Insomnia. Out of options? Any success stories? Desperate.
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Anonymous
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I am hoping someone out there is an insomnia expert. I feel like I have exhausted all my options for handling my insomnia. Here is my brief story:
I saw a sleep specialist and we confirmed great sleep hygiene and decent behavioral responses (not great--e.g., I don't check the clock, but I do know it is getting late and often get anxious). He said that most women my age (37) with insomnia are suffering from hormonal problems. I then saw my family doctor and after testing my hormones, which were all normal, she put me on an anti-depressant. I stayed on it a year, didn't sleep any better, and gained a ton of weight, so went off of it. I saw a gyno who put me on a low dose BCP to try to help regulate my hormonal fluctuations (I am peri-menopausal), but I have only been on the pill for two weeks. I do take Lunesta, and usually, I only need it 3-5x a month, tops. That seemed to be handling my occasional sleeplessness, but now, I have been in a really bad cycle and have been using it every other day or every two days for a month. The truth is, I can't live with the sleep deprivation much longer. I feel sick all the time and I am spiraling into severe anxiety. I cut out caffeine and alcohol, I get out in the sun, I exercise at least 45 minutes a day, I do absolutely all the shit you are supposed to do for sleep hygiene, and here I am, still sleepless in DC. Has anyone ever tried everything the doctors tell you to do and still suffer with this awfulness? Has anyone found a way to fix themselves? Thanks in advance! |
Anonymous
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I experienced insomnia due to trauma and it was awful, I feel for you OP.
My doctor prescribed trazodone. It was a miracle for me. The background is that it was used in mental hospitals, but the side effect was extreme sleepiness so it fell out of favor when other options became available. Now doctors will prescribe it for insomnia. It also has an anti-anxiety effect, but the drug metabolizes in 8 hours. The first night I took it I felt nauseous, but after that I did not. The doses are 50 mg or 100 mg, but I found 25 mg was the right dose for me. I only needed it for a few weeks to get me back on track, but I keep a bottle and have used it occasionally during difficult times (death of family members, etc...). I hope you find something that works for you! |
Anonymous
| Have you tried an anti-anxiety med (i.e. xanax)? I have had this problem in the past and found that anxiety medications are more effective than sleeping pills, which do not actually "shut off" your mind. Now, knowing that I have my prescription handy in case I can't sleep, I no longer have issues falling asleep in the first place. |
Anonymous
| OP, I have been there. I am so sorry. I second the recommendation to try trazodone. |
Anonymous
| I take ambien. I've suffered from insomnia for years and was getting anxiety because of it. Ambien has bed a life savior. |
Anonymous
| I have no idea if this is a typical effect, but I had horrible insomnia that resolved when I started using pro gest cream. In fact, I was using it twice a day as recommended and found that it was making me sleepy during the day so I now only use it at night. |
Anonymous
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Ambien. I have been through two periods of intense insomnia due to extreme stress (divorce from abusive husband and unemployment, losing house) and both times Ambien saved my life. Sleep deprivation wreaks such havock on your mental, physical, and emotional state that it is considered a form of torture. I got the pills and slept and became human again.
Both times it took about 9 months to get myself sleeping regularly and then wean myself from the pills. Go to the doctor tomorrow and get some! |
Anonymous
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No expert here. Have you tried traditional formulations? Valerian, melatonin, passion flower are a few. Some do well with amino acids (Eric Braverman MD) and acupuncture. They take a while to get you onto a sleep cycle but can be very effective.
BTW, I'm weaning myself from sleep & anxiety meds so if you go that route and it might be helpful to you, be clear that they are addictive. Sounds like anxiety is the issue and its causing the insomnia. GL. |
Anonymous
| I took Valium and that really helped. Benadryl also helps me. |
Anonymous
| Magnesium worked miracles for me. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
| Therapy!! CBT for insomnia has proven success. There is an online CBT course you can do. |
Anonymous
How much did you take? |
Anonymous
Did you use the online course? |
Anonymous
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3-5 mg of melatonin works for me.
.25 mg of xanax also works for me. |