Can't sleep very well

[Thomas]

I've had a rough time sleeping lately. I take 30 mg. restoril and 1.5 mg, klonopin at bedtime. After I went Thursday night without sleeping at all, my pdoc said to increase my bedtime abilify from 20 mg. to 30 Mg. I didn't know abilify had any effect on sleep.

Tommy

[LikeMinded]

Abilify is a bizarre drug. (It both activates AND blocks a consistent set of dopamine receptors!)

Some people get really sedated, some people see no difference, others get really jumpy and/or get akathisia. And this all varies per dosage.

So your mileage varies. Follow the doc's advice and see what happens...

EDIT: Have you and your doc considered Lunesta? It's a long-acting hypnotic that's been very effective for me in maintaining sleep (and also starting it, though that occasionally requires Remeron with it). The only real side effect is a nasty metallic taste in the mouth. That's what made me discontinue my first trial of it, though on my second try, I got used to it.

And also, it should be taken on an empty or near empty stomach, so I hope you don't eat dinner real close to bedtime.

[Thomas]

I'll certainly give it a shot. The last two nights I have been so tired I knew I wouldn't need it, but I'll try it tonight.

Haven't tried Lunesta, but might have to as the Restoril doesn't seem to put me to sleep in 30 minutes like it used to.

Thanks,

Tommy

[LikeMinded]

I'll certainly give it a shot. The last two nights I have been so tired I knew I wouldn't need it, but I'll try it tonight.

Haven't tried Lunesta, but might have to as the Restoril doesn't seem to put me to sleep in 30 minutes like it used to.

Thanks,

Tommy

Actually, a word of caution on Lunesta, it's more designed for people who have difficulty staying asleep as well as difficulty falling asleep (I think I vaguely mentioned this earlier).

That means its effects last several hours, and if you're a slow metabolizer, it will leave you with a hangover (and a nasty metallic taste to go with it).

Compare the duration of Lunesta to that of Klonopin when you started taking it, they're about the same in terms of how long they act.

[Loon-A-TiK]

i have rozerem as a prn but it basically does nothing.

i used to take abilify and it did nothing, short of making me mixed. call that helpful if you'd like!

i just use klonopin. i don't take any during the day to save my 2mg for night. i fall asleep, stay asleep, and don't have the night terrors i used to have.

i don't have experience with the other drugs you're talking about. i've used ambien (in the hospital), and i loved it so much they'd never RX it to me outside of the hospital, i'd be so addicted right away!