Posted by Chloe on June 18, 2002, at 18:31:03
In reply to Doxepin, Sleep Duration, and Other Sleep Meds. » Chloe, posted by fachad on June 18, 2002, at 1:26:38
> I would bet that your sleep duration would increase if you increased the dose of doxepin. As long as it is still more tolerable than 20mg ami, I don't see what you have to lose by trying.
Fachad,
Doxepin is SO much more tolerable than Ami. I do experience some dry mouth and waves of fatigue during the day. But my mood and general sense of well being has improved. I was so irritable and grumpy all the time with Ami. I kept telling my pdoc this, but she dismissed it. I even sent her an abstract about how destabilizing amitriptyline IN PARTICULAR, can be for people with mood dysregulation. Still no response. Somehow, the trimiprimine got her attention and she rx'd quickly, and since I got TD type side effects, that was my chance to get something other than Ami...Phew, sorry for the the rant.
I wonder if I spaced out the Dox to 10 mgs 7pm, then 20 mgs at 11 pm, that I could get some more pain relief and not have the afternoon sleepies. Do some people take Dox during the day? I think I read somewhere you can take it in divided doses...(though ami is just once/day, I thought that was interesting, since dox is more sedating)
> As far as the half life consideration, from what I've found, dox has a half life ranging from 8-24 hrs, but average is 17hrs, which should be plenty for sleep. How long before bed to you take it? I still bet if you increased the doseage you would sleep longer.
I do have to report that last night was my best night on doxepin yet. I slept till 8 am! Very exciting for me. And was able to dream and rest for another hour or so...But I still am toying with increasing the dose, since the hair pain has come back. Ouch. It has been slowly getting worse, but I have been trying to ignore it.In terms of half life, 17 hours is fine. It's interesting though, that I tend to get sleep in the afternoon, I would say about 17 hours after I take my dose before bed at 11 pm.
> A few other suggestions for sleep, in case doxepin doesnt work out, or if it only works for pain.
>
> First, Remeron, which is even more potent at H1 blockade than doxepin, and almost totally free from anticholenergic effects, and it's half life is more like 26 hrs.I did not like Remeron when I tried it about 6 years ago. All I wanted to do was sleep. I couldn't get out of bed. And if I had to do something, like work, I was very cranky. Also, when I wasn't asleep, all I wanted to do was eat. I thought about food 24/7. I didn't like it at all...
>
> Also, Vistaril, hydroxyzine pamoate. It works better for sleep than Atarax, hydroxyzine HCL. They should be the same but they are not, in my experience. Vistaril comes in 25mg, 50mg, and 100 mg caps and used to be given for anxiety.I will keep these in mind, if Dox fails. But as you can probably tell, I am rather pleased with it. As far as tCA's go, I find it very tolerable.
> As far as my going from Ritalin to Dex, it was pretty much curiosity, and they are pretty close, so I haven't bothered switching back. I still may swich back, but I only see my pdoc 15 min every three months so changes happen slowly.
I know what your mean about having such a short time with your pdoc. It's just not enough. Do you live in the US, or is this because of a NHS, if you don't mind me asking?
I live in the US, but my insurance only covers psych appointments or hospitalization up to $10,000. I used that up long ago! At least I still get a little help with meds.Thanks Fachad,
Chloe
>
poster:Chloe
thread:108844
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020617/msgs/110233.html