Question 1

what are the most effective approachess of overcoming insomnia without drugs?

Accepted Answer

Eval/sleep hygiene: Have you had a sleep study done to figure out reasons for insomnia? Practice sleep hygiene: keep you room a little on a chilly side, warm shower before bed, bedtime routine: no tv, or anything stimulating, no heavy meals. If you can't fall asleep, get out of bed and do something really boring until you feel sleepy and then go back to bed. Go to bed and wake up at the same time.

Question 2

bipolar w/bad insomnia z-drugs, dayvigo, belsom, lunes, vistaril, all regular insomnia med do nothing. psych dr wont rx sedative/hypnotic/benzos & on trazodone, seroquel, mirtrazipine, topamax, lamictal w/no help. wha else to try? besides new doc?

Accepted Answer

Different approach : Medication is not the answer!  Get off as many as feasible ASAP.  FIND a sleep specialist and commence a full sleep hygiene program. Consider a biofeedback approach.  If not done before, do sleep study with oximetry

Question 3

given decadron (dexamethasone) 20 im about 24 hours ago in er. insomnia, vertigo, and drug like energy. the bad drugs! how long will this last?

Accepted Answer

Common: With steroids and should wear off in about 24 hours or so.

Question 4

is it safe to take a hypnotic drug for insomnia?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes: If you are basically health, and you take the medicine as prescribed, and don't combine it with other drugs or alcohol, or use one and then go out driving or using heavy equipment. Hypnotic drugs are usually most helpful short term, when there is a period of stress. If you need one long term you should get an evaluation for other problems - a sleep disorder or anxiety or depression.

Question 5

how i can i treat my drug induced insomnia from weaning off morphine. so far dr took me from 45mg to 30mg and am not sleeping well at all!!! help ?

Accepted Answer

Consider melatonin.: But discuss with your doctor first.  Also  - use good sleep hygiene.

Question 6

i was given 10mg elavil (amitriptyline) for insomnia. read up on drug, its an antidepressant. i don't have depression. will this drug alter my mood or make me weird?

Accepted Answer

Weird, huh?: You didn't read far enough: You didn't read the information on indications and dosage. Antidepressant doses are at least 75-100 mg/d. It's also used for migraine at lower doses. It causes drowsiness, hence its use for sleep, but 10 mg is such a low dose it may have no effect on you at all, or lose what effect it does have after a week or so. It's usual to escalate the dose gradually to 30-50 mg/d.

Question 7

on trazadone ( anti-depressant n sleep aid drug for insomnia ). if i have cad, and lupus, will this medication make either of the 2 conditions i have worse?

Accepted Answer

Excellent question: The risks and benefits of any medication should be carefully considered, both by the prescribing physician and the patient. It is important that this be done on an individual basis. The best person with whom to discuss this is the physician who prescribed the Trazadone. If you see more than one doctor, it is extremely important each is aware of all your medical conditions and medications you take.

Question 8

what can i take for insomnia, i've tried all the otc the drugs & they leave me with a hangover feeling the next morning...help.

Accepted Answer

Learn relaxation : Skills (biofeedback may help -- www.Bcia.Org or www.Aapb.Org) & practice good sleep habits -- consistent bed & wake times, warm bed & cool room, quiet & dark room, minimize caffeine & alcohol, use relaxing pre-sleep routine, use bedroom only for sleep & sex (no tv, eating, reading, etc.).  Talk to a sleep specialist or http://greeleypsychologist.Com/sleep.Xhtml for more details.

Question 9

which drugs are good for insomnia. i don't feel comfortable using ambien (zolpidem).

Accepted Answer

Melatonin, herbals: There are many types and causes of insomnia. Assuming yours is the occasional, stress-related type (rather than one such as depression that requires more specific treatment), melatonin and/or various herbal mixtures (such as those sold at whole foods or earth fare) are relatively safe and sometimes quite helpful.

Question 10

if i use .5 mg of ativan (lorazepam) every night for insomnia,  in time will i build up resistance to drug and require a higher dose to give the same effect?

Accepted Answer

Very possible: This is a well-known and common risk of anti-anxiety medications chemically called "benzodiazepines" (or "benzos").  It's the main reason they are not recommended for long-term use, usually defined as over 2 weeks.  Of course, not everyone reacts the same: some people develop tolerance (they "build up resistance") even sooner, while some take much longer, or never do.  But why risk it?

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Doctor answers about:

Insomnia drugs

A member asked:

What are the most effective approachess of overcoming insomnia without drugs?

A member asked:

Bipolar w/bad insomnia z-drugs, dayvigo, belsom, lunes, vistaril, all regular insomnia med do nothing. psych dr wont rx sedative/hypnotic/benzos & on trazodone, seroquel, mirtrazipine, topamax, lamictal w/no help. wha else to try? besides new doc?

A member asked:

Given decadron (dexamethasone) 20 im about 24 hours ago in er. insomnia, vertigo, and drug like energy. the bad drugs! how long will this last?

A member asked:

Is it safe to take a hypnotic drug for insomnia?

A member asked:

How i can i treat my drug induced insomnia from weaning off morphine. so far dr took me from 45mg to 30mg and am not sleeping well at all!!! help ?

A member asked:

I was given 10mg elavil (amitriptyline) for insomnia. read up on drug, its an antidepressant. i don't have depression. will this drug alter my mood or make me weird?

A member asked:

On trazadone ( anti-depressant n sleep aid drug for insomnia ). if i have cad, and lupus, will this medication make either of the 2 conditions i have worse?

A member asked:

What can i take for insomnia, i've tried all the otc the drugs & they leave me with a hangover feeling the next morning...help.

A member asked:

Which drugs are good for insomnia. i don't feel comfortable using ambien (zolpidem).

A member asked:

If i use .5 mg of ativan (lorazepam) every night for insomnia, in time will i build up resistance to drug and require a higher dose to give the same effect?

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