I can only speak from experience, and so this is based on what I know from what has happened to me. Yes, both of those medications stopped working for me, and rather quickly at that. In fact, they had a rebound effect so that the issue that creates sleep disturbances for me (Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) would intensify, and when that happened, I would get virtually 1 - 1 1/2 hours sleep per night. I'm not sure about the heart pounding, but I've taken medications for fibromyalgia that created that symptom for me, so it might not hurt to discuss that with your doctor. Is it possible that the anti-anxiety drugs are now creating an increase in your anxiety, and could that lead to your heart pounding? I know when I'm anxious, my heart pounds, and I can experience dizziness and a headache as well. Again, maybe a change in medicine would help you.
Thanks so much for the reply.. So do the medications pretty much lose there effectiveness after time & what can I do about that? because when I started on them they worked extremely well but now it's like I'm taking it just to help the symptoms I never had in the first place.. Like I never ever had any sleeping problems before.. & now I can't get to sleep without the medications, & when I do get to sleep I'm waking up all night long & then feeling terrible the next day with all kinds of terrible symptoms & can't relax at all.. Can taking sleep/anxiety meds long-term do that? Sorry for all the questions I'm just trying so hard to figure out a way too get my life back to normal.. I really appreciate all the advice, I actually feel like I have a little hope now lol.. This has been rough especially trying to work a job through all this craziness lol..
number1boxer1919: Another case in point - as @pjss48 noted, Trazadone works for her. My husband also takes Trazadone, and he swears by it for help with sleep; however, I've tried it and couldn't sleep for 24 hours straight, and I felt 'wired' for another six hours after that. Again, everyone is so different, and that's why I think it is important to keep trying until you and your doctor find something that works for YOU.
& Yes I've taken Trazadone also & it did the exact same thing to me it made me not sleep & made me wired as heck! I've tried like probably 8 different anti-depressants & they all made me extremely wired & sick.. It was terrible lol & I defiantly agree everyone's made differently & different meds work better for different people.. I mean I did find meds that worked great for me but they lost there effectiveness so now they barely work & I have no idea what to do about it.. I just wanna be able to sleep & wake up rested that's all.. But I don't know what's not letting me sleep now it's crazy.. I mean I really dont have anything I stress about, unless I'm stressing while I'm asleep which I literally have no control over.. It's pretty rough lol.. I really appreciate the advice..
Thanks so much for the reply.. So do the medications pretty much lose there effectiveness after time & what can I do about that? because when I started on them they worked extremely well but now it's like I'm taking it just to help the symptoms I never had in the first place.. Like I never ever had any sleeping problems before.. & now I can't get to sleep without the medications, & when I do get to sleep I'm waking up all night long & then feeling terrible the next day with all kinds of terrible symptoms & can't relax at all.. Can taking sleep/anxiety meds long-term do that? Sorry for all the questions I'm just trying so hard to figure out a way too get my life back to normal.. I really appreciate all the advice, I actually feel like I have a little hope now lol.. This has been rough especially trying to work a job through all this craziness lol..
Hi, @num1boxer1919 - I'd like to invite @contentandwell @maryshipley@rachelanne@sndishpr to return to the conversation, since they may have some thoughts for you on what works best for anxiety and insomnia, and whether they may have seen these medications stop working effectively over time. I imagine fragmented sleep can't feel restful.
@sleepy0 - are you thinking of trying the clonazepam for a while yet to see if it starts working for the racing mind at night, or are you looking at asking your doctor for something else?
@gloriajean - did you end up taking melatonin? How is your sleep going lately?
@marcellal - how are things going with staying asleep at night?
@lisalucier I have never taken anything on a daily basis, so I really cannot answer this. I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping here at my son’s home in Denver so I did go back to bed yesterday and took a lorazepam, and I had a hard time last night too so I took a half of a Benadryl. Both of these do help but I would not use either frequently. I had been doing well with sleep at home recently so no need for anything. My first choice, if I know when I am heading to bed, is 3mg of melatonin but I forgot to bring them.
JK
Yes, I've had three sleep studies done in a five year span of time (and they're pretty uncomfortable). None of them indicated I needed a C-PAP machine, and once that was determined, the Sleep Center was out of options or ideas about what to do. Since then, the doctor I see for Restless Legs (and it appears that I have developed insomnia alongside RLS as well) had me wear an sort of device on one of my fingers through the night to measure my oxygen (and that was much easier to get a 'normal' night's sleep), and it came out that a drop in my oxygen level is not my problem at night. I've wondered about hypnosis from a therapist, but I cannot find someone who is certified as legitimate in my immediate area. Thanks for the sleep hypnosis link - I'm going to check that out.
number1boxer1919: Another case in point - as @pjss48 noted, Trazadone works for her. My husband also takes Trazadone, and he swears by it for help with sleep; however, I've tried it and couldn't sleep for 24 hours straight, and I felt 'wired' for another six hours after that. Again, everyone is so different, and that's why I think it is important to keep trying until you and your doctor find something that works for YOU.
Yes JK - I have tried meditation; however, it works best if I do it in the morning since if my restless legs are intense, trying to lie still, if to meditate, only exacerbates the problem. I do like meditation though since it has helped feeling that sense of peace combined with learning to focus better. Great feedback - thank you!
& Yes I've taken Trazadone also & it did the exact same thing to me it made me not sleep & made me wired as heck! I've tried like probably 8 different anti-depressants & they all made me extremely wired & sick.. It was terrible lol & I defiantly agree everyone's made differently & different meds work better for different people.. I mean I did find meds that worked great for me but they lost there effectiveness so now they barely work & I have no idea what to do about it.. I just wanna be able to sleep & wake up rested that's all.. But I don't know what's not letting me sleep now it's crazy.. I mean I really dont have anything I stress about, unless I'm stressing while I'm asleep which I literally have no control over.. It's pretty rough lol.. I really appreciate the advice..
@num1boxer1919: I so understand the trying different anti-depressants and having adverse effects. And, for me, I really got tired of hearing, "well, these (the medicines) work for MOST people" - 'most' being the key word here. Since we aren't 'most' people, that is small comfort isn't it? I agree that being both wired and sick are horrible feelings. Since you've tried several different remedies, I'm wondering who is prescribing them - is it a general practitioner or a mental health specialist? My regular doctor is a wonderful and knowledgeable man, but he also knew when he was operating outside his area of expertise, and so he referred me to someone whose specialty was mental health issues. Also, I've learned that my pharmacist is often my best resource when it comes to trying something new - they often know about a drug's properties to a greater degree than a doctor does, or they understand the interactions with one drug and another. I've often asked them when I start taking something new if it is in the same family or type of drug as others I've tried that didn't work. If so, I know that 1) I need to start out with 1/2 of the dosage recommended by the doctor since many drugs are too strong for me at the outset, and 2) while I don't ask for the pharmacist for advice about what to take, since that is the doctor's job, I do ask them about other drugs that may be in a different category. For example, after trying several anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs, many of which were in the the SSRI's classification, I learned (from the Sleep Center doctor at Mayo) that Wellbutrin was the only one that wouldn't exacerbate my restless leg syndrome. Once I started taking that, my depression and anxiety lessened considerably, and it has now leveled off and manageable. Also, not sleeping creates its own level of anxiety and inability to function, which can be depressing too. I'm wondering if it is possible you are taking some medications that might be interacting with each other, or if you are trying some that are all in the same category or classification. It sounds like you are almost apologetic about feeling stressed, and I don't think you have anything to apologize for - if you are feeling that bad, are not sleeping, feel anxious and depressed, then you do have valid concerns and need to find a partners (doctors, pharmacists, therapists, etc.) who will work with you to find the answers you need. . . and keep trying until together you find something that works. Good luck!
Yes JK - I have tried meditation; however, it works best if I do it in the morning since if my restless legs are intense, trying to lie still, if to meditate, only exacerbates the problem. I do like meditation though since it has helped feeling that sense of peace combined with learning to focus better. Great feedback - thank you!
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Thanks so much for the reply.. So do the medications pretty much lose there effectiveness after time & what can I do about that? because when I started on them they worked extremely well but now it's like I'm taking it just to help the symptoms I never had in the first place.. Like I never ever had any sleeping problems before.. & now I can't get to sleep without the medications, & when I do get to sleep I'm waking up all night long & then feeling terrible the next day with all kinds of terrible symptoms & can't relax at all.. Can taking sleep/anxiety meds long-term do that? Sorry for all the questions I'm just trying so hard to figure out a way too get my life back to normal.. I really appreciate all the advice, I actually feel like I have a little hope now lol.. This has been rough especially trying to work a job through all this craziness lol..
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1 Reaction& Yes I've taken Trazadone also & it did the exact same thing to me it made me not sleep & made me wired as heck! I've tried like probably 8 different anti-depressants & they all made me extremely wired & sick.. It was terrible lol & I defiantly agree everyone's made differently & different meds work better for different people.. I mean I did find meds that worked great for me but they lost there effectiveness so now they barely work & I have no idea what to do about it.. I just wanna be able to sleep & wake up rested that's all.. But I don't know what's not letting me sleep now it's crazy.. I mean I really dont have anything I stress about, unless I'm stressing while I'm asleep which I literally have no control over.. It's pretty rough lol.. I really appreciate the advice..
I understand.
@lisalucier I have never taken anything on a daily basis, so I really cannot answer this. I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping here at my son’s home in Denver so I did go back to bed yesterday and took a lorazepam, and I had a hard time last night too so I took a half of a Benadryl. Both of these do help but I would not use either frequently. I had been doing well with sleep at home recently so no need for anything. My first choice, if I know when I am heading to bed, is 3mg of melatonin but I forgot to bring them.
JK
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1 Reaction@suecreader have you tried meditation? I have heard that can help if anxiety is contributing to your sleep problems.
JK
@suecreader I get wired from drugs like OxyContin and dilaudid. I really hate that.
JK
Yes JK - I have tried meditation; however, it works best if I do it in the morning since if my restless legs are intense, trying to lie still, if to meditate, only exacerbates the problem. I do like meditation though since it has helped feeling that sense of peace combined with learning to focus better. Great feedback - thank you!
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1 Reaction@num1boxer1919: I so understand the trying different anti-depressants and having adverse effects. And, for me, I really got tired of hearing, "well, these (the medicines) work for MOST people" - 'most' being the key word here. Since we aren't 'most' people, that is small comfort isn't it? I agree that being both wired and sick are horrible feelings. Since you've tried several different remedies, I'm wondering who is prescribing them - is it a general practitioner or a mental health specialist? My regular doctor is a wonderful and knowledgeable man, but he also knew when he was operating outside his area of expertise, and so he referred me to someone whose specialty was mental health issues. Also, I've learned that my pharmacist is often my best resource when it comes to trying something new - they often know about a drug's properties to a greater degree than a doctor does, or they understand the interactions with one drug and another. I've often asked them when I start taking something new if it is in the same family or type of drug as others I've tried that didn't work. If so, I know that 1) I need to start out with 1/2 of the dosage recommended by the doctor since many drugs are too strong for me at the outset, and 2) while I don't ask for the pharmacist for advice about what to take, since that is the doctor's job, I do ask them about other drugs that may be in a different category. For example, after trying several anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs, many of which were in the the SSRI's classification, I learned (from the Sleep Center doctor at Mayo) that Wellbutrin was the only one that wouldn't exacerbate my restless leg syndrome. Once I started taking that, my depression and anxiety lessened considerably, and it has now leveled off and manageable. Also, not sleeping creates its own level of anxiety and inability to function, which can be depressing too. I'm wondering if it is possible you are taking some medications that might be interacting with each other, or if you are trying some that are all in the same category or classification. It sounds like you are almost apologetic about feeling stressed, and I don't think you have anything to apologize for - if you are feeling that bad, are not sleeping, feel anxious and depressed, then you do have valid concerns and need to find a partners (doctors, pharmacists, therapists, etc.) who will work with you to find the answers you need. . . and keep trying until together you find something that works. Good luck!
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2 Reactions@suecreader I really need to try to learn meditation myself. I’m just not sure I could successfully quiet my brain.
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1 Reaction@contentandwell I bought a meditation tape that helped me
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