Insomnia...

[cmcoram]

Sucks. Really. Its getting old.

[benjammin420]

have you been to a doctor?

[cmcoram]

Not yet. Got an appointment Friday.

On the brightside, I get more practice in!

[benjammin420]

that really is a plus though. I dont have clinical insomnia, but I work lots of crazy night/overnight hours, so my sleep schedule is all over the place. But i get more practice now, and have been improving noticably more, than i was when i had a regular work/sleep schedule

[cmcoram]

Well, just an update. Doc prescribed Restoril. I was a little hesitant about going to the doc or taking a pill to help me sleep, but he said that it was the least habit forming of the meds he could prescribe. Seems to be working. Sleeping well, and not feeling hungover in the morning. Add my "crazy pill" in the morning, and I am not my usual grumpy self. Amazing!

[#1guitarman]

Get off the Restoril, that's a bad drug no matter what the doc sez...try some over the counter stuff like Diphenhydramine Hcl, 25mg. comonley called "Sleep aid"..it works and is not nearly as bad on your liver as Restoril. No hangover either.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by cmcoram

Well, just an update. Doc prescribed Restoril. I was a little hesitant about going to the doc or taking a pill to help me sleep, but he said that it was the least habit forming of the meds he could prescribe. Seems to be working. Sleeping well, and not feeling hungover in the morning. Add my "crazy pill" in the morning, and I am not my usual grumpy self. Amazing!

This is good news! If I were you, I'd keep a sleep journal though. Take note of how well things are going for the next couple months or so... your bedtimes and you wake times as well as the quality of your sleep. Just in case the drug stops doing it for you... and there's always the chance that your sleeping disorder is something other than insomnia and you may need to see a sleep specialist. There are a lot of sleep disorders that general practitioners don't even know exist.

In the meantime, though, I hope it works out for you! I have my own share of sleeping issues, so I know how you feel. Couldn't get to sleep until after 3 last night.

[Mattyboy]

Wait! Whoa! I take Restoril. Does it really do damage to the liver?

[Jason]

Originally Posted by #1guitarman

Get off the Restoril, that's a bad drug no matter what the doc sez...try some over the counter stuff like Psuedoepehidrine Hcl, 25mg. comonley called "Sleep aid"..it works and is not nearly as bad on your liver as Restoril. No hangover either.

No!! Not Pseudoephedrine! That stuff keeps you awake... it's also known as Speed.That's what they make meth out of, man. Clears your sinuses out though!

You're thinking of Diphenhydramine HCI, which is also the active ingredient in Benadryl, an antihistamine. That stuff can be habit forming as well though, and it generally stops being helpful after a week or so. Not only that, but using it for that long can cause your sinuses to stop draining. And that sucks.

[#1guitarman]

Originally Posted by Jason

No!! Not Pseudoephedrine! That stuff keeps you awake... it's also known as Speed.That's what they make meth out of, man. Clears your sinuses out though!

You're thinking of Diphenhydramine HCI, which is also the active ingredient in Benadryl, an antihistamine. That stuff can be habit forming as well though, and it generally stops being helpful after a week or so. Not only that, but using it for that long can cause your sinuses to stop draining. And that sucks.

Thanks Jason!! Yes I am thinking of Diphenhydramine HCL...I edited my post to reflect this, we don't need no stinkin' speed freaks here!!

[#1guitarman]

Originally Posted by Mattyboy

Wait! Whoa! I take Restoril. Does it really do damage to the liver?

My Doc sez Restoril is very bad for the liver, especially if you drink or do any kind of rec. drug. Really, any kind of drug is hard on the liver, you can take a natural supplement like "Meletonin" (3 or 5 mg) it's over the counter and it works...Meletonin is a chemical that is produced by the pituatary gland. As we get older we lose production of this chemical, so you can supplement with this product and it does no damage to the liver. And yes, a 5mg dose will put ya to sleep and keep ya there for a good 6-8 hours.

[pinefd]

Do some research on tart cherry juice. It contains natural Melatonin, which helps maintain healthy/normal sleep cycles, and is also a powerful antioxidant. It shows real potential as a sleep aid (over an extended period of time), and is very good for you.

[BluesHowler]

I use Ambien CR and it seems to work. I only need it a few nights a week when the fifth of Scotch does not work.

[cmcoram]

I used melatonin before I got the prescription. It wasn't working. I better talk to him about the liver issues with Restoril. I do like to drink.

My insomnia doesn't have a physical cause. Its a symptom of my PTSD, which I have another pill for!

[Hawk]

All drugs affect the liver. The question is how many of them can the liver keep filtering out until it can't handle anymore? If you continue the Restoril then back off the others to give your liver a fighting chance.

[coldsteal2]

Originally Posted by cmcoram

Sucks. Really. Its getting old.

I hate it, and the more i try to go to sleep
the more awake i get.
I usualy get it the worst the night before
a real important apointment and have to be
up early

[X–Ray]

it is now three forty in the morning
not even remotely tired/sleepy
i have narcolepsy with cataplexy, plus excessive daytime sleepiness disorder
the narcolepsy is neurological and hereditary
the sleep specialist has me on both ritalin and provigal
i take enough of them to get a football team wired and i still have "micro-sleeps" or "sleep attacks" - i have on average of two to four episodes a day
next month i am going to be evaluated for participation in a research study because the specialist does not know what else to do
the past two years has been tough on my family/marriage as well
what a riot, the very medicines which keep me "almost awake" during the daytime has the side-effect of insomnia!!
a vicious cycle - it almost seems the (fail) solution is as bad as the problem - a real side-splitter
couple weeks ago i went three days without sleep and i am not "keef" richards - oh well
my compassion goes out to all of you...
have a nice "night" and see you in the morning

[Homz]

X-RAy, I feel for ya man. I have been on a roller coaster of 3 days awake then one day of sleep for years. I've been through every type of sleep script you could name. To my left at this very moment is the generic form of ambien and the over the counter Doxylamine succinate. I work a really screwed up shift, but even when I went to a normal shift I still had the same problem.

The sleeping stuff doesn't put me out all the time. Usually I simply have to wait until I am exhausted.

Hang in there man... I know what your going through.

Damn, I just depressed myself. Sorry man. If this is a new thing to you hopefully it will just be a passing thing. If it's any consolation I do my best song writing on that third day. Maybe that's true for you too. Perhaps it's a matter of getting the cobwebs cleaned out and then I can sleep.

[TheJrAce]

Sorry to hear about all you guys. I usually run on 2 or 3 hours of sleep a day. Then there is the one day a week or two when there is no sleep in site and i'll go a day or two without sleep. Leaves my eyes in terrible shape.

[alligatorbling]

i dont have insomnia, however sometimes i do wake up often though out the day... (i work 3rd shift so i sleep during daylight hours) ... its not as bad as it was but it still happens sometimes. my dr prescribed me rozerem. no risk of dependency or abuse. it works well... take one 30 mins before you plan to go to bed and sleep well.

Rozerem - Prescription Sleep Aid
Ramelteon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[FrankieOliver]

Restoril Information from Drugs.com

I learned the hard way that benzodiazepines are not at all helpful for chronic insomnia, longterm that is. Aside from the side-effects already mentioned, this class of drugs is highly addicting. In other words, it may work for a time and then it won't. You'll go to the doctor and he'll either up the dosage (bad) or suggest something else (good or bad). Obviously upping the dosage on benzos is the beginning of another vicious cycle that you may find, as I did, is far worse than battling sleep insomnia, believe me.

I am not a doctor, but I will mention one med that is not addictive (not in the class of benzos) nor is it like Ambien (also addictive). It's called Serequel and one of it's great benefits is severe drowsiness, the sort that puts you down. Now here it is: This is the only and I have tried (for people who take it for insomnia anyway) them ALL, presription medication that has ever helped me sleep. And at the minimum dosage: 25 mgs. I could not tolerate higher dosages anyway - one side-effect of meds like this in higher dosages for some folks is jitters and agitation.

I learned about Serequel while I was doing a stint in a detox to help with WDs from aforementioned benzo addiction. Drugs like Benodryl and other anti-hystamics were utterly useless.

Note: I realize that over the counter meds may be safer and that there are more holistic approaches to aid sleep, which I totally endorse. Certainly one or more of them may work for some people, but for people with severe PTSD and chronic insomnia and who are not only making no progress, but are in dire straights, most of these over the counter meds are typically ineffective.

May you all get a good night's rest and feel good when you wake!

[alligatorbling]

Originally Posted by Von Bek

Restoril Information from Drugs.com

I learned the hard way that benzodiazepines are not at all helpful for chronic insomnia, longterm that is. Aside from the side-effects already mentioned, this class of drugs is highly addicting. In other words, it may work for a time and then it won't. You'll go to the doctor and he'll either up the dosage (bad) or suggest something else (good or bad). Obviously upping the dosage on benzos is the beginning of another vicious cycle that you may find, as I did, is far worse than battling sleep insomnia, believe me.

I am not a doctor, but I will mention one med that is not addictive (not in the class of benzos) nor is it like Ambien (also addictive). It's called Serequel and one of it's great benefits is severe drowsiness, the sort that puts you down. Now here it is: This is the only and I have tried (for people who take it for insomnia anyway) them ALL, presription medication that has ever helped me sleep. And at the minimum dosage: 25 mgs. I could not tolerate higher dosages anyway - one side-effect of meds like this in higher dosages for some folks is jitters and agitation.

I learned about Serequel while I was doing a stint in a detox to help with WDs from aforementioned benzo addiction. Drugs like Benodryl and other anti-hystamics were utterly useless.

Note: I realize that over the counter meds may be safer and that there are more holistic approaches to aid sleep, which I totally endorse. Certainly one or more of them may work for some people, but for people with severe PTSD and chronic insomnia and who are not only making no progress, but are in dire straights, most of these over the counter meds are typically ineffective.

May you all get a good night's rest and feel good when you wake!

i had a time with benzos lol.... never again.