auroraioanid's Journal, 26 March 2015

I think you need another doctor. You need a doctor, not a pill-pusher. 

Have you tried melatonin? It's the body's sleep hormone and you can take it is a safe supplement at night. It is also associated with dreams so if you do take it your dreams maybe be more vivid/strange, but it can really help. 

OMG.... listen to your body not the doctor. Until they can take up residence and feel what you're going through they have no right to tell you how you should feel. I'm going through the same thing with Wellbutrin xl and it made all symptoms worse. Got off of it and feel so much better. Ditto on the melatonin. Start at the lowest dose and go with time released.  

Melatonin did wonders for me. There are a few things that you need to be careful about if you want it to be effective. For one, everybody has a different amount that works for them - for some it's 3 mg, for some 5, for some 6. Taking more does NOT enhance the effect, like it happens with sleeping pills. So start with 3 mg and go from there. The second thing is, when it starts working (it takes anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes) and you start feeling sleepy, do NOT tell yourself "I'll finish watching this episode" or "I'll read one more page". Go straight to bed. Otherwise the effect will disappear. Once you're on melatonin for a couple months, your body's chemistry usually adjusts and you won't have problems sleeping anymore. I do have issues falling asleep myself, so my evening routine consists of 5 mg Melatonin and 2 Benadryls. Works like a charm. 

Great advice Dayberndt! Melatonin worked for me too. 5mg, time release. I tried 10mg but whew made me very groogy. :) 

Well, myself I take it for a dual purpose, one is to be able to fall asleep, but I also take it because studies have shown that it prevents/slows down breast cancer. It has also been shown to play an important role in Alzheimer and in aging. That is why it's also called the "anti-aging hormone". 

Dayberndt, I read that about Alzheimer's as well. That study makes a lot of sense to me. My grandmother has Alzheimer's and she has had sleep problems her whole life. Part of her problem is she is afraid of her dreams so she refuses to take melatonin because of the effect on dreams it has. It's a shame she won't see reason when it comes to this.  

A real shame. I personally didn't have dreams issues - but then I love to dream :) I do have Alzheimer in my family too, my paternal grandmother died of it, and so did my father, a year and a half ago. So I am trying to do whatever possible to avoid it. 

I love to dream too, that is why I like to sleep. I've tried to talk with her about her fear but she avoids the topic beyond just saying she doesn't like her dreams. She told me a while back she dreamed she was at a party with all of her deceased brothers and sisters (she's the last). She said it scared her very much. She wouldn't come out and say it but I think it made her afraid she was about to die. She's 83 so that kind of fear does make a bit of sense to me but I just don't get the deep rooted fear she has over all. It makes me sad to know that better sleep would probably help her mind but my hands are tied. I used to put her meds in a weekly container for her and would sneak in a melatonin at night. She was sleeping better but as soon as she starts feeling better she stops me from doing her meds. We go in circles.  

Get rid of those pills and that doctor. The melatonin does help, definitely give it a try. Good luck. 

Thank you, guys. I like Melatonin too. It has never been clear to me if it does anything indeed, but I incline to believe it does. I have not heard of the time released...I will try it again and stay consistent with it. Does Benadryl help too?  

yes, she is a bit of a pill pusher. Many doctors are these days. It is a conflict of interest. They get co-interested by the Big Pharm. Sometimes, I think of changing her, but you grow used to them... 

Stay with natural for sleep. Use the Benadryl for medical purposes only. Not for sleep.  

Benadryl is an anti-histamine. Used for allergies. If anything, it will make you breathe easier as there are a lot of allergens even indoors that we aren't aware of. There is no con with taking it for relaxation, and many doctors will advise you to try it before prescribing you sleeping pills that fall into the controlled medication category - as it is non-addictive. In many skilled nursing facilities it is prescribed as a sleep aid for the elderly and immune impaired people. Even WebMD lists it as the first choice OTC option: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/in-depth/sleep-aids/art-20047860?pg=2 

Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in the over the counter ZZZZQuil product. It acts like a benadryl and works well. Start with a half dose and see if you like it. Remeron generally knocks people out. 

You also can get the generic Diphenhydramine like at CVS or Walgreen's. It is just as good. 

I don't trust doctors who prescribe medications if simple life changes will work. If you google the topic, you can find whole foods that help with sleep. Also, herbal teas, such as the mentioned SleepyTime. Exercise enough so you can be tired helps. Turning off TV, tablet, computer, etc. an half hour or more before going to bed will help. Don't exercise too close to bedtime :) Do something very boring after you turn off your devices to help your body and mind to wind down. Munching a few almonds after turning off your devices and before going to bed may help. Sometimes its your body refusing to sleep because you have already slept enough, especially if you slept in or took a nap. Body wants to do more! Good Luck!! 

I take melatonin every night and sleep like a baby.I never mess with benadryl or niquil or any of that other stuff bc i wake up groggy and stay that way all day. Having been depressed before I kinda dont agree with the dr.. sometimes you just cant fall asleep and its not always bc your depressed. I sometimes cant fall asleep if i work out to late or im excited about something that happened or is gonna happen so sayin you cant sleep bc your depressed doesnt even make any sense to me. I take the melatonin then usually im out with in an hour or so.. and i agree. after awhile you body gets used to falling asleep and will do it with out it.  

I have to agree. I've been on antidepressants in the past, and they left me groggy and cloudy in the mornings, so I probably won't ever do that again. I don't eat anything heavy after about 7pm, and no caffeine at all, and usually don't much problem getting to sleep. My husband on the other hand has issues sleeping period. But he gets a much better night's sleep when he takes melatonin. I highly recommend it. it works. 

By the way, did you have a thyroid work-up recently? A lot of what you are describing can be thyroid related. Yes, even insomnia.