I can't seem to remember names & sometimes routes to familiar places.
I wish I could blame it on something other than age, but I can't seem to think of anything....
Did I just make a joke?? can't remember....
I am 80 & did read that, at our age, we have so much info in our brain, that it is
difficult to access specific info sometimes= I like that idea!
I would ask the physician, for what it's worth, for a full blood panel, CBC, BMP, TSH with T3, T4, Iron panel , lipid, folate etc the works then pay particular attention to evaluating thyroid function and liver function.....sounds crazy but after spending 8 months on 4 1/2 - 5 hours of sleep a Concierge Dr ordered these labs. We are currently looking at the thyroid and ferritin levels in relationship to insomnia.....just a suggestion. You need someone who can be invested in the quality and amount of sleep you get, Unfortunately there are not many who will be! Functional Medicine...worth a try
thank you - I see my "regular" doctor on Tuesday and will discuss with him.
right now, I'm planning to stop sleep meds altogether - they only give me side effects, and rarely a good night's sleep. Hopefully then I'll sleep better and longer. And feel much better overall. . .
With the 50 mg of Trazodone, it didn't kick in for 2-1/2 hours, and I only got about 5 hours of sleep. Felt miserable the next day. Not especially interested in going thru that again, with higher dose it could be worse?
Hydroxyzine which many people like, made me anxious and agitated, and I only got 3 hours of sleep. Lorazepam is very erratic - some nights good, others not. Ambien only gives me 4 hours of sleep, if that much. Used to work!
I appreciate your input -
@berekann I take a high dose of trazadone at 7:30 pm. For me, it also takes a while to kick in. And by taking it early, I don’t have any hangover effect.
According to the studies, tho, you are also right to sleep without any meds. They all disrupt sleep architecture. For me tho, any sleep is better than none at all
And, I’m starting to think that meds to sleep are better than not sleeping - so many of my friends were awake for hours several of the last few nights. Of course, they can all nap, but I can’t.
Saw my doctor yesterday - he made a very forceful argument for going back to lorazepam .5 mg but I can take a second one if it doesn’t work on any particular night. And I see him again in one month and figure out from there. We did briefly talk about trazodone; Maybe he will recommend taking A higher dose, And you make sense, taking it early to allow it time kick in.
Last night I ended up taking the full 1 mg dose lorazepam over 30 minutes and it worked fine; Best night sleep I’ve had in a week. Ambien just doesn’t work for me. I wake up after three hours, take another half tablet and maybe sleep for another two to three hours, waking up at 3:30am.
Another friend said sleep meds Make him anxious, which they also can do for me. I’d really love to get to the point of not needing meds to sleep; someday I will hopefully
I would ask the physician, for what it's worth, for a full blood panel, CBC, BMP, TSH with T3, T4, Iron panel , lipid, folate etc the works then pay particular attention to evaluating thyroid function and liver function.....sounds crazy but after spending 8 months on 4 1/2 - 5 hours of sleep a Concierge Dr ordered these labs. We are currently looking at the thyroid and ferritin levels in relationship to insomnia.....just a suggestion. You need someone who can be invested in the quality and amount of sleep you get, Unfortunately there are not many who will be! Functional Medicine...worth a try
I totally agree with you. However, the Drs have not been brainwashed they have had their hands tied by the government and the use of scheduled drugs. Flurazepam was probable one on the best under the brand name Dalmane. It was a long acting benzo (7-8 hrs.) Temazepam is as well. The problem with xanax and lorazapam is that they are not long acting and tend to wear off and one awakens in the early am and can't get back to sleep. The medical profession advocates strongly as you age the most important things for you to do is have a good balanced diet, get plenty of exercise and sleep! Well Duh! I have been on Alprazolam for over 15 years and never take more that 2 1/2- 3 mg per day. I use it for panic/terror attacks and sleep. Used responsibly you don't develop a strong addiction and can wean easily with no side effects as I have in the past.
Same here - with zolpidiem I only sleep about 5 hours a night. Full dose at bedtime or divided doses - nothing works. My doctor has me on lorazepam .5mg, but I can take a second one if I don’t sleep within an hour or so of taking first tablet. We meet again on 10/30 to re-evaluate.
Trazodone didn’t work for me - took me 2-1/2 hours to fall asleep on 50mg. Some say to take more - but the prescribing doctor (a sleep specialist/neurologist) didn’t return my 2 phone calls. Some friends take 100mg and say they sleep fine.
I’d like to take nothing - maybe tapering off lorazepam will help. . .in a month.
And, I’m starting to think that meds to sleep are better than not sleeping - so many of my friends were awake for hours several of the last few nights. Of course, they can all nap, but I can’t.
Saw my doctor yesterday - he made a very forceful argument for going back to lorazepam .5 mg but I can take a second one if it doesn’t work on any particular night. And I see him again in one month and figure out from there. We did briefly talk about trazodone; Maybe he will recommend taking A higher dose, And you make sense, taking it early to allow it time kick in.
Last night I ended up taking the full 1 mg dose lorazepam over 30 minutes and it worked fine; Best night sleep I’ve had in a week. Ambien just doesn’t work for me. I wake up after three hours, take another half tablet and maybe sleep for another two to three hours, waking up at 3:30am.
Another friend said sleep meds Make him anxious, which they also can do for me. I’d really love to get to the point of not needing meds to sleep; someday I will hopefully
No, but I’ve heard positive things about it.
Personally, I think the last refill I got of the Ambien was formulated improperly or something because it really didn’t work as well as it had been. I gave one to a friend to try because she takes it too and she woke up after 2 1/2 hours,
maybe the CR with a different structure will be a better idea. I have several things to discuss with my doctor in a month.
Ideally, no more sleep meds, but that would be tough
I tried 1 trazadone ( 50 mg)= nothing; 2 traz. = nothing.
So finally 2 & 1/2... so 125 mg. works like a charm for me.
My physician said I could take up to 3 but that did make me too
sleepy the next day.
Hope you find what works for you.
Not sleeping is the worst. k
I can't seem to remember names & sometimes routes to familiar places.
I wish I could blame it on something other than age, but I can't seem to think of anything....
Did I just make a joke?? can't remember....
I am 80 & did read that, at our age, we have so much info in our brain, that it is
difficult to access specific info sometimes= I like that idea!
I would ask the physician, for what it's worth, for a full blood panel, CBC, BMP, TSH with T3, T4, Iron panel , lipid, folate etc the works then pay particular attention to evaluating thyroid function and liver function.....sounds crazy but after spending 8 months on 4 1/2 - 5 hours of sleep a Concierge Dr ordered these labs. We are currently looking at the thyroid and ferritin levels in relationship to insomnia.....just a suggestion. You need someone who can be invested in the quality and amount of sleep you get, Unfortunately there are not many who will be! Functional Medicine...worth a try
@berekann I take a high dose of trazadone at 7:30 pm. For me, it also takes a while to kick in. And by taking it early, I don’t have any hangover effect.
According to the studies, tho, you are also right to sleep without any meds. They all disrupt sleep architecture. For me tho, any sleep is better than none at all
And, I’m starting to think that meds to sleep are better than not sleeping - so many of my friends were awake for hours several of the last few nights. Of course, they can all nap, but I can’t.
Saw my doctor yesterday - he made a very forceful argument for going back to lorazepam .5 mg but I can take a second one if it doesn’t work on any particular night. And I see him again in one month and figure out from there. We did briefly talk about trazodone; Maybe he will recommend taking A higher dose, And you make sense, taking it early to allow it time kick in.
Last night I ended up taking the full 1 mg dose lorazepam over 30 minutes and it worked fine; Best night sleep I’ve had in a week. Ambien just doesn’t work for me. I wake up after three hours, take another half tablet and maybe sleep for another two to three hours, waking up at 3:30am.
Another friend said sleep meds Make him anxious, which they also can do for me. I’d really love to get to the point of not needing meds to sleep; someday I will hopefully
@kndaustin71 and my doctor yesterday ordered some blood tests, including thyroid; Be very interesting if They find anything!
@kndaustin71 One of my friends takes the same drug For over 15 years, But at a lower dose
Same here - with zolpidiem I only sleep about 5 hours a night. Full dose at bedtime or divided doses - nothing works. My doctor has me on lorazepam .5mg, but I can take a second one if I don’t sleep within an hour or so of taking first tablet. We meet again on 10/30 to re-evaluate.
Trazodone didn’t work for me - took me 2-1/2 hours to fall asleep on 50mg. Some say to take more - but the prescribing doctor (a sleep specialist/neurologist) didn’t return my 2 phone calls. Some friends take 100mg and say they sleep fine.
I’d like to take nothing - maybe tapering off lorazepam will help. . .in a month.
@berekann have u tried the long acting ambien. I think it’s called ambien CR
No, but I’ve heard positive things about it.
Personally, I think the last refill I got of the Ambien was formulated improperly or something because it really didn’t work as well as it had been. I gave one to a friend to try because she takes it too and she woke up after 2 1/2 hours,
maybe the CR with a different structure will be a better idea. I have several things to discuss with my doctor in a month.
Ideally, no more sleep meds, but that would be tough
@kayraymat I've been taking 150mg. Trazodone for at least ten years with no side effects. I sleep through about 7 hours each night. So thankful.