PRIMARY INSOMNIA /DRUG USE
Question:
15mg of Dalmane, and 1mg of Atavan is a low dosage. 3 years is not that long, I know people who take both for decades. Benzos are considered to be quite unharmful to the liver and the kidneys (notice -quite- unharmful, compared to other drugs, that is). But as somebody suggested, an occasional test of your liver, and when you are on it anyway, of your kidneys might be a good idea. I am an insomniac since I can think (age 6 or so). I have tried so many methods I cannot even remember them all. So I am living with drugs for the time being. BUT I will never give up trying other things. I have just recently heard great things about acupuncture and stress-reducing (not sleep specifically), for example. I guess you are somebody with alot of experience in his insomnia, so I would rather not name the 1001st way of possibly treating your insomnia. I guess you know them all by heart. If not, just holler again, and I will try to come up with some more ideas (and lots of others on the ng will, too, I guess) Manuela – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -JAMES STRAND wrote: > I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PRIMARY INSOMNIA ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO- AFTER TRYING > VARIOUS NATURAL WAYS TO TREAT MY PROBLEM…HYPNOTHERAPY, BIOFEEDBACK, > MEDITATION,VARIOUS HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENTS, ETC. I FINALLY GAVE INTO THE > TRADITIONAL TREATMENT OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. I’VE NOW BEEN > CONSISTENTLY ON SOME SORT OF DRUG FOR THREE YEARS STRAIGHT, WITH > VARYING RESULTS. I’M VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE DAMAGE THIS MAY CAUSE MY > LIVER. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO’S HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND > FOUND A DIFFERENT METHOD? IS THERE > ANYONE OUT THERE USING PRESCRIPTION MEDS THIS LONG? I’M CURRENTLY TAKING > 15MG DALMANE AND 1 MG ATIVAN NIGHTLY.IS THIS TOO MUCH? IS THERE ANY > OTHER WAY? PLEASE HELP!!
Response:
Manuela (m…@testspd.unizh.ch) writes:
Snip > I am an insomniac since I can think (age 6 or so). I have tried so many > methods I cannot even remember them all. So I am living with drugs for > the time being. BUT I will never give up trying other things. I have > just recently heard great things about acupuncture and stress-reducing > (not sleep specifically), for example. I guess you are somebody with > alot of experience in his insomnia, so I would rather not name the > 1001st way of possibly treating your insomnia. I guess you know them all > by heart. If not, just holler again, and I will try to come up with some > more ideas (and lots of others on the ng will, too, I guess) > JAMES STRAND wrote:
snip >> MEDITATION,VARIOUS HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENTS, ETC. I FINALLY GAVE INTO THE >> TRADITIONAL TREATMENT OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. I’VE NOW BEEN >> CONSISTENTLY ON SOME SORT OF DRUG FOR THREE YEARS STRAIGHT, WITH >> VARYING RESULTS. I’M VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE DAMAGE THIS MAY CAUSE MY >> LIVER. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO’S HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND >> FOUND A DIFFERENT METHOD? IS THERE
I found acupuncture by a qualified practioner quite effective although the results worfe off after about 14 months.But I am going back. I was warned that it might be necessary. But better than drugs which might make one addictive. Good luck — Gunther Abrahamson aa…@ncf.ca
Response:
Hi, James. I tried to reply directly to you backchannel, but was unable to, so I am posting to the NG. I am taking 50 mg of Trazodone nightly for primary insomnia. My trouble has been waking in the middle of the night and being unable to return to sleep. I am not familiar with long term effects of Dalmane and Ativan. I personally know that I wish I didn’t need a sleep aid, despite the fact that I am not currently having troubles from side effects. When I take breaks from work, like over the holidays, I slept very well. When I am thiking about work, not necessarily worrying, just thinking a lot, I do not sleep well. Feel free to reply on the ng or directly to djba…@oregon.uoregon.edu JAMES STRAND <JIM…@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:24318-387FA0E5-74@storefull-163.iap.bryant.webtv.net… > I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PRIMARY INSOMNIA ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO- AFTER TRYING >
VARIOUS NATURAL WAYS TO TREAT MY PROBLEM…HYPNOTHERAPY, BIOFEEDBACK, > MEDITATION,VARIOUS HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENTS, ETC. I FINALLY GAVE INTO THE > TRADITIONAL TREATMENT OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. I’VE NOW BEEN > CONSISTENTLY ON SOME SORT OF DRUG FOR THREE YEARS STRAIGHT, WITH > VARYING RESULTS. I’M VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE DAMAGE THIS MAY CAUSE MY >
LIVER. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO’S HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND > FOUND A DIFFERENT METHOD? IS > ANYONE OUT THERE USING PRESCRIPTION MEDS THIS LONG? I’M CURRENTLY TAKING > 15MG DALMANE AND 1 MG ATIVAN NIGHTLY.IS THIS TOO MUCH? IS THERE ANY >
OTHER WAY? PLEASE HELP!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –
Response:
Dan Baker wrote: > I am taking 50 mg of Trazodone nightly for > primary insomnia. My trouble has been waking > in the middle of the night and being unable to > return to sleep.
Ditto. I take 100mg of Trazodone about one hour before sleep. > I am not familiar with long term effects of > Dalmane and Ativan.
They are NOT intended for long term use! And if the individual suffers either hypopnea or obstructive sleep apnea, this can be a very dangerous mixture !! Regards, =jbf= John B. Fisher
Response:
On Sun, 23 Jan 2000 01:15:24 GMT, Edwin McCullough <e…@home.com> wrote: >I noted John mentioned the admonition against the long-term use of >Ativan (and other benzos). I have asked several sleep docs where this >comes from and the usual answer is the PDR (package insert). I went back >to some of the original studies establishing the efficacy and the >interesting fact is that most of these studies were of very limited >duration and it may be that these warnings are more the result of the >pharmaceutical company’s legal gurus than medical expertise.
That seems to be case on most drugs. They say that "the doctor should re-evaluate the usefulness of the drug for the particular patient."
Response:
The combination of Dalmane and Ativan is unusual. Basically because Dalmane is one of the longer acting Benzos and will build up and make you tired during the day. Ativan usually clears out in 8-10 hours with no active metabolites. Both Dalmane and Ativan are Benzos which are used to treat anxiety and based on my personal experience with Ativan is a great at inducing sleep and keeping one asleep. 2 mg about one hour before bedtime works for me (and has continuosly for at least 2 years) but you should start at whatever number your doc recommends. Be sure not to eat between the time you take the Ativan and go to sleep as food (in my experience) diminishes the hypnotic effect. I noted John mentioned the admonition against the long-term use of Ativan (and other benzos). I have asked several sleep docs where this comes from and the usual answer is the PDR (package insert). I went back to some of the original studies establishing the efficacy and the interesting fact is that most of these studies were of very limited duration and it may be that these warnings are more the result of the pharmaceutical company’s legal gurus than medical expertise. John’s comment about the use of either Dalmane or Ativan in conjunction with an obstructive sleep disorder needs to be taken seriously as most benzos are muscle relaxants. Therefore I will clearly state that I always use a CPAP in conjunction with my Ativan….. This NG is a great source of information and experience, but should be used in conjunction with those who are responsible for management of your disease. Ed – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"John B. Fisher" wrote: > Dan Baker wrote: > > I am taking 50 mg of Trazodone nightly for > > primary insomnia. My trouble has been waking > > in the middle of the night and being unable to > > return to sleep. > Ditto. I take 100mg of Trazodone about one hour before sleep. > > I am not familiar with long term effects of > > Dalmane and Ativan. > They are NOT intended for long term use! And if the individual suffers > either hypopnea or obstructive sleep apnea, this can be a very dangerous > mixture !! > Regards, > =jbf= > John B. Fisher
Response:
I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PRIMARY INSOMNIA ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO- AFTER TRYING VARIOUS NATURAL WAYS TO TREAT MY PROBLEM…HYPNOTHERAPY, BIOFEEDBACK, MEDITATION,VARIOUS HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENTS, ETC. I FINALLY GAVE INTO THE TRADITIONAL TREATMENT OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. I’VE NOW BEEN CONSISTENTLY ON SOME SORT OF DRUG FOR THREE YEARS STRAIGHT, WITH VARYING RESULTS. I’M VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE DAMAGE THIS MAY CAUSE MY LIVER. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO’S HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND FOUND A DIFFERENT METHOD? IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE USING PRESCRIPTION MEDS THIS LONG? I’M CURRENTLY TAKING 15MG DALMANE AND 1 MG ATIVAN NIGHTLY.IS THIS TOO MUCH? IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY? PLEASE HELP!!
Response:
Jim, I’ve been rotating Xanax, Benadryl (same ingredient as Sominex) and Ambien (and combinations of the three) for years to sleep (I switch them periodically because they lose their effect after awhile and I’m afraid of long-term side effects). I’m not a physician, but my feeling regarding your situation is as follows: 1) If you can’t sleep, tossing and turning all night is probably worse for your system than meds prescribed by your doctor. 2) Prescription drugs are tested more than most "natural" remedies. 3) Get liver function tests from your internist every 6 months or so (whatever he/she recommends). 4) Go to a shrink (if you haven’t already) and check whether your current meds are appropriate. If you already go to a shrink, check with your internist to get a second opinion. (by the way, if you haven’t seen a psychiatrist because you think there’s some sort of stigma to it… it takes more guts to confront a problem that to ignore it. Why live in pain?). 5) Go to one of the official sleep clinics in the US and get an evaluation (just make sure they take your health insurance first — if not, they’re usually willing to strike a deal). You can find a list of accredited centers in the back of the book "The Promise of Sleep" by William C. Dement, MD, PhD. Hope this helps. I’ve been an insomniac for years. Best of luck. I understand what you’re going through. It’s not pleasant, to say the least. In article <24318-387FA0E5…@storefull-163.iap.bryant.webtv.net>, JIM…@webtv.net (JAMES STRAND) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PRIMARY INSOMNIA ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO- AFTER TRYING > VARIOUS NATURAL WAYS TO TREAT MY PROBLEM…HYPNOTHERAPY, BIOFEEDBACK, > MEDITATION,VARIOUS HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENTS, ETC. I FINALLY GAVE INTO THE > TRADITIONAL TREATMENT OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. I’VE NOW BEEN > CONSISTENTLY ON SOME SORT OF DRUG FOR THREE YEARS STRAIGHT, WITH > VARYING RESULTS. I’M VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE DAMAGE THIS MAY CAUSE MY > LIVER. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO’S HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND > FOUND A DIFFERENT METHOD? IS THERE > ANYONE OUT THERE USING PRESCRIPTION MEDS THIS LONG? I’M CURRENTLY TAKING > 15MG DALMANE AND 1 MG ATIVAN NIGHTLY.IS THIS TOO MUCH? IS THERE ANY > OTHER WAY? PLEASE HELP!!
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Response:
Hi Ed, Apparently not, but hopefully it will be soon. It has been by far the best hypnotic I’ve tried. It doesn’t have any "fuzzy-head" lingerings. I scooped this from the manufacterer re countries in which it is available: Imovane
