Sleep Deprived!

luvlife · Post by **luvlife** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:46 pm

Hello! I am currently on 150 mg of Zoloft, 100 mg in the a.m. and 50 mg at night. I also take .05 mg of Xanax three times per day. This has been since February. I have tried all the popular sleeping pills, the last being Halcion and I am still "owled eyed" at 4 or 5 in the morning. I do not nap during the day and if I try it is useless. I have sleep apnea and have been on a C-Pap machine for over a year which I have always gotten along with until recently...and after so long a time wearing it and not sleeping, I just have to get it off my face. I have that edgy, fluttery sensation most of time and also have developed tremors to the point that my writing looks like I'm at least 90 years old and people notice and ask me why I am shaky? Like I know the answer.
My doctor has said that I may be "paradoxal" (not sure of the spelling) which means that most ssri's, etc., work just the opposite. I sure could use a little advice. Any suggestions? and no, I don't watch tv or eat in my bedroom or all the other stuff,...I do read or get up and wander around the house. I am totally exhausted. It's a good thing I'm retired, I wouldn't be able to function if I was working full time. I need some Zzzzzzz's.

"It's not waiting for the storm to pass ~ it's learning to dance in the rain."

Thanks and Hugs ~ Judy

cfe · Post by **cfe** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:08 pm

I have opposite effects of these meds also. Ones that are usually sedating for most people were stimulating for me and gave me insomnia. Other ones that most people found stimulating, made me sleepy. I sure wish I could give you some good advice because I know how stressful it is not being able to sleep, but it sounds like you have already gone through all the usual stuff with your Dr. Maybe the Zoloft is too stimulating for you and making your insomnia worse?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:31 pm

I'm wondering the same thing - I really don't like trying out so many meds just to find the "right" one. I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow and we're gonna' have a long talk.

Pray she has a plan - she is good and understanding, which really helps. You woudn't think that anti-depressants would or should be stimulating, would you? Thanks for your input, Mary, not glad that you have similar symptoms, but glad I'm not alone on this. Hugs, and God Bless, Judy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:51 pm

Insomnia begun with me when I started Zoloft in 2001. So to counter act the side affect My psyc would prescrib something else......But it never worked until the Zoloft was STOPPED.....I went through this battle for 4 years....So in 2005 I had to retrain my body to sleep again. It was a battle to the point of exhaustion....To replace the zoloft I changed my whole life around and the depression ceased...but now I still need to know how to sleep!! So I did take a med to help develop a sleep pattern and of course natural vitamins and excercise. Sometimes the side effects on SSRI's arent worth it. So I too have been told I can not take ANY SSRI's because they do the opposite to me.....they create anxiety in me instead of depleating it, it created insomnia, and it took my appetite away, they gave me the shakes (jitters)........some good ssri uh?

I believe the good day vitamins with the natural ht5 and other stuff in them are alot better the ssri's.

Blessings

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:35 am

Dear luvlife,
I hear what you are saying. I too was having problems sleeping a year ago to the point that i was halucinating. I don't say that to scare you. I take Lunesta when i need to sleep. I guess that you may have tried this? I guess if every thing that you have tried isn't working keep pushing your doctors they need to help you in figuring this out. Sleep is so inportant to your health and healing. I hope that you can get some answears to this soon. Sarah

Originally posted by luvlife:
Hello! I am currently on 150 mg of Zoloft, 100 mg in the a.m. and 50 mg at night. I also take .05 mg of Xanax three times per day. This has been since February. I have tried all the popular sleeping pills, the last being Halcion and I am still "owled eyed" at 4 or 5 in the morning. I do not nap during the day and if I try it is useless. I have sleep apnea and have been on a C-Pap machine for over a year which I have always gotten along with until recently...and after so long a time wearing it and not sleeping, I just have to get it off my face. I have that edgy, fluttery sensation most of time and also have developed tremors to the point that my writing looks like I'm at least 90 years old and people notice and ask me why I am shaky? Like I know the answer.
My doctor has said that I may be "paradoxal" (not sure of the spelling) which means that most ssri's, etc., work just the opposite. I sure could use a little advice. Any suggestions? and no, I don't watch tv or eat in my bedroom or all the other stuff,...I do read or get up and wander around the house. I am totally exhausted. It's a good thing I'm retired, I wouldn't be able to function if I was working full time. I need some Zzzzzzz's.

"It's not waiting for the storm to pass ~ it's learning to dance in the rain."

Thanks and Hugs ~ Judy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:28 am

Thanks to all of you for the input - yes, I have ran the gamit of the prescribed sleep aids,and I have trouble with a not of natural supplements as well. This is not new, I have tried so many ssri's for many, many years - but never with this insomnia. The only anti-depressant that ever helped and I actually was "me" when I took it was Serzone and the FDA black boxed and took it off the market..."they" said there were liver problems with it, but there are so many other meds out there that people take and have to have a blood test every 3 months for liver function, especialy statins and heart meds following surgery - and how many naturals are approved by the FDA? Few, if any. And I hesitate to put more money in something that I'm not sure of the consequences.
I guess God wants me to be me...He does say "My Grace is sufficient...".
Chemical imbalance...wish I had never seen the word or heard them from the doctor. They say "that Courage is not flinching when some thing is sent from heaven" So I am going to trust God more and believe in myself - but this is tough, especially when the panic is overwhelming.
St. Paul was not the only one with an afflication and look what He did. And "Ole Abe" knew what depression was as well.
God does use us in many ways and we don't even realize it - just as you have helped me.
Again, thank you all for your support, May God bless each of you and give you His Peace.
I send you Hugs...Judy ~ Pray Hard!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:13 am

I can't take anti-depressants either. I'm on mood-stabilizers instead (Lamictal).

As for the insomnia, I've suffered with it for as many years as I can remember, but here are some things that I have tried or have been told to try/do:

1. Tea. There are a lot of teas with sleep aids like chamomile, valerian root, wormwood. These sleep aids even come in extracts where you add a few drops into a glass of sugar water - yeah they're that bitter, but sometimes they really do help.

2. (As mentioned over and over again...) A hot bath with lavender oil. You can even spray lavender on your pillow.

3. (Just like your mom did...) Warm milk. Tryptophan is a total sleep aid.

I can't think of any more at the moment, but I think it would be a fabulous idea if we could start a thread where we only add SLEEP AIDS FOR INSOMNIACS. It might be helpful to see what other people have tried, what has worked, and give everyone with this "annoyance" a long list of things to try.

xoxo