new to message board, mild bipolar, strong insomnia, need help with sleep meds

I am brand new to this board and hope to get some feedback.  As I stated above, I am diagonsed with mild bipolar disorder and insomnia.

I hope to connect with others who have experience with sleep problems. Right now I am taking 5 mg of Zyprexa, 200 mg of Trazadone and a whopping 45 mg of Temazapam in order to sleep. I live a fairly normal life except for the "benzo".  I have been taking the Temazapam for 4 years and know that I cannot sleep without it as I have tried many times. I have not been able to lower the dose either. Over the years I have tried a number of sleep aids and have had 2 sleep studies.  I am concerned that the symptoms I experience of fatigue are tied to the benzo. I also have some memory loss.

I welcome any comments from anyone.

B.

Hi Sun,

Thank you for replying to my message. I hope I can remember all you wrote since this message board does not show your post as I type this.. I looked up Halcion and found that it is also a benzo.  It seems to be a bout the same as Temazepam.  I agree that with this illness we have to put up with a lot from the medications.  One thing I found out is that I could probably not be on Zyprexa since my bipolar is so mild, but I also have anxiety and the Zyprexa helps that.  I am taking over the FDA recommended dose of Temazepam, and that is a problem. My former nurse practitioner left her practice and the psych she was associated with closed his office and moved to South Florida, so I am seeing a new psych. doc. He put me on 1 30 mg pill of Temazepam and it was not enough, so now my general practitioner is prescribing ithe 45 mg, but I do not know how long.  I am doing things like taking a French class and a Bible study group to try to stay active since I am an early retiree.  What other meds are you taking?  What is your diagnosis and how are you doing?  It is hard trying to work with the docs or nurses on what are the best meds to keep symptoms under control with as few side effects as possible. So far, fatigue and motivation are my biggest problems.  I also have a lot of late afternoon fatigue and go to bed pretty early.  Your schedule sounds busy.

I hope to hear from you again.

B

Hi Sandy,

Thank you so much for your reply. I like your suggestions about afternoon fatigue. I have tried the walk, and it does help. Here in Florida it is not polssible to walk in the neighborhood in summer! But lately, it is possible. I am glad you found out about Zyprexa helping with anxiety. It surely helps me. Oh, I do not know how to close one of my opening posts. I actually forgot I had posted a new one; I thought I had just responded on another post. I did not see your reply to my first post. I am still trying to learn to navigate this forum. I agree that it is not good having two different docs prescribing, but that is the only way I could continue on the Restoril or Temazepam, and I could not sleep without it. My primary care doc has all my meds for the last 15 years on his computer so he knows what I have been taking and somehow agreed to prescribe for me. I have wondered if the Zyprexa is responsible for the fatigue and lack of motivation. My husband took it years ago and it put him in a sleep state day and night!! I think lack of motivation is really hard to deal with combined with fatigue.  Thanks again for your suggestions. I am retired so I have time to take a nap if I choose, but I try to stay active with classes and groups. My primary hobby is reading. So many people are much more active though. I have learned a little about another sleep med on another board and I am going to check that out again and will post the name of it and hope that is helpful to those with sleep problems. Thanks again and best wishes to you.

Hi Sandy,

Thanks again for replying. You gave me some great ideas for activities and I enjoyed hearing about your neighbors who whiz around the area. I am like you in that I do not play cards. I did not even like cards when I was in college and the big thing was to play bridge!  I do not think I could keep all the plays in mind either. I try to exercise my brain by taking and using French and by being somewhat active in my church, but there is a lot that I do not do that I could do. I do not remember being a joiner when I was younger. 

I really appreciate your ideas though. It is so nice of you to respond. I have wondered for the last 5 years if the medication for bipolar has affected my activity level. What meds are you taking?  I believe I read that you suffer from severe depression. Is it under control now? What has helped you?

I think I have joined the message boards because I have had a severe brush with not having the same meds I did before my doc left town. I had no idea that I was taking such a high dose of Restoril. I need to stay tuned with the forum to learn from others about the various meds and how they affect people, and I can share some experiences I have had with various meds.  I look forward to hearing from you again.

Thanks again for all your helpful ideas.

B.

Hi Tortoise 11,

Thanks for your comment on this thread.  I also agree that activiites are important even if only a few.  I am not taking very much medication, but I find that my motivation is pretty low. As I mentioned in an early post, I do take a French class and a Bible study group. That must sound boring to others but they both involve a lot of activity. I guess my feeling is that I should do more and wish I felt like it. Your belly dancing sounds great! Taking a dog training class is good too, but you could probably teach it!! Oh, I also go out to lunch with good friends as often as possible. I find that is better than therapy; it is therapy.  I also fast walk to music four days a week and do some weight routines for strength and endurance.

I am not sure how to enter in my diagnosis and meds as everyone seems to have done but I will just add them to this post. I did try to find the rules and regs for the forum but did not find anything about posting diagnoses and meds.

Beth

"mild" bipolar, insomnia

Zyprexa 5 mgs

Trazadone 200mgs

Restoril, 45mgs (right now)

Gee, thanks for your suggestion. I have thought that may be the case. I also have had people think it is the high dose of the Restoril. I don't know, but I sure would like to find out.  I am not sure whether I am depressed. The Trazadone was a recent addition to my meds about 8 or 9 months ago. It helps with sleep and is an SSRI. I am going to get in touch this week, I hope, with the nurse practitioner who treated me for 5 years.  She has gone to another workplace. I am hopeful she will have some ideas; she has been on vacation for a while. It will be great to talk to her. Thanks again for your suggestion. I appreciate your input.  I hope I can give some suggestions to other people as well as receive the good input. Thanks for telling me about the way to sign in my name, etc.

Beth