Bueler Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 It's getting to be darker here (autumn), and sleep has once again become an issue. I'm having frequent nightmares, I'm waking up in the middle of the night as often as 3-4 times per night. I NEVER sleep all the way through at night. My doctor has me on 10mg ambien every night, and he says it's okay to take up to 1mg of Xanax at night too if I need to. The xanax doesn't really make me as drowsy as it used to, but the ambien wears off pretty quickly I guess. Some people have suggested I find the *underlying reason* for not sleeping instead of just taking a sleeping pill. But I don't think I have breathing issues, etc. I think it's just my really anxious brain thinking about so many things it won't just shut off so I can sleep. Is there anything else I can do as the days get shorter? I already have my bright light that I put on in the morning while I'm getting ready. And I turn all the lights out when I'm ready for bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domovoi Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I've been having issues with sleep also. And it sucks because for me, I can't will good sleep or anything... Everything in life just becomes increasingly difficult the harder it is to sleep. I can't take benzos because I get maintenance ECT done and ambien doesn't work anymore. Soooo I switched to loxapine. Yep, a first-gen antipsychotic. That's the only thing that works now. Because it's typical, it doesn't make me hungry or anything... just very very sleepy and I sleep through the night. I only take 25 mg, which is not nearly the full dose (which I think starts at 200 mg? someone correct me if I'm wrong) so it's literally just for sleep. I dunno, just an idea. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bueler Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 I've used Seroquel before... like 25mg puts me to sleep. Maybe I should try that again between the ambien. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonderful.Cheese Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Seroquel and klonopin really help me sleep. I take lunesta as well prn. But I got used to the lunesta. So I don't take it very often anymore. I would ask your pdoc about it. Especially if you tried it and it worked before. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equivilency Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 (edited) Klonopin worked for me for some time. Supposedly makes sure you go through all stages of sleep. Maybe ask your doctor about it. Its wearing off for me though after 6 months. So I am looking into other things. Edited October 12, 2014 by dnautics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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