Insomnia–Racing Thoughts
Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It really is a safe med. I understand your fear about sleeping to long. Seriously, try the childrens liquid Benadryl, I think they have a sugar free formula too. Wean on it slowly like you would a AD. You can take Benadryl every 4 to 6 hours. So I would take it 1/2 hour before bedtime. So if you sleep usually 7 to 8 hours( whats that?<g) I doubt you would be super groggy upon arising.You might want to try it on a day your wife is home, so if you are really out of it, she can watch the kids. I would start at 12.5mgs the first night and increase in 12.5mg increments, once you find the dose that works best for you, you can probably graduate to big boy sized Benadryls<g. Just be careful when you buy Benadryl,that it is only Benadryl, not compounded with other meds, such as decongestants. Take care!! Jackie ~~Strange as it may seem, my life is based on a true story~~
LOL! Wouldn’t people be amused that I needed to "wean" onto children’s Benadryl? Do you really think I might graduate to big boy Benadryl? hehe P~~~~~ I may try it, to see if it helps even out my sleep patterns a little. Ray
Response:
Kerrie, I wish I could do the no nap thing but I am on dialysis three times a week for 4 and 1/2 hours so I power nap which does not help. I wonder what I could do to stay awake at dialysis and if it would help the insomnia. Cheryl
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi there! When I first started the Zoloft, 5 years ago..I remember noticing insomnia…I mean to the point where I wouldn’t fall asleep untill 6am. It didn’t last long, though. I took it upon myself to break the cycle; considering that I, as well instantly fell in love with the Zoloft which changed my life:) I would much rather have to tolerate restless nights than 24 hour days filled with panic and anxiety. For the racing thoughts, I highly suggest taking up reading or writing….or even come on the internet..anything to keep your mind focused; it’s the nights when you’re staring at the ceiling that crazy thoughts run through your mind. I have also gotten into the contraversial habit of falling asleep with the TV on; even while I’m lying inm bed, my mind tends to focus on the TV noises rather then wander on it’s own. As for the insomnia..it’s going to suck..but you must force yourself to get on a good track…one day, regardless of how little sleep you got the night before…force yourself to stay up all day NO NAPS! It’s gonna be hard, but eventually, your body will adjust 
Please, Please keep me updated Kerrie
Response:
Well, OK, just don’t let it happen again! <VBEG
I’m afraid to try Benadryl. I know it’s safe, just worried about sleeping too long. Ray
It really is a safe med. I understand your fear about sleeping to long. Seriously, try the childrens liquid Benadryl, I think they have a sugar free formula too. Wean on it slowly like you would a AD. You can take Benadryl every 4 to 6 hours. So I would take it 1/2 hour before bedtime. So if you sleep usually 7 to 8 hours( whats that?<g) I doubt you would be super groggy upon arising.You might want to try it on a day your wife is home, so if you are really out of it, she can watch the kids. I would start at 12.5mgs the first night and increase in 12.5mg increments, once you find the dose that works best for you, you can probably graduate to big boy sized Benadryls<g. Just be careful when you buy Benadryl,that it is only Benadryl, not compounded with other meds, such as decongestants. Take care!! Jackie ~~Strange as it may seem, my life is based on a true story~~
Response:
I forgot to add, ask your doctor first about the benadryl. Sorry about that. Jackie
Well, OK, just don’t let it happen again! <VBEG I’m afraid to try Benadryl. I know it’s safe, just worried about sleeping too long. Ray
Response:
I have the exact same problem and I am seeking some advice as well, I am up til 2 or 3 am and then up at 5 am…I also sing a song in my head over and over and also if I hear a really bazaar name of someone or something, I repeat it over and over in my head. I have always done that, I don’t take Zoloft anymore and I still have the insomnia, (I had taken Paxil after the Zoloft because I couldn’t eat with Zoloft…Paxil put me to sleep nicely but I was able to come off of it in Dec.) I wonder why we get the insomnia, I get in bed and my mind is off, I think of the most heart racing, exciting things and I just cannot fall asleep. I have tried everything. I hope there is an answer or cure because I am really sleep deprived. God bless and hope we here of something soon. Cheryl
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have always had insomnia but for the past few months it is much worse, with trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking too early. I started taking Zoloft a month ago and it’s working really well but is making the insomnia somewhat worse (not significantly). I don’t want to switch from the Zoloft because this is my only noticeable side effect. It seems I am unable to stop "the internal dialogue" and thoughts race through my head. Or if I hear any part of a song, it repeats in my head for hours. I’ve heard of this before as being a manifestation of OCD. I have some OCD tendencies but don’t meet the criteria for true OCD. I also thought the Zoloft should help the OCD. I’ve noticed if I try guided imagery type techniques (not with headphones, as they drive me crazy when trying to sleep) I’ll stay with those thoughts for as little as a minute, then am back to the racing thoughts or music going through my head. Benzos and Ambien help but I prefer to not rely on sleeping pills. Any ideas? Many thanks in advance.
Response:
::::snipped:::: Benadry(diphenhydramine) is a anti-histamine, but it can be used as a OTC sleep aid. It is very safe and non-habit forming. The few times I took it, it made me sleep like the dead. I would start at a low dose, you can even use the childrens liquid Benadryl, and increase slowly, until you get a good night sleep, but don`t wake groggy. Take care!! Jackie
I forgot to add, ask your doctor first about the benadryl. Sorry about that. Jackie
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have always had insomnia but for the past few months it is much worse, with trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking too early. I started taking Zoloft a month ago and it’s working really well but is making the insomnia somewhat worse (not significantly). I don’t want to switch from the Zoloft because this is my only noticeable side effect. It seems I am unable to stop "the internal dialogue" and thoughts race through my head. Or if I hear any part of a song, it repeats in my head for hours. I’ve heard of this before as being a manifestation of OCD. I have some OCD tendencies but don’t meet the criteria for true OCD. I also thought the Zoloft should help the OCD. I’ve noticed if I try guided imagery type techniques (not with headphones, as they drive me crazy when trying to sleep) I’ll stay with those thoughts for as little as a minute, then am back to the racing thoughts or music going through my head. Benzos and Ambien help but I prefer to not rely on sleeping pills. Any ideas? Many thanks in advance.
Hi, I can really relate to alot of what your wrote. I have had bad insomnia, racing thoughts, and songs that get stuck in my head too. My diagnosis is PD with agoraphobia, and my therapist told me I have OCD tendencies too. I was put on Paxil which is in the same family as Zoloft, and she told me it would help my PD and the OCD tendencies and it did. Zoloft should help your OCD tendencies. And it is not uncommon for anti-depressants to cause insomnia at the beginning. Paxil made my already severe insomnia worse, but after a few weeks my insomnia gradually went away. You are only on week four, there is still time for the racing thoughts and insomnia to improve. I don`t know what dose of Zoloft you are on, but you could ask your doctor to increase it. This increase might help the racing thoughts, which in turn would help the insomnia. With Zoloft, you can go to 200mgs. I know with Paxil, people with OCD seem to need higher doses, I don`t know how that works with Zoloft though. If you are taking Zoloft in the PM, a switch to AM might help with the insomnia. I could not take Paxil in the PM, it aggravated my insomnia. When I have insomnia, I try not to force myself to sleep. If I find after 20 minutes I can`t sleep, especially if I have racing thoughts or songs stuck in my head, I get up and watch TV or read a book. I do this until I fall alseep. Unfortunately, after years of doing this, I now need a TV on to fall alseep, even if it is just the weather channel. Being you want to avoid benzo`s and sleep aids, I suggest you try Benadryl. Benadry(diphenhydramine) is a anti-histamine, but it can be used as a OTC sleep aid. It is very safe and non-habit forming. The few times I took it, it made me sleep like the dead. I would start at a low dose, you can even use the childrens liquid Benadryl, and increase slowly, until you get a good night sleep, but don`t wake groggy. Take care!! Jackie
Response:
Hi there! When I first started the Zoloft, 5 years ago..I remember noticing insomnia…I mean to the point where I wouldn’t fall asleep untill 6am. It didn’t last long, though. I took it upon myself to break the cycle; considering that I, as well instantly fell in love with the Zoloft which changed my life:) I would much rather have to tolerate restless nights than 24 hour days filled with panic and anxiety. For the racing thoughts, I highly suggest taking up reading or writing….or even come on the internet..anything to keep your mind focused; it’s the nights when you’re staring at the ceiling that crazy thoughts run through your mind. I have also gotten into the contraversial habit of falling asleep with the TV on; even while I’m lying inm bed, my mind tends to focus on the TV noises rather then wander on it’s own. As for the insomnia..it’s going to suck..but you must force yourself to get on a good track…one day, regardless of how little sleep you got the night before…force yourself to stay up all day NO NAPS! It’s gonna be hard, but eventually, your body will adjust Please, Please keep me updated Kerrie
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I have always had insomnia but for the past few months it is much worse, with trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking too early. I started taking Zoloft a month ago and it’s working really well but is making the insomnia somewhat worse (not significantly). I don’t want to switch from the Zoloft because this is my only noticeable side effect. It seems I am unable to stop "the internal dialogue" and thoughts race through my head. Or if I hear any part of a song, it repeats in my head for hours. I’ve heard of this before as being a manifestation of OCD. I have some OCD tendencies but don’t meet the criteria for true OCD. I also thought the Zoloft should help the OCD. I’ve noticed if I try guided imagery type techniques (not with headphones, as they drive me crazy when trying to sleep) I’ll stay with those thoughts for as little as a minute, then am back to the racing thoughts or music going through my head. Benzos and Ambien help but I prefer to not rely on sleeping pills. Any ideas? Many thanks in advance.
My doc prescribed Trazodone for those sleepless nights. She says it in non-habit forming and will allow me to sleep like a baby. My mom uses it along with Paxil and says she doesn’t even hear my dad snore (and oh boy!, does he snore!) but has no trouble getting up out of bed in the morning. Thankfully, I have not had to rely on my prescription yet – my Celexa seems to help me sleep just fine. Karen
