Waking up every hour

[[Kt...]]

Hi

How can I stop this? This has been happening every night since November, the only sleep I get is dozing off listening to an app with guided meditations..  Have been off Zopiclone since October but now weaning off Trazodone and trying Amitriptyline but nothing is helping. It's so draining and I'm not getting any deep sleep at all.  Am feeling helpless with this.  Anyone have any suggestions?? I do sleep hygiene, exercise most days, eat quite healthy.. But it's stressing me. 

[[Qu...]]

Hi ktb,

 

I think you'll find frequent wake ups are pretty standard for withdrawal. I'm ten months out, and still wake up at least four, usually more, times per night.

 

There are lots of threads explaining this in the insomnia section, which explain about segmented sleep, and how it is common in different cultures. It's worth scrolling down and reading them.  We seem to revert to this segmented pattern under the stress of withdrawal. Sleep consists of about five sleep 'cycles' each night, with varying amounts of deep sleep, dream sleep and intermediate stages in each 60 - 90 minute cycle. It's natural to get close to wakeful, or actually wake, at the end of each, but you don't normally remember it.

 

I have learned not to stress about it. At least it means you have been asleep. If I wake from a dream, I consider this a positive, as I have completed a full sleep cycle. Your body will prioritise whatever stage of sleep you are most short of, so don't worry about that.

 

Have a look at the howsleepworks website, it's very reassuring. So is the Sleep Book by Dr Guy Meadows. Hope you manage to get enough sleep to help you through the day, it doesn't matter how many chunks it comes in 

[[me...]]

Hi ktb,

 

I think you'll find frequent wake ups are pretty standard for withdrawal. I'm ten months out, and still wake up at least four, usually more, times per night.

 

There are lots of threads explaining this in the insomnia section, which explain about segmented sleep, and how it is common in different cultures. It's worth scrolling down and reading them.  We seem to revert to this segmented pattern under the stress of withdrawal. Sleep consists of about five sleep 'cycles' each night, with varying amounts of deep sleep, dream sleep and intermediate stages in each 60 - 90 minute cycle. It's natural to get close to wakeful, or actually wake, at the end of each, but you don't normally remember it.

 

I have learned not to stress about it. At least it means you have been asleep. If I wake from a dream, I consider this a positive, as I have completed a full sleep cycle. Your body will prioritise whatever stage of sleep you are most short of, so don't worry about that.

 

Have a look at the howsleepworks website, it's very reassuring. So is the Sleep Book by Dr Guy Meadows. Hope you manage to get enough sleep to help you through the day, it doesn't matter how many chunks it comes in 

 

Yes, I agree as usual! My rule of thumb for meds is--if it isn't helping, don't take it! I would try and get off both the trazadone and amitryptiline as quickly as feasible. Those drugs can also impede sleep if they aren't helping it, especially at the lower doses, it seems. If you can get to a point where you aren't taking anything (OTC meds or supplements included) I think you will find your sleep will improve at a faster rate. But don't sweat the quality of your sleep at this point, if you can get enough to function.

[[al...]]

I think that during withdrawal we tend to sleep in single cycles. In normal sleep we have a slight awakening between cycles that we often don't remember, but then we drop back in to start a new sleep cycle. During withdrawal it seems that the end of cycle awakenings are more pronounced and then our awareness and fear of not sleeping takes over to keep up awake. Over time we are slowly able to connect the cycles and experience an improvement to our sleep. It will happen on its own and I don't believe that there is much that we can do to speed up the process.

[[Kt...]]

Thanks, that information is really helpful.  I noted some nights it is so precise, it's a really light sleep also, and I seem to actually feel awake but I'm sleeping, very odd.  This community is so good to have, as no one else can relate to exactly what we are going through.. Other people do not know how lucky they are to be able to sleep and feel rested.  I would give anything for just one night   

[[jo...]]

KTB123 I could not have said better Myself about the sleep being so light You feel as though You have not slept at all. Im 25 days out from K and also have genetic depression so that is also a factor . The depth of sleep is also very important and withdrawal can impede how deep We sleep and yes its also common to experience broken sleep.

 

I also experience the dreaming even though like You said I swear Im awake and have not slept at all. I average between 3 to 4 hours but have not slept deeply in 3 years after My last taper. I was put on K for insomnia caused by My depression as nothing else would work. I use melatonin but it is also depresses yet that is the price I must pay as We all do in one way or another.

 

Regarding the two sleep antidepressants mentioned they are both SNRI's and the N means it hits the norepinephrine receptors and raises that neurochemical which is an excitory chemical so yes it impedes sleep  so its a two edge sword that is why it did not work for Me. Anyone who can sleep well during withdrawal are very lucky indeed.

[[tw...]]

About 4-5 weeks after I jumped, I started waking every 15 minutes! No joke. I seriously thought I was dying. Mirtazapine brought me back. Eventually, I reinstated, but I shouldn't have.

 

I no longer need to take it at this time, but will not hesitate if I need it. The past 2 nights, I've slept 7-8 hours with NOTHING. No mirt, no hydroxyzine. BUT - I did start back up magnesium.