witchywoman Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 My dr has me taking .5 mg of Klonopin at night for anxiety and also to help me sleep. Well, it makes me tired. I go to bed exhausted, but once Im in bed, my thoughts start racing, I'll have a song stuck in my head, whatever. I lay there for hours trying to get the thoughts out of my head and trying to get to sleep. Then I have trouble getting up in the morning. I was late getting up this morning and my son was late to school because of me. I've told my pdoc about this, but he just tells me to take the Klonopin. He doesn't want to change my meds around or anything because other than this, everythings good. In the past, Risperdal and Abilify have helped with the racing thoughts, but my pdoc doesn't like Risperdal, and Abilfy, he thinks, made me gain weight (I think it was the Lexapro I was on at the same time). Im on 120 mg of Geodon, been up to 160 mg and it's never helped with the thoughts. I just don't know what to do. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipmunk Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 For me the only thing that has worked is to do something that will push out all other thoughts. My favorite is playing solitaire on my PDA. GL, it's frustrating, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artemisia Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 The benzos I've tried didn't help me sleep at all, but they did make me feel zonked out in the morning. I was lucky, though, to eventually get diagnosed with unipolar depression. The SSRI's and SNRI's for the depression have taken a huge massive edge off my insomnia. It doesn't sound like you're depressed (plus using SSRI's & co. can be a bit iffy in bipolar people), so I think I'd just beg the doctor to listen to you. It sounds like your bipolar might be a tad under-treated, judging by the "racing thoughts" thing... Sorry, I have to advice to offer, except keep bugging your prescriber! I mean, hello, it may be suspicious when people ask for benzos. Asking for something else shouldn't be as annoying to the doctor... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_snowfly_* Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 i am not adding my two cents to what has been posted. i am using this space so that i can come back here and see this posting to get a clue about my insomnia. it is 1am my time. i had a very full day. my arms and shoulders itch and my hands are numb again. even though i only got about 3 hours sleep last night i know that i am not sleepy enough to go to sleep. i have a headache that i know only sleep will cure. next week i am going to see a specialist to arrange a sleep study. right now i am trying to figure out how to comfort myself. and to not give into the anxiety about how i will manage tomorrow. today took care of itself and i will assume the same about tomorrow. i will listen to my bio-lateral tape and do some plain knitting maybe that will do something to my brain waves or something. i am open to any feedback anyone has to offer. i am not currently taking any psych meds. i detoxed myself off trazadone, seroquel and zoloft last summer and my insomnia is about the same as it was while i was taking the drugs only at least now i dont have any hangover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightning.bluega19 Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 i have trouble getting to sleep, almost every night. it is a symptom of anxiety, maybe not chronic anxiety, but racing thoughts nonetheless. the song stuck in the head thing? I HAVE THAT PROBLEM SO OFTEN, it is UNBELIEVABLE. unbelievable in the sense that someone else has that problem too. here is my honest opinion, try HARD to picture something peaceful. it will lead you to something else peaceful, then maybe back to something negative. but if you just relax, and smile, sleep will come. either that or mbate, my friend. seems to work for most boys that i know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scatty Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I used to take klonopin to get to sleep. Now I take amitriptyline and it works much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witchywoman Posted June 2, 2008 Author Share Posted June 2, 2008 Well, after not sleeping much last night, I called my pdoc, who was out for the week, so I talked to the on call doc. He prescribed me trazodone. Anyone take it? Any side effects or problems with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitten Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 my pdoc just prescribed me trazodone a couple of weeks ago. unfortunately i confused it with my blood pressure med by mistake. so i've only been taking it for a couple of nights. i used to take it with seroquel. this is the first time i am trying it by itself. how are you faring on it? is it working? i'll post back on this thread in a couple of weeks with an update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lysergia Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 witchywoman, i have the same problem with benzos and sleeping. i might feel a little more relaxed so i think i can sleep, but then when i get into bed there are all those racing thoughts and then the anxiety that comes with them. so for me there's no point in taking them before bed. in the past i've taken trazadone for sleep and it's worked okay without a lot of grogginess in the morning (if i'm remembering right, it's been a few years i think). i also think i remember that it worked faster than seroquel for sleeping. i may go back on it soon myself now that i think about it. good luck and i hope you find something that helps real soon. - jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I take Restoril (tamazepam?) to sleep and have never had a hangover or lingering sleepiness from it. I've been on it for about three years, but haven't taken it for the past week and still slept well. Actually, I have been so compliant with my sleep hygiene that it is difficult for me to stay up after 9 PM, even if I want to. I also take Cogentin and Klonopin at bedtime and think they contribute to my sleeping. Tommy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewielew3 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 i think we've all been where you are, whether the thoughts are good or bad, i use to use one of those sound machines/clock radio---sounds were, ocean waves, rain, wind, seagules also no matter what time at night refuse to look at the clock-worse thing u can do--i know when the sun comes up-its around 5am hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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