Tired of waking up at 2am..Sonata

Hi, @ev2nana - I'd like to add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am sorry to hear about your waking up multiple times at night and having trouble falling asleep after the third time. Glad to see that @IndianaScott @user_cha272278 and @gingerw have offered you some input on this.

I have merged your post with this discussion, "Tired of waking up at 2 a.m.," so you could talk with even more others talking about similar situations. Please meet @contentandwell @ladybirder @emgold2013 and @eliana5. I trust they may also have some input for you.

Are you usually giving up after the third time and getting up for the day, or how have you decided to manage that?

@eliana5 Hi! I could have written your posting! I’m 61 and have gone through the same meds with about the same reactions. I don’t remember the last time I slept more than 2 or 3 hours. I feel sleepy, but it’s almost like my brain is fighting the sleep. I have fibromyalgia so maybe that’s it. What did your doc say?

Sleep problems are one of the hardest things to get straightened out. I have been trying for years and have not been able to get them in sync. this is an interesting topic.
I do know medications have not been a solution for me. Diet, exercise, a consistent bedtime, getting up time, etc.
We all need adequate rest and sleep. I think sleep habits vary from person to person. Will keep reading comments on the topic of sleep.
I know I am not the only one struggling with this.

All of the above.

@ev2nana @lisalucier I wish I could give some advice but my sleeping problem is two-fold. I get up very frequently to use the bathroom, and if I am at all anxious I can’t get to sleep.
When I wake up to use the bathroom I generally can get back to sleep easily until about 4:00 A.M. After that when I wake up it is usually difficult to get back to sleep. I will lay awake for 2 - 2.5 hours then finally fall asleep again, just before I have to get up.
When I am concerned about anything it tends to whirl around in my mind making it difficult to get to sleep at all. When that is my problem I will sometimes take a half of a Benadryl. That does help. I would not recommend that as a regular solution though. It is sold as a sleep aid but the ingredients are identical, so I just buy whichever costs less.
On a more regular basis I have used melatonin, from 1mg - 3mg. I think that helps too - or is it a placebo effect?
JK

I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea after my Stroke in 2001! I never heard of Sleep Apnea, nor did I understand what it meant in terms of my health! I also sleep with a full face mask and take 5mgs of Melatonin nightly! I also used to wake up around 2-30a.m., to go to the bathroom; however the combination of the Melatonin and my CPAP machine help tremendously! I therefore no longer feel so exhausted at least in the mornings! I also took Benadryl to help bring on sleep before being treated with my CPAP machine! I would try 5 mgs of Melatonin and see if it actually makes any difference! I would, however speak with your Physician before changing anything!

@rachelanne I have read that more than 3 mg is very apt to cause nightmares, so it really can be best to start at a lower dose. I even know people who find that just 1 mg gives them enough help. I generally do 3mg when I use it and that usually gives me enough help.
JK

I have had insominia for almost 2 years now, I tried ambien and only slept 2 hours but was terrible, was on lunesta for 3 months slept 2-4 hours and dr increased dosage to 3 and still didn't sleep but now have terrible cognitive skills can't spell can't add and subtract stopped sleeping pills but still have cognitive issues I try to exercise at home to try to get tired doesn't work well but I get the same 2-4 hours sleep without sleeping pills and I usually get 1 or 2 days of 5 or 6 hours once or twice a week after days of 2-4 hours if you find a way to get sleep please share

melatonin did not help me

@cathy514 oh my goodness, you are really sleep deprived. Has sleep apnea definitely been ruled out? I have trouble sleeping, not as much recently since I have fewer things on my mind whirling around, but when I am going through that, after a few days of poor sleep I will take a very low dose Ativan and that gets me one decent night of sleep. I was prescribed a sleeping pill by a doctor a long time ago. I forget which one it was but I felt like a slug the next day so I didn’t take them for long.
Have you tried meditation? I have heard that the relaxed state it puts you in can really help.
JK