1 hour of sleep the last 5 days

[[Gl...]]

I was up for 3 days, slept 1 hour, now I've been up another 2 days.  Can't sleep.

 

[[to...]]

that is rough.  Have you told your doctor?  I have read that benadryl can help and is not addictive.

[[Ga...]]

Glyn did you try what helped Jittery?? I was impressed, i think you have tofollow it to a T

Youknow she wasnt sleeping much either. wow the circadian ? thing makes sense.

 

I do take a half a unisom once in awhile. Did you try the Passionflower? alot seem to have luck with it

Id rather take that so Im going to try it. Its only like $10 for a bottle.

Good luck Glyn how you can sleep soon.

[Guest [de...]]

Did you read those articles I sent you on your last post.

 

I found them when I went through 2 weeks of horrible insomnia (9 days out of 14 with 0-2hrs sleep, three of those consecutive). My sleep returned when I upped my K and dropped my lexapro which I stupidly thought would help with anxieny from my most recent K cut. I really feel badly for you, especially since I experienced a small dose of what you are going through. Your sleep will return, maybe next week, amybe next month, but i guarantee you are not consinged to a lifetime of this. I would suggest that you stop trying to find solutions or reasons. Control is an illusion and  seeking it will make you crazy. In my opinion, you are suffering from protracted benzo w/d which will end. I haven't found any reports either message board/anecdotal or in the medical literature that document any permanent insomnia from benzo w/d. There is no question that you are an outlier with nearly six months benzo free and still suffering effects. But you are definitely closer to the end than the beginning.

 

Good luck bro. Its ok to enjoy a cold one every now and then. Getting blitzed will screw up your sleep, but I don't think 1 or 2 are hurting you any. Just be careful driving.

[[...]]

^Why do you say he's an outlier? A lot of people here are still suffering withdrawal at many months off.

[[ce...]]

Wow, I went through some horrible insomnia like what you're describing and thought I'd never sleep again.  Be cautious though because benadryl is extremely addicting and you can experience withdrawal from it too if you take it for too long.  Anyhow, I'm almost 2 years off benzo's and sleeping great.  Sleep does come back, so don't lose hope. 

[[Gl...]]

I tried passion flower before in a tea and it didn't work.  Benadryl doesn't work..it does nothing for me.

 

Part of the reason I have insomnia is cause I cut Zyprexa from 30mg to 20mg.  Before benzos I was fine on 5mg.  Pretty ridiculous.  I might have to go back to 30 even though I hate it so much.

 

I usually avoid doctors because they are of no help at all.  The only reason I see my psychiatrist is to renew prescriptions.

 

I'm going to try taking a hot bath along with Zyprexa, 3 Unisoms, and 3 Calms Fortes, and see if that works for me.  If I can't sleep tonight I'll go back to 30mg of Zyprexa.

[[Me...]]

Hi Glyn

 

Sorry you are still having such a hard time.  I correspond with a member of the previous forum that I was on because he also got into benzo's as a consequence on insomnia and successfully tapered off however the reason I am mentioning him is because he has also tapered off quite a number of other medications and is now in the thros of tapering off an AD.  He told me that no matter what medication it was he always tapered at the 5 - 10% every 3-4 weeks Benzo recommendation.  Every time he thought he could go faster he would suffer days of insomnia and relentless migraines.  You say you have cut your Zyprexa from 30 to 20mg.  Just a suggestion why don't you go back to 30mg (yeah you hate it) but I am sure you hate insomnia even more and then try tapering it down very slowly at the Benzo recommended rate?  I don't think comparing your current dosage to your preBenzo days is doing anything other than frustrating you more.

 

Wishing you

[[of...]]

HI Glynn,  I agree with Meeee.  So many people I know get off benzos and then try taking big chunks off of other medications they are on and really make matters worse.  It is always recommended that you put some healing time between getting off benzos and cutting other meds.  I'm sure if you read around the forum you will find many many stories that are similar.

 

The first three weeks I was off I was lucky if I slept 45 mins.  Sleep seems to be one of the biggest hurdles for most of us.  It is agonizing.  Best you can do is rest , sleep will come,  in fits and starts.  YOu are healing and you are not doomed to a life of no sleep. Your brain just needs to heal up some.

 

Maybe you could try going back up on the zyprexa 5 mgs and see if that helps.  Take good care and keep us posted.  zoe xo

[[Gl...]]

Hey, another night and I still haven't been able to sleep.  The hot bath with the Unisom and Calms Forte didn't work.  Meeeee -- I think you're right..I'm going to go back up to 30 mg's and see if it helps.  As much as I being on a high dose of Zyprexa, nothing is worse than insomnia.  I thought nearly 6 months would be enough healing time to cut down on Zyprexa but I guess it isn't.  Really frustrating..

 

I was laying in bed for 7 hours and just couldn't sleep at all.  The Unisom made me feel nasty for some reason.  Thanks for the responses..I feel terrible and I hope I get some relief soon.  I have an appointment with my psychiatrist tomorrow and I might ask about Silenor because I am desperate for sleep.  I normally don't agree with taking antidepressants for sleep but I don't know what else to do.

 

Sometimes it feels like I'm not healing at all..this seems like a huge injustice to me because this insomnia is as bad as I had it the first week I quit benzos.  I was sleeping 8 hours a day for almost 30 days straight though before this.  I just don't know how it got so bad so fast.  I hope it turns around again soon.

[[Me...]]

Ouch another sleepless night - So sorry Glyn  :'(

 

Just read your post re getting Silenor - are you intending to up your Zyprexa AND get the Silenor?  Don't you think it should be one or the other so you can acertain which is being effective?

[[Ga...]]

I dont like unisom, it has awful side effect IMO I never feel good after taking it. It knocks me out but anyways Glynn hope that a/d helps for you. i dont know how you get thru all the insomnia good luck

Glyn

[[Je...]]

I haven't slept much in days and not at all last night.  Stay away from the doctors though cause they will just try to give you more addictive pills.  I never had this problem before benzos and I just told my doctor and he suggested Serquel.  I don't know how many times I have to tell him I'm trying to get off pills not add new ones, they just don't get it!

[[ma...]]

Hi Glyn. I had another horrible nite again. I can't believe I'm a yr and 2mos off and still having no sleep. Last nite I was really tired. Tried to sleep with no supplements. Went to bed,lives off at 10. At 11:30 took 2.5 melatonin. Did nothing. At 12:30 took 1/2 a unisom. Did nothing. At 1 I took the other 1/2 and finally went to sleep till 6.

Tonite I am going to start sleep restriction but feel even tho I am tired, exhausted, with no help I will probably be awake all nite, getting up and down constantly. I am so tired but my brain isn't shutting down. I don't have a particular worry, tho my husband was awful yesterday. Today I'm not talking to him. Wish I could just sleep. Scared about tonite.

[[ji...]]

I can't say enough about the sleep restriction. Last night was my first 8 hr night!!! If I mess up on the program, it takes me a few days to get back on track but when I faithfully use the methods it always works. My sleep was seriously so bad...3 hrs was a good night. I never dreamed I would get 8 hours!!!

 

You can't say you've tried everything until you've faithfully tried this method for a few weeks. Medicine of any type never touched my insomnia.

[[ji...]]

Kathi...don't expect to sleep tonight. You probably won't for a few nights. Then you will hot a breakthrough and you will have glorious sleep...resist the pills and follow the rules of the method. Be strong. It will work, I promise!!!

[[ma...]]

I'm glad you're here. Tonite I am supposed to start the sleep restriction but I'm kinda scared. The last 2 nites I've been so messed up and unable to sleep. Just like in early withdrawal. I knew i would be awake all nite without some supplement. I felt absolutely horrible the last 2 days. Like I have the flu. I have stopped taking kelp a supplement for thyroid and I'm wondering if its that. I have had at least 5hrs of sleep, maybe more so I should not be this exhausted. I am feeling horrible during the day and yet when I get in bed I feel sleepy but can't go to sleep.

I am wondering if I should wait until I am feeling better to start this. My plan is 12-6 because 6hrs is my normal with melatonin or sleepy tea. I really have no clue why I would be this exhausted and ill feeling because I've taken unisom in the middle of the nite to get 5=6hrs of sleep.

I'm glad you told me about not expecting to sleep. That helps.

Thanks Jittery. So glad you are sleeping. I am feeling so awful be I even start this. I truly don't think I've felt this awful thru all this taper. I am just starting to feel more energy...not that it is getting closer to evening. Guess my rhythms may be messed up.

Should I try tonite?

[[Gl...]]

I decided against getting the antidepressant for sleep.  I just updosed the Zyprexa back to 30mg's and I've been sleeping well since then.  Got 8+ hours the last 2 nights.  I think I still want to try the sleep restriction when I'm trying to cut down on Zyprexa.  But it makes me wonder, if 99% of insomnia is psychological, how come I only get it bad when I try to cut down the Zyprexa?  That seems more like a chemical problem to me.  I'm wanting to try the sleep restriction though and see if it helps.

 

Maltese -- I think it's worth a try to do the sleep restriction and see how it goes

[[ji...]]

Whether you know it or not you probably had anxiety about cutting the zyprexa and expected some insomnia. Expectancies are self fulfilling. You may have some chemical insomnia too but I still think the SR when done correctly will help.

 

Maltese--don't make excuses about when to start bc there will always be a reason to put it off. You just have to dive in head first. You can do it!!!

[[ma...]]

Hi Jittery. I felt too sick yesterday to start but I did actually sleep last nite. I think because I was so sick feeling and took epsom salts bath and magnesium oil and chamomile tea.

My concern is that we are going on vacation at the end of the month, for a week in AZ. I never sleep when out of town. Jittery, do you think I should start it even tho I can only do it for 3 weeks and then vacation? I know I will probably need help to sleep while out of town. Is 3 weeks enuf sleep restriction to fix my sleep? I don't want to start and then get messed up by the traveling and have to start all over. Maybe it wouldn't work the 2nd time. What do you think?

[[ji...]]

3 weeks is not enough, but you should still stick to the program when out of town. Is there a place you can get up and go if you can't sleep, like a living room? If so, there is no reason you can't do the program. If I were you I'd scrap the meds and do the program while out of town. It can be done! Don't worry if you don't sleep well...most people don't sleep well on vacation. I did it while out of town and although I overslept a bit, I still slept good. Although I had to adjust the program when I got back to get back on track. You may see great improvement in 3 weeks but you won't be cured yet. Just start it now and stick to it while you are away. Lack of sleep won't kill you and you likely won't sleep well on vacay but you might sleep better if you have 3 weeks under your belt.