Hi friends. I’d like to reach out today for help. I rarely post about my own ongoings, but I need to reach out today and hope you may provide help.
Recently, I had a stay at the psych hospital for excessive marijuana use. I went, detoxed, and was discharged after five days. That was four days ago. Since arriving home, I’ve experienced concerning sleep disturbances. The first few nights at home, I had trouble catching my breath trying to fall asleep-- very scary and alarming. I then went and saw my MD and was prescribed a sleeping aid. The first night with the sleep aid I slept, not great sleep but enough to say whew- I may get through this yet. Last night, I was optimistic of getting a good night’s rest. Instead, I ruminated all night and felt trapped in my head. Again, cause for alarm. In the past seven days, I’ve had about 10 hours of sleep.
A couple points to note: I changed my AP while inpatient. I was on Zyprexa for a good 15 years. My pdoc and I decided to try a new med, he prescribed Geodon, 40mg. I have sleep apnea that is mitigated with a cpap machine. I take Trazadone 50mg as a sleep aid.
Sleep is important for us all; going without it is poor for overall health, anxiety filled, panicky at times, and potentially dangerous (auto accident, thoughts of self harm).
Thanks in advance for your input.
I took the trazadone while at the hospital, but I didn’t notice any sedation. In regards to the Geodon, typically no, but I’ll ask my pdoc. Thanks for the reminder. Only thing that seems to help the sleep is distraction from the insomnia. By distraction I mean engaging in hobbies and other coping skills. Worry is my heart.
what we deal with is and never will be an exact science. my hunch is it is a combination of change. The new med, maybe some anxiety from the hospital stay, nicotine withdrawal (I quit while inpatient) all could be factors. best to follow doctor’s orders, he has the most experience.
I had sleep issues recently stopping latuda and clozaril. They need to straighten out your meds. You took zyprexa for fifteen years? Wow. Why the change?
I felt I lacked presence, mindfulness. Although I credit zyprexa for saving my butt, I’ve been really disappointed that I lacked social connectedness. I attributed it always ‘being elsewhere’ when engaged with others. I expressed my concerns to my doc and we decided on Geodon. Since being discharged, I’ve noticed more intention and presence with my parents. A change in brain chemistry has occured. I just hope it’s from something positive, like the geodon, and not the insomnia.
My pdoc once prescribed me ambien which didn’t work. Trazodone stopped helping too. It would take me three hours to fall asleep even on latuda. I couldn’t stop thinking. To make things worse i would wake up in the middle of the night and a hard time going back to sleep.
I think your pdoc should find something so you can sleep better. Or keep trying until you get some sleep. I’m sorry if I can’t help much. This is gonna sound weird exercise like bike riding etc… might help. Zyprexa doesn’t help you sleep?
The over thinking is something I struggle with. But even within the past 8 days, on nights when my thoughts were zen, I couldn’t sleep. My mom has sleep deficit too. She takes Ristoril. I couldn’t afford to wait another day to see the doc so I asked her for one. Quite an experience last night but I got z’s. Thank goodness.
Oh, I’ve lost five pounds on the geodon. My hunger pangs have reduced. I’ve exercised a few times. with the zyprexa, i sleep too much, eat too much, and am a zombie socially. able to work, though. so far with the geodon, i haven’t slept (Ristoril excluded), i eat less, i’m up early in the am, and far less of a walker (amc reference). now is the decision to start on a benzodiazapine sleep aid. hope to return to work soon. Thanks for spurring the chat, @roxanna.
I myself is fight to sleep …I take 300 mg trazadone sometimes 50 mg does nothing for me …invega is causing insomnia …maybe changing meds caused ur insomnia or maybe Gedeon is Causing it …I would say ask for seroquel 50mg from the doc
When I was on Zyprexa I wanted to sleep a lot. I’ve been on Geodon and Seroquel for over a decade, and though they didn’t make me sleep, they did control my symptoms with minimal side effects. It could be that coming off Zyprexa has disrupted your sleep. Also, maybe you could get some nicotine gum or some nicotine patches to get you through this difficult time. Coming off nicotine I’m sure is distressful. I don’t know. It’s your decision. I wish you the best. It’s nice to know that you’re fighting to get well. As for the Trazodone, it works for some people and not for others. Fifty milligrams of Trazodone puts some people into a deep sleep for twenty hours. Sometimes that sounds good to me. But I’ve taken 800 mg of Trazodone and remained wide awake. It works for some people and not for others.
