1. < Sleep Health

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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dbeilstein | @dbeilstein | Mar 22, 2023
In reply to @pogisinats "Thru my research, I found out some causes of my lack of sleep, or waking up..." + (show)
@pogisinats

Thru my research, I found out some causes of my lack of sleep, or waking up from 1-3 am and cannot go back to sleep.
1) Lack of electrolytes (actually, it is salted water). Drinking 1 glass of water with pinch of salt (not too much) before going to bed will do. Electrolytes will be absorbed by body first before the excess water will go to your bladder, hence it will take time before you go to bathroom in the middle of the night.
2) Stress, anxiety, etc., Keep your brain away from your problem, specially about money. Reminiscence of good things or stories of your life that happened back. Soft classical music (or any) will do. Anything that will keep your thinking away from your stress.
3) Alcohol, coffee, tea, smoke, or any stimulants before going to sleep. These are like steroids that keeps your body awake. Stimulants will kick 2 to 4 hours after you take, hence waking up in the middle of the night.
4) Room temperature. Change sleep clothes. If you feel cold or hot, go change into appropriate attire. Your body always trying to adapt to outside temperature felt by your skin.
5) Keep yourself tired in the whole day. Walking, biking, sports or work. If you are already retired (60 +), find ways to keep you tired (hobbies, sports, etc.). Sleep will make your body relaxed and return to normal.

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I will definitely try this and let you know. My daughter mentioned that maybe I needed more salt.

REPLY
dbeilstein | @dbeilstein | Mar 22, 2023
In reply to @eliana5 "Yes, I'm only prescribed 4mg of Clonazepam. 2mg in morning. 2 mg at bedtime. I split..." + (show)
@eliana5

Yes, I'm only prescribed 4mg of Clonazepam. 2mg in morning. 2 mg at bedtime. I split one in 1/2 before bed, but when I wake up at 1 or two am, take the other 1/2. But I wake up again at 4am..😳 and have nothing more to take.

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I do something similar with Clonazepam, but it makes me feel drugged the next day and doesn’t always help me sleep very well. Frustrated.

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dbeilstein | @dbeilstein | Mar 22, 2023

I have done a saliva test also and meeting with my natural path doctor soon to determine what I need. I’ve always said it has to be hormones or lack of when we get older, as sooooo many older folks have sleep issues.

I will post my findings and help. Wish me luck because I am miserable. Not sleeping is affecting my life and ruining it.

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sbmop1968 | @sbmop1968 | Sep 9, 2023

Question. What keeps you from going back to sleep?

Question.
What causes you to wake up:
Noise
Pet
Needing to go to the
bathroom

Is your brain going crazy?
No concentration
No focusing
Thinking about things you
have to do/deadlines
Do you wake up, wet due to
sweating?

REPLY
1 reply
rjjacobsen | @rjjacobsen | Sep 10, 2023
In reply to @sbmop1968 "Question. What keeps you from going back to sleep? Question. What causes you to wake up:..." + (show)
@sbmop1968

Question. What keeps you from going back to sleep?

Question.
What causes you to wake up:
Noise
Pet
Needing to go to the
bathroom

Is your brain going crazy?
No concentration
No focusing
Thinking about things you
have to do/deadlines
Do you wake up, wet due to
sweating?

Jump to this post

I wake up two/three times a night due to body pain and/or needing to go to the bathroom.

I take 7.5 mg Remeron between 60-90 minutes before bedtime to help return to sleep after the interruptions. Without it, I struggle to get back to sleep. Also take 3mg melatonin 30-60 min before bedtime to help get to sleep. I wake up tired which may be "hangover" effects of the meds, so I'm experimenting with when to take them.

Note that my colon had been removed due to cancer and have a lot of pain in the shoulders due to arthritic spurring. Left one is recovering from surgery, the right one will get surgery when the left is done with PT. Won't eliminate the pain, but will greatly reduce it.

REPLY
1 reply
rjjacobsen | @rjjacobsen | Sep 10, 2023
In reply to @rjjacobsen "I wake up two/three times a night due to body pain and/or needing to go to..." + (show)
@rjjacobsen

I wake up two/three times a night due to body pain and/or needing to go to the bathroom.

I take 7.5 mg Remeron between 60-90 minutes before bedtime to help return to sleep after the interruptions. Without it, I struggle to get back to sleep. Also take 3mg melatonin 30-60 min before bedtime to help get to sleep. I wake up tired which may be "hangover" effects of the meds, so I'm experimenting with when to take them.

Note that my colon had been removed due to cancer and have a lot of pain in the shoulders due to arthritic spurring. Left one is recovering from surgery, the right one will get surgery when the left is done with PT. Won't eliminate the pain, but will greatly reduce it.

Jump to this post

Forgot that I use a CPAP machine.

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