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Sleep Patterns

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Sleep Patterns

Postby LandorAiel » Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:23 am

I have never been the best sleeper, but since I started being medicated I actually slept. Over the past 6 months I have noticed that my sleep patterns have started to become erradict again. I can survive on less than 4 hours sleep a night.

I have been giving two different types of medication to help me sleep. So right now I am taking 900mg of lithium, 60mg of Mirtazapine and 5mg of valium. But still having problems sleeping.

I think that my body is getting used to the medications I am taking. Does this happen to anybody else? Should I speak to my doctor about getting put on to another type of medication? Could my body be used to the lithium and causing this?
Bipolar Disorder
Lithium 900mg
Seroquel 150mg
Mirtazapine 60mg
Diazepam 5mg

“The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept.” ― George Carlin

“There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.” ― Oscar Levant
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Re: Sleep Patterns

Postby CrackedGirl » Sun Feb 23, 2014 1:23 pm

LandorAiel wrote:I have never been the best sleeper, but since I started being medicated I actually slept. Over the past 6 months I have noticed that my sleep patterns have started to become erradict again. I can survive on less than 4 hours sleep a night.

I have been giving two different types of medication to help me sleep. So right now I am taking 900mg of lithium, 60mg of Mirtazapine and 5mg of valium. But still having problems sleeping.

I think that my body is getting used to the medications I am taking. Does this happen to anybody else? Should I speak to my doctor about getting put on to another type of medication? Could my body be used to the lithium and causing this?


Hi

I think sleep is really important in BP as lack of it seems to commonly affect mood. A couple of thoughts. Firtly you might want to see your Dr to check your mood is not going up as this can affect sleep and might be contributing to your sleep going off. I would not have thought this is lithium related tho that is something it would be a good idea to ask your Dr. Ppl can become more tolerant to benzos for sure so this might be an issue but also one to ask you Dr. If you need to be on long term sleep meds it might be better to be on something other than a benzo as they are also addictive as well as building tolerance. All in all I think that speaking to your Dr is a good plan. There are options and I think it is important t get on top of your sleep.

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Re: Sleep Patterns

Postby LandorAiel » Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:42 am

Thanks for the advice. I will contact my doctor straight away
Bipolar Disorder
Lithium 900mg
Seroquel 150mg
Mirtazapine 60mg
Diazepam 5mg

“The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept.” ― George Carlin

“There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.” ― Oscar Levant
LandorAiel
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Re: Sleep Patterns

Postby Boomkat » Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:14 pm

Hey there,

I have very erratic sleep patterns as well. I have great difficulty sleeping at night. (Unless I'm depressed, when I sleep for 24 hours at a stretch). I've never had problems with Lithium related to my sleep, but my doctor did put me on Ambien (6.25 mg dose) because it is less habit forming. It can usually help me fall asleep, but occasionally even the Ambien doesn't work. Then I take a second pill since the dose is so low. Only downside, Ambien costs a fortune.
Bipolar 1, rapid cycling, psychotic features
Lithium- 1200mg, Clozapine - 75mg, Latuda - 80mg, Cogentin - 10mg, Zolpidem - 6.25mg

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Re: Sleep Patterns

Postby CrackedGirl » Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:29 pm

LandorAiel wrote:Thanks for the advice. I will contact my doctor straight away


No problem - hope things go well

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Re: Sleep Patterns

Postby LandorAiel » Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:23 pm

Update!
I have seen my doctor and my counsellor and they have recommended that I go on a medication called Seroquel 150mg slow release. This is hopefully going to get the depression and sleep problems sorted out.

Is anybody taking this medication and what has it done for or to you?
Bipolar Disorder
Lithium 900mg
Seroquel 150mg
Mirtazapine 60mg
Diazepam 5mg

“The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept.” ― George Carlin

“There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.” ― Oscar Levant
LandorAiel
Consumer 4
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Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Feb 13, 2014 1:28 pm
Local time: Thu Jun 12, 2025 2:14 pm
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Re: Sleep Patterns

Postby MikeHooty » Thu Feb 27, 2014 4:40 pm

Hey there,

I took Seroquel for a few weeks and I hated it. It knocked me out within a half hour but I would sleep for too long and it would take me forever to get out of bed. I'm not on risperidal which is cheaper and not as potent. Still, I would trust your doctor and go with the Seroquel. Once you get back into a regular sleep pattern maybe you can go off it. Let me know how it goes!
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Re: Sleep Patterns

Postby Symbol of Life » Thu Feb 27, 2014 5:11 pm

LandorAiel wrote:Update!
I have seen my doctor and my counsellor and they have recommended that I go on a medication called Seroquel 150mg slow release. This is hopefully going to get the depression and sleep problems sorted out.

Is anybody taking this medication and what has it done for or to you?


Hi there! There's a topic about quetiapine below this one, a lot of people have written their experiences with this antipsychotic. In my personal case I can tell you you'll have no problems falling asleep, but you may have problems waking up and actually staying awake, at least that was my experience, I'm no longer on it.
Prev. dx Schizoaffective disorder, BPD, Bipolar 2 Current dx Back to bipolar with psychosis, Cluster B personality disorder
Aripiprazole 20 mg, Risperidone 3mg, Wellbutrin XL 175 mg, Clonazepam 0,25 mg prn, lamotrigine 200 mg, pregabalin 75 mg, quetiapine 50 mg as a spleep aid
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