymbalta kicks in and helps the depression. I was on effexor in the past and took Trazodone at the same time to help my insomnia and it worked so hopefully the cymbalta will work and I will just need trazadone for sleep. Any positive experiences with Zyprexa?

[xdunlapx]

I was first tried on trazodone which did nothing for me. Then I was put on Lunesta which worked for maybe 2 weeks. Probably the placebo affect… Then Ambien, then ambien cr, then Sonata, then silenor. Now I'm on silenor AND ambien cr. And I don't think that's working anymore as it's 2:06am and I'm not tired. I have to call the psychiatrist tomorrow to get a refill on the silenor so I'm going to make an appointment instead and see him. Hopefully we can try Lunesta or another one along with the ambien cr. Ugh.

[Martin Reed]

Nicole, please keep us updated and try not to lose hope. Have you tried to find a sleep specialist to see if it would be helpful to target your insomnia as a separate condition rather than something linked to your depression?

—

If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[Nicole]

Hello, went to the sleep specialist and she is sending me for a sleep study next month to see if there is a physical reason that I am such a light sleeper like sleep apnea or periodic limb movement. I am praying for a physical cause since that is easier to treat than a psychological cause!! I finally gave in and am going to start the seroquel tonight. The sleep specialist (a nurse practitioner) and my psychiatrist both said that was fine, but I went to a clinical social worker today for some counseling and she made me feel like a crumb for going with the seroquel saying she thought it was too soon to be “pulling out the big guns” and instead that I should wait for my Cymbalta to kick in and stay out of work if I can't deal with the sleep deprivation. I was so upset. Thanks for all the concern.

[Martin Reed]

Be sure to keep us updated with your progress. We're all here to help and support each other.

—

If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[Tommy ToXen]

'Martin' wrote on '15:

I thought it would be interesting and useful for us to describe what (if any) medications we have been on for our insomnia and to evaluate those medications. It could give others new avenues to explore.

So, please share the medications you've tried, and what has worked (or not worked for you). I think this could turn into a very valuable resource.

I haven't really been given anything specific to insomnia – as of yet. I've only just gotten a letter through from my counsellor for the sleep clinic I have to make an appointment for.

But as I mentioned in another thread, my old GP seemed to be happy just chucking amitriptaline at me, to cover everything. He thinks it's some sort of wonder-cure-all pill. He actually said to me “For your depression and anxiety I'm going to give you amitriptaline, which will also act as a sedative for you at night and help you sleep, it should also stop the tension headaches” – he left out the part where it may give me vivid nightmares, make me feel groggy as heck the next morning, and give me headaches even worse than the tension headaches it was supposed to cure.

I've moved towns so obviously moved GPs, my new GP seems much more sympathetic and helpful and isn't as keen just to throw pills at me and is helping me instead. He's given me a med4 for now while I 'sort myself out' and 'settle down', it was him that got me into counselling, he wants to see me every 2 weeks to track my progress and help me on my feet, he's even helping me get back into college and stuff. So instead of throwing medication at me he's trying to help me get my lifestyle on track which would, in turn, hopefully fix my sleep and anxiety naturally

[Martin Reed]

That's good news. I find it really interesting just how much doctors can vary in their approach and understanding. It really can pay to seek a second or even third opinion if you aren't happy with your current doctor.

—

If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[Crazy_Hobo]

The only thing I have access to right now that pretty much always works is weed. I've been out for a while though. 🙁 My doctor might be helping me get a medical marijuana card, which would be awesome.

[Nicole]

I'm glad to report that my sleep is getting better. I am able to sleep from 9-5 with several brief awakenings where I immediately fall back to sleep. I used to be able to sleep from 10-7 with no awakenings, but hey I'll take what I can get and it is a lot better that 3-4 hours of sleep like before. I think the trick was waiting for the cymbalta to kick in for the depression. It has been almost 3 weeks that I have been on it and it started helping on day 5. I also take 150mg trazodone at night, which did nothing for me before taking the cymbalta. I just recommend to people that they screen for depression because disturbed sleep is a common symptom of depression. Even if you don't have the sad feelings you can still suffer from depression like me with biological symptoms such as insomnia and no appetite. I will still go for the sleep study on Oct. 22nd to see if there is a physical reason I keep waking up through the night. Good luck to everyone.

[Martin Reed]

That's great news, Nicole. Do keep us updated with your progress.

—

If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[jayinsf]

I have been seeing a sleep specialist for the past year, who generally has been working with me on CBT approaches. I have had sleep/fatigue issues all my life, mainly involving waking up too early and never feeling refreshed, but they got a lot worse last year when I switched to a new job and was having a lot of stress and having sleepless nights, or waking up at 2 or 3 and not falling back to sleep. Generally these issues have gotten better, now I am generally able to sleep till at least 5 after going to be around 10, though frequently I still find myself waking up at 4:30. Anyway, I am constantly feeling tired and fatigued even when sleeping longer during the weekends (I know, CBT says to wake up at the same time every day, but I take the opportunity to sleep an extra hour or two on weekends; my problem is not that I have trouble falling asleep, just staying asleep). So now I have been prescribed Citalopram (Celexa), which I'm going to try for six weeks. It's an antidepressant but the thought is maybe it will help improve my mood and energy level, decrease anxiety and maybe either allow me to sleep a little more or feel better. I'm a little leery as one of the side effects is insomnia! When I tried Trazadone, that just kept me awake all night with weird dreams, I was falling asleep and then waking up all through the night.

Anyone have any experience with Citalopram/Celesta? Thanks!

[Nicole]

I tried Celexa in the past, but stopped after it gave me a constant mild headache. I should have stuck with it longer since most side effects go away after the body is accustomed to the new med, but at the time I didn't have patience. Both my parents are on celexa and they are both happy with it. Almost all antidepressants list insomnia as a side effect, but I personally don't sleep at all without being on an antidepressant! I think it is a good idea to try the celexa. My advice is give it enough time (at least 4 weeks) for it to kick in and remember side effects if you have any usually go away. And if celexa doesn't work for you try another one! I have been on numerous different antidepressants unfortunately! Sometimes you have to try until you get the right one. Depression causes insomnia so if you treat the depression with meds, the insomnia should go away too! Good luck to you!

'jayinsf' wrote on '23:

I have been seeing a sleep specialist for the past year, who generally has been working with me on CBT approaches. I have had sleep/fatigue issues all my life, mainly involving waking up too early and never feeling refreshed, but they got a lot worse last year when I switched to a new job and was having a lot of stress and having sleepless nights, or waking up at 2 or 3 and not falling back to sleep. Generally these issues have gotten better, now I am generally able to sleep till at least 5 after going to be around 10, though frequently I still find myself waking up at 4:30. Anyway, I am constantly feeling tired and fatigued even when sleeping longer during the weekends (I know, CBT says to wake up at the same time every day, but I take the opportunity to sleep an extra hour or two on weekends; my problem is not that I have trouble falling asleep, just staying asleep). So now I have been prescribed Citalopram (Celexa), which I'm going to try for six weeks. It's an antidepressant but the thought is maybe it will help improve my mood and energy level, decrease anxiety and maybe either allow me to sleep a little more or feel better. I'm a little leery as one of the side effects is insomnia! When I tried Trazadone, that just kept me awake all night with weird dreams, I was falling asleep and then waking up all through the night.

Anyone have any experience with Citalopram/Celesta? Thanks!

[jayinsf]

Thanks Nicole. I'll give it a try. In the past I always thought I was depressed because I was tired all the time, but now I'm not 100% sure of the cause and effect.

I'll let you know how it turns out!

Jay

[wonderhussy]

Not to sound like a crazy hippie constantly advocating marijuana…but I'm here to tell you, IT WORKS.

As a long-time insomnia sufferer, I have tried Trazodone, Seroquel, Temazepam, Lunesta, Tylenol PM, Ambien, blah blah blah. If they worked at all, it was only for a short time, and then my body got used to them and they quit working.

I was desperate, so even though I DESPISE being high, I tried marijuana. I should be the poster child for the medical marijuana movement: I DO NOT use it recreationally. The only time I use it is IN BED, ALONE, FOR SLEEP.

I am also a health nut, so I don't like smoking. Thus I tried various alternative methods of ingesting the marijuana: vaporizer (expensive and too time-consuming for those mid-night wakeups), tincture (hard to find, and not powerful enough for me), even chewing a wad like tobacco (expensive, gross and ineffective).

I finally hit on a method that works: baking it into cookies. I eat a small cookie about an hour before bedtime, and the high lasts 8 hours. It has the effect of sort of anchoring me deeper in my sleep — before, I would wake up frequently and be unable to get back to sleep. The mmj sort of keeps me anchored deeper, so that I only wake up once or twice, but don't fully emerge so am able to sink back under quickly.

There is some grogginess in the morning, but that's usually the result of having eaten too big a cookie. You can experiment with dosage.

If you live in a state that has mmj, and you suffer from insomnia, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY URGE you to set aside your prejudices and preconceived notions and try this. Big Pharma (whose lobbyists control Washington) wants you to believe that mmj is unsafe, untested, bad, whatever. But take two minutes and read all that teeny-tiny print in the information leaflet you get with your Seroquel prescription…talk about side effects!!

Decide for yourselves…but please also THINK for yourselves. I'm telling you…I tried EVERYTHING, and this really works!

[Birdlike]

I feel a bit like I've taken everything. Of course almost nothing has even touched me. The fact that I've tried every Rx mentioned here and none felt like more than a sugar pill makes me want to use the nightly application of a cement wall to my cranium as my new sleep aid. I've tried several off-label meds as well, and also some old school things that not many doctors like to prescribe anymore.

I have a truckload of psychiatric disorders, so my psych prescribes for me and the only thing he's ever given me that has actually kept me asleep through an Entire night was Chloral Hydrate. Obviously it is a completely unsuitable long-term solution. As I've been led to believe, even once in a while is kind of dangerous because the margin of error is pretty small and it can be deadly with much less difficulty than most other things used for sleep. It's one of those meds that's been around for a long time and was pretty popular but has been replaced by fancier sleep aids since. Very few pharmacies carry it now (in a few states around here, anyway), and I've had several say they are unable to order it for me.

All that said, it has been a godsend for me. In general I have a very high tolerance for meds and rarely suffer side effects, so I'm a bad example, but for what it's worth I don't find myself at all groggy or in any other adverse way affected the next morning, even though my psych initially warned me I almost certainly would. I take it about once a month now. I'm terrified it will stop being effective, so I try not to use it even that often.

I'm writing this hoping no one tries this, really, and I'd feel extremely guilty it someone did but I'm mentioning it to put the information out there and so I might even be able to compare notes with someone else who uses it.

[Author]

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