Tired of waking up at 2am..Sonata

Posted by eliana5 @eliana5, Sep 26, 2018

Hi, I'm new here. I can't sleep. It's frustrating. I'm 56. I used to sleep 7 or 8 hours a night. Now, I'm lucky to get 3 or 4 hours of sleep. I have no problem falling asleep, but every morning, without fail, I wake up at 2 or 3am and can't go back to sleep. I have mental health diagnosis. I am on 4mg Klonopin for severe anxiety and panic. Psychiatrist had me on Ambien, but after a few months it stopped working. I have BPD, put on 50mg of instant release Seroquel to be taken 31st bedtime. A very sedating medication. That does not help. I can't take herbs due to medication interactions. Remeron, also a sedating medication used to help, but stopped working. I have been on it since 2005. Busphar for anxiety does nothing to help me sleep. Psychiatrist just raised Seroquel dosage to 100mg from 50mg. Have not filled it yet. I don't know where to turn. I don't do anything stimulating before bed, computers, TV, eat, etc. Room is fairly dark. I don't know what to do, I'm exhausted all the time. It's wearing on me. Thinking about Melatonin? Psychiatrist will not prescribe sleeping pills..Sonata, Lunesta. Help..

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Ive tried melatolin, gravel, zoplicon and a couple of other things like warm milk, bananas soft meditation music. Nothing worked for me. I am now on mirtazapine. I have learned that while most nights I get very little sleep due to itchiness or whatever, I can rest the next day. Eventually the sleep catches up for a couple of nights then I'm awake again for several more. I find not worrying about it helps the most.

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@gaylea1

Ive tried melatolin, gravel, zoplicon and a couple of other things like warm milk, bananas soft meditation music. Nothing worked for me. I am now on mirtazapine. I have learned that while most nights I get very little sleep due to itchiness or whatever, I can rest the next day. Eventually the sleep catches up for a couple of nights then I'm awake again for several more. I find not worrying about it helps the most.

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@gaylea1 Have you tried a small dose of benadryl? This is an antihistamine, but has proven beneficial effects in other situations. It may calm your itching to allow rest.
Ginger

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@gaylea1

Ive tried melatolin, gravel, zoplicon and a couple of other things like warm milk, bananas soft meditation music. Nothing worked for me. I am now on mirtazapine. I have learned that while most nights I get very little sleep due to itchiness or whatever, I can rest the next day. Eventually the sleep catches up for a couple of nights then I'm awake again for several more. I find not worrying about it helps the most.

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@gaylea1 if you are anything like me, not worrying is easier said than done.
JK

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@contentandwell true enough but after 2 years I have just succumbed to the inevitable. I am tired now of waiting, being sick, being tired. I am just grateful that I am still here at all and at the very least don't have pain.

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@gingerw

@gaylea1 Have you tried a small dose of benadryl? This is an antihistamine, but has proven beneficial effects in other situations. It may calm your itching to allow rest.
Ginger

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@gingers yes I have even tried benadryl. Believe me I've tried it all.

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I had a similar problem. It didn't matter what time I went to sleep, after one and a half hours I'd wake up and not be able to go back to sleep until my alarm was going off. I couldn't take regular sleep medications due to the antidepressant I am on. My psychiatrist prescribed gabapentin. It takes right at three hours to kick in so I usually take it about 7 pm. If I take it on a full stomach it isn't as effective. If I take it on an empty stomach it kicks my butt when I hit that three hour mark. If I get up and am moving around a lot it counteracts and postpones the effect. If I'm watching TV or reading it takes effect at the three hour mark and I have to lie down. I've been taking it for years now. It also helps with my arthritis pain when I'm trying to go to sleep and while I'm sleeping.

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@pearlbaby7

I had a similar problem. It didn't matter what time I went to sleep, after one and a half hours I'd wake up and not be able to go back to sleep until my alarm was going off. I couldn't take regular sleep medications due to the antidepressant I am on. My psychiatrist prescribed gabapentin. It takes right at three hours to kick in so I usually take it about 7 pm. If I take it on a full stomach it isn't as effective. If I take it on an empty stomach it kicks my butt when I hit that three hour mark. If I get up and am moving around a lot it counteracts and postpones the effect. If I'm watching TV or reading it takes effect at the three hour mark and I have to lie down. I've been taking it for years now. It also helps with my arthritis pain when I'm trying to go to sleep and while I'm sleeping.

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@pearlbaby7 I had gabapentin after my knee replacement. I don't remember now what it was prescribed for, maybe nerve pain? I did take it at bedtime but for me it really had no effect.
It seems as if many medications do not really affect me at all, and some that do cause the opposite effect to what is typical. I had oxycontin at one point prior to transplant and it kept me awake all night!
JK

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@contentandwell

@pearlbaby7 I had gabapentin after my knee replacement. I don't remember now what it was prescribed for, maybe nerve pain? I did take it at bedtime but for me it really had no effect.
It seems as if many medications do not really affect me at all, and some that do cause the opposite effect to what is typical. I had oxycontin at one point prior to transplant and it kept me awake all night!
JK

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I understand about medications not working as expected. My cousin is knocked out by an aspirin. It takes 500 mg of percodan to do the same to me. The gabapentin seems to work for me as long as I don't take it on a full stomach. Keep trying techniques and considering meds your doctor recommends. There has to be relief ahead for you.

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@cathy514

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

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Having a bout of what I called MAJOR INSOMNIA I fully understand what you are experiencing. Finally I gave in and went to the doctor, he said take 2 Benadryl -- after years of going to him he should know if I have an appointment it is not for something trivial. I have taken one B for the intended use, but never 2, so I tried 2 and next night 2 more...might as well take tick-tacs,.... sleep NO! I explained to doctor that in the 70's I had bouts of this type of insomnia and how my doctor at that time treated my insomnia. Imagine that med is no longer on the market, it did not work for a couple of nights.... A few days later, a Friday, I phoned and spoke with his nurse, she got back with me and said a script was ready for me to pickup at the office, I told her I was to weary to drive, heavy traffic and a iffy left hand turn to make....told her she would have to mail the script and she did, rec's it on Tuesday, nearest grocery store has a good pharmacy and the girl that rang up the script said she had taken the med for years for sleep....it did nothing. Days later I drank a tea for sleep all day long,refilling the mug with hot water and ever so often adding a fresh tea bag, did get a bit of sleep that night....doing better now, imagine the script would work now, have not tried it. Doctors don't comprehend major insomnia, no way could I function well. WE CAN GET TO A STAGE WHERE NOTHING WILL WORK LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO!
Have you considered a sleep study? it was suggested to me, did not do one.

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@pattitoo

Having a bout of what I called MAJOR INSOMNIA I fully understand what you are experiencing. Finally I gave in and went to the doctor, he said take 2 Benadryl -- after years of going to him he should know if I have an appointment it is not for something trivial. I have taken one B for the intended use, but never 2, so I tried 2 and next night 2 more...might as well take tick-tacs,.... sleep NO! I explained to doctor that in the 70's I had bouts of this type of insomnia and how my doctor at that time treated my insomnia. Imagine that med is no longer on the market, it did not work for a couple of nights.... A few days later, a Friday, I phoned and spoke with his nurse, she got back with me and said a script was ready for me to pickup at the office, I told her I was to weary to drive, heavy traffic and a iffy left hand turn to make....told her she would have to mail the script and she did, rec's it on Tuesday, nearest grocery store has a good pharmacy and the girl that rang up the script said she had taken the med for years for sleep....it did nothing. Days later I drank a tea for sleep all day long,refilling the mug with hot water and ever so often adding a fresh tea bag, did get a bit of sleep that night....doing better now, imagine the script would work now, have not tried it. Doctors don't comprehend major insomnia, no way could I function well. WE CAN GET TO A STAGE WHERE NOTHING WILL WORK LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO!
Have you considered a sleep study? it was suggested to me, did not do one.

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@pattitoo I can completely empathize with you. Benadryl, gravol, so many prescriptions, home remedies you name it. Meditative music, specials glow lights, exercise, reading, warm baths, hot showers... I could go on and on. Nothing helps me to sleep. I put my name in for a sleep study but never heard back. I just keep hoping that at some point my body and mind will just be so worn out that sleep will start to come back. For now I go with the flow. The more I resist to accept it the worse it is. Stay calm, don't stress. That's the only advice I can give. My thoughts are with you.

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