waking too soon

[ldo]

Since I've started taking psych meds, I've been able to fall asleep with no trouble, and most of the time with Prozac I could get pretty good sleep, although most of my life I've had at least a little trouble with sleep.

However, now I'm taking Welbutrin instead of Prozac, and I tend to wake up early and have trouble going back to sleep. So I spend the day being stupid. I can't afford that. I tend to wake up about 5 or 6 hours after going to sleep, then struggle for another hour or two and maybe get a little more. Sometimes, 2.5mg of Adderall helps me settle down my thoughts enough to go back to sleep, but not often. I've got lots of anxiety provoking issues, and I wake up thinking about everything, although not terribly anxious. My heart seems to beat quite heavily (not fast) when this is going on.

Would prefer not to add on any heavy drugs, but need a way to reduce this problem. I need those missing IQ points, and my ADD is far worse when I'm sleepy.

Thanks

[LunaRufina]

I have been having this problem too [among many others] and we've been trying to adjust when I take my concerta.

I am not sure if it is helping or not.

I really can't quite tell?

But I also have to do a pretty standard evening schedule or it does get worse.

What time do you take the adderall and other meds?

~navy~

[~nestling~]

Remeron fixed me on my early morning waking.

I also took the efexor in the morning, to diminish its wakiness....

[ldo]

Welbutrin in AM. Seems counterintuitive, but maybe I should try taking it in the evening???? Given that I'm often sleepy after I take it.

Adderall first thing and then again in the afternoon sometime. I don't have much trouble GETTING to sleep, provided I bother to lie down.

[Sunshine]

What version of Wellbutrin? XL, I presume? Yes, it may seem counterintuitive to take it at night, but there's no harm in trying.

That said, two of WB's major side-effects are insomnia and anxiety. Are you still on the Prozac? When did you add the WB and why?

[HaloGirl66]

My stratterra is doing this. I've tried taking it morning, noon or night and I always end up waking up at 4 AM.

[jonathanupr]

i can definitely relate to this issue........ ever since I've been on a stimulating med i've woken up 2-3 hrs later after I fall asleep.... Though, the big difference between Wellbutrin and Adderall for me, is that when I was on Wellbutrin I could sleep until I had to get up....with Adderall, on the other hand, I find myself pissed off in the morning because I wake up too often throughout the night and too early in the morning. I just am not refreshed at all when I wake up......tired as hell sometimes, and at others exhausted but can't sleep. The days of going to sleep and waking up as if I got some kind of refreshment out of it are long passed...... sacrifices for taking meds that help me concentrate.... the more sleep I get, the less anxiety and OCD I have.....(just a side-note)

what makes sense to me in this situation is that I am spiking my dopamine to higher levels throughout the day with a stim, and when I'm going to get some sleep I literally have nill for dopamine....and on top of that I could see glutamate being triggered to excessive abundance due to dopamine depletion and thus killing the GABA surplus... pretty much what one would get with taking Provigil or caffeine (as it triggers excess glutamate production and lowers GABA production).....

Xyrem would be a good solution to my issue as it triggers (at high doses) a large amount of dopamine production (though with sedation and not stimulation) and possibly GABA production (would account for the sedation).... and the dopamine and GABA would keep the glutamate at bay....

i could see the anti-convulsants as being good sleep meds (Gabitril fits this bill, though why we haven't seen articles and research on the others is odd)......just because they increase the GABA and inhibit the glutamate..... but the big issue is getting REM sleep......lack of REM sleep results in loss of acetyl-choline, and thus memory becomes shaky.

here's to wishing for sleep

[ldo]

Well, really the generic. SR (I checked my signature to confirm.) I dropped the Prozac. It had some nice effects, but also some very frustrating effects, particularly since my libido was boosted if anything. I wasn't getting all that much done either. My anxiety isn't out of line with my situation, actually. I would guess the insomnia is NOT from the welbutrin, because I've had problems of that sort off and on all my life, with the exception of most of the time I took Prozac. I've been sleeping better lately, tho still not quite enough. Feeling odd today, spells of energy and fatigue, and feeling crappy. Got more done than usual, tho. People are too complicated.

What version of Wellbutrin? XL, I presume? Yes, it may seem counterintuitive to take it at night, but there's no harm in trying.

That said, two of WB's major side-effects are insomnia and anxiety. Are you still on the Prozac? When did you add the WB and why?

[realitytest]

Everyt ime someone asks about early waking, I add what worked for me - may just be idiosyncratic (but it WAS prescribed by an internist. I'd never have thought of it).

Besides Ambien (for onset) and Klonopin (just to remain generally laid back, as much as I can), I take Neurontin an hour before bed. He said it ought to help me not only stay asleep but also keep my sleep in the proper phases (so I'd feel more rested too).

Seems to work. Without it, I definitely do wake earlier than I'm ready.

rt

[Guest ldo offline]

Thanks, but that sounds a bit heavy duty, since I'm sleeping better. Right now, the best sleep aid would be duct tape on my father's mouth. He was so rude on the phone today that I picked up about 2mph on my bike ride afterwards. Would like him to get his strength and youth back so I could tell him off in good conscience. I suppose a job would also be an excellent sleep aid as well.

Everyt ime someone asks about early waking, I add what worked for me - may just be idiosyncratic (but it WAS prescribed by an internist. I'd never have thought of it).

Besides Ambien (for onset) and Klonopin (just to remain generally laid back, as much as I can), I take Neurontin an hour before bed. He said it ought to help me not only stay asleep but also keep my sleep in the proper phases (so I'd feel more rested too).

Seems to work. Without it, I definitely do wake earlier than I'm ready.

rt