I find myself reflecting on the recent discussions regarding pharmacological interventions and their long-term implications for cognitive stability. It is my firm belief that we must approach these chemical adjustments with a heightened sense of caution, moving beyond mere symptom management toward a more holistic understanding of neurological health. While some may advocate for rapid shifts in medication, I have always favored a more measured, deliberate pace to ensure the mind remains unclouded by unnecessary fluctuations. kaže: Sanval isn't working for me anymore; or rather, it’s working in ways it absolutely shouldn't. I'm sitting here wondering what kind of quality hypnotic I should ask my doctor about at my next check-up. When I can't sleep, I honestly feel like I'm losing my mind—the next day is always a complete write-off.😠I plan to consult my doctor regarding Dormicum. I have heard quite a bit about its efficacy, and my intention is to take it immediately before heading to bed. I want to avoid that restless, aimless pacing around the house that I used to experience after taking those ineffective doses of Sanval.🙄
Yes, Dormicum will certainly knock you out, though you should be careful because the dosage here in the States is often around 7.5 mg, whereas our local supply can go up to 15 mg. I would suggest starting with just half a dose first. If that doesn't do the trick, it's unlikely any other hypnotics available alongside Zolpidem—such as Zan, Cerson, or Fluzepam—will work for you either. I have heard that some people find relief from much lower doses of antipsychotics, perhaps between 25 and 50 mg of Quetiapine or Seroquel, but I don't have any personal experience with that, and frankly, I would prefer not to rely on antipsychotics just to fix my insomnia. You really need to sit down and have a serious conversation with your doctor about this, but definitely ask about the Dormicum and let me know how it goes. What does your current medication regimen look like? On Monday, I am planning to ask my physician if adding Elicei Valdoxan in the evening might help; it's an antidepressant, but apparently, it can also address sleep issues. I'll see what they have to say.
Jason Vaughn482 said:Well, let me tell you, Callista hits you hard and fast, but there is one major drawback: waking up in the morning feels like trekking through sludge, and you end up feeling completely hungover...
It is true that Callista is effective for insomnia, though you should expect to sleep quite heavily during that first week and deal with an intense hunger. I actually used it for a short period as a supplement for Ellie, but my doctor eventually took me off it because I was sleeping far too much; it wasn't even helping me fall asleep at night. Personally, I have a hard time drifting off even when taking Ambien, so you should definitely run it by your psychiatrist first.🙂
I am curious if anyone here has experience using Agomelatine as an add-on therapy to an SSRI. To be clear, my primary struggle is with anxiety disorders rather than clinical depression, though I have read that it can be effective for insomnia. My ultimate goal is to gradually phase out my reliance on hypnotics. I intend to consult with my psychiatrist about this, but I would value hearing from others who deal with anxiety—has anyone here tried it? I noticed some mentions regarding its noradrenergic effects, which makes me wonder if it might be counterproductive for someone whose main issue isn't depression.🤷
Matthew White4 said:Wait, what do you mean it's free? My psychiatrist prescribed mine, then my primary care doctor wrote out a handwritten script, and I still end up paying $26.50 every single time... 😲
Ambien was actually added to the standard insurance formulary, I believe back in May. I am currently using a private prescription myself, but I intend to ask my family doctor to issue a standard one instead, so I can finally stop paying out of pocket.
Justin Rogers5 said:Anyone got any sleep recs? Zonadin isn't doing squat, and neither is Zan. No clue why. Haven't touched sleeping pills in two years, so I'm definitely not hooked or anything.🤷The GP won't even write a script without a referral from a psychiatrist. Tried seeing a social worker, but there were 20 people ahead of me and I didn't even get a turn before he had to bail because his ferry was leaving.🙂
What kind of medication do you currently have on hand? You might try taking two Zonadin, but please, do not exceed that amount under any circumstances. Since you don't have a physician overseeing your care right now, you won't be able to access anything more potent, though I believe Dormicum is no longer covered by insurance in the US. I am just uncertain whether a general practitioner would actually write you a prescription for it.
Dear forum members, it has been quite some time since my last update. For the most part, I am doing alright; my Elice is performing its function, yet I find myself still struggling with persistent insomnia and a growing dependency on hypnotics. Has anyone here utilized Clonazepam for sleep issues, and if so, what dosage did you find effective? My doctor suggested introducing it because of my current reliance on Valium and Dormicum—since Cerson hasn't provided any relief—as a way to facilitate a break from standard hypnotics. She isn't a proponent of using antipsychotics to treat insomnia, and I've found that classic benzodiazepines, such as 20 mg of Valium, merely relax me without actually inducing sleep. I am hopeful that these tablets might offer some assistance, at least by allowing me to step away from the usual hypnotics for a while.😉
Here I am again, circling back to my ongoing struggle with insomnia. I take Ambien at night, which manages to knock me out, but I end up waking up so many times throughout the night that I feel like a zombie by morning. It feels as though my brain never actually shuts off, even while I'm asleep. This isn't a side effect from any antidepressant—I only take one dose of Alice—rather, it's a symptom of my anxiety disorder.
I was wondering if anyone could recommend an anxiolytic or a sedative that might help extend the effects of my sleeping pill? I did try 5 mg of Norvasc, but honestly, Norvasc doesn't really do much for me anyway, and I didn't notice any improvement in how long the Ambien lasted.
I plan to consult my doctor at my next appointment, of course, but I would truly value hearing about your own personal experiences.
I received a private prescription for Sanvalley, but the pharmacist mentioned that my doctor neglected to specify the quantity per pack. Since getting back to her office isn't really an option right now, I was thinking of just adding "30" to the script—which should cover me for a month—but I am honestly unsure where that belongs on the form.
It looks like this:
Sanvalley tabs, 10 mg D. scat. orig. No I S. 0, 0, 1
It is urgent!
Hopefully, I have transcribed everything correctly.
Timothy Wood38 said:Don't mention it. I take two a day, and I just knock them both back in the morning.
That sounds like a solid plan, so I think I'll follow suit.😁 I'm planning to pick them up this Monday. I should have mentioned that I am also currently taking a quarter dose of Eglonyl, and I am somewhat concerned that it might be the primary factor impacting my libido. However, I am hopeful that we will be able to phase it out of my treatment regimen quite soon; I am certainly rooting for that outcome.
Timothy Wood38 said:To be perfectly honest, I don't know any other supplement that can even come close to Horny Goat Weed, at least not when you look at the ingredients. Plus, ProLab makes it, and their stuff is supposedly top-tier quality. It might actually help you, and as for interactions with Elice... I can't say for certain, but I'm guessing it's fine. I'm taking both Prozac and Paxil myself and haven't run into any issues. I won't claim I feel "amazing" now, but my libido definitely saw an uptick, and the delayed ejaculation isn't an issue for me anymore. You should be able to find it at a drugstore; I picked mine up at a pharmacy for $43 for a month's supply.
That is excellent news, thank you 😁. It shouldn't interfere with Elice either. How much do you typically take per day—I assume just one dose—and at what time?
Timothy Wood38 said:Wait, hold on—are we talking about performance issues or just low libido? I mean, if the issue is erectile dysfunction, just ask your doctor for a prescription for Cialis; it worked wonders for me. But if it's specifically a libido thing, I'm not entirely sure, though I've heard Wellbutrin helps some people. It might work for you, or it might not. If you're looking for a supplement to boost your drive, honestly, the Horny Goat Weed from ProLab is your best bet.
Are you recommending that Goat Weed while also being on AD? I am currently taking Elice. My libido has dropped, much like everyone else's, and I am experiencing delayed ejaculation as well. It might be worth a try provided there aren't any drug interactions. Is that stuff even available in local pharmacies here in the States?
I must admit that I am quite disappointed with the selection of hypnotics available on our domestic market, which leads me to wonder if anyone here has experience with a medication called LENDORMIN. It is a hypnotic containing Brotizolam. While it is certainly possible to order it, the price here sits around $43, yet the drug is registered in Mexico where it costs only about 192 dinars—which is less than two dollars. Does anyone have any information regarding this specific medication? It is only available in 0.25 mg doses, and according to what I have been told in Mexico City, there is an absolute shortage in the local pharmacies. I assume that American psychiatrists must prescribe it frequently 😉, given that their lists of hypnotics with the same composition are identical to ours, with the exception of this one. In any case, if you happen to obtain a private prescription for any psychotropic medication, it is significantly more cost-effective to purchase it in Mexico City.😁 The pharmacists there claim they honor prescriptions issued in America. I am attaching their list of medications and prices. For reference, 100 dinars is roughly equal to one dollar. 😁
Timothy Wood38 said:Look, that’s a tough one to answer... are you asking for true hypnotics or just meds that have a hypnotic effect? If you're looking for what's actually available on our market, I'd suggest 30 mg of Fluzepam and 20 mg of Valium 4. Cerson, but obviously, you have to be disciplined about how you take them. You need to take them right when it's time to sleep—I assume you can feel when that window opens. So, you take the 30 mg of Fluzepam, and once you start feeling that sedative kick in, immediately take the 20 mg of Valium 4. Cerson and get straight into bed. The Valium 4. Cerson will pull you under, while the Fluzepam keeps you out. As for which hypnotic is the "strongest" available at a standard pharmacy (not talking about IV stuff used in hospitals), honestly, it varies so much from person to person. But, if I had to rank what we have on the market based on quality—considering things like sleep onset, staying asleep, side effects, and impact on sleep architecture—I'd list them like this: 1. Circadin + Xanax 5. Cerson 2. Circadin + Valium 4. Cerson 3. Fluzepam + Valium 4. Cerson 4. Valium 4. Cerson + Xanax 5. Cerson 5. Valium 4. Cerson + Valium 4. Cerson
Thank you very much; I shall attempt one of these combinations. Which non-hypnotic medication might be recommended that still offers a hypnotic effect?
Timothy Wood38 said:Look, it’s not actually that powerful—well, okay, maybe it is on the US market, though I suppose everyone reacts differently. Personally, I developed a tolerance to Ambien so quickly that I could only take it for about a week before it stopped working. For me, Lunesta actually works much better.
Please, would you mind sharing which one is actually the most potent? Even if you don't know the specific brand name, just tell me the active ingredients, and I will attempt to coordinate with my doctor to pick it up at the pharmacy. Furthermore, if you happen to know, could you please rank these hypnotics in order of their strength?
Kenneth Scott41 said:You’re telling me you can't fall asleep even with Ambien? I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they couldn't sleep while on that stuff.
It’s more that I am able to drift off occasionally, but the sleep only lasts about three or four hours before I'm wide awake again. It is quite frustrating because, by all accounts, that is one of the most potent hypnotics available.🙂div>
driftinggull21 said:What is your full medication list and the specific dosages?
My routine is as follows: I take 10 mg of Elice (Lexapro) in the morning, followed by 50 mg of Eglonyl at noon—which is just a quarter of a 200 mg dose—and then Dormicum in the evening, though I occasionally switch things up with 10 mg of Sanval. As for benzodiazepines, I don't use them regularly; if I am hit with an intense panic attack, I might take Xanax 0.25, but even then, it is only about once a week.
driftinggull21 said:And when exactly do you take the sedative?
I typically take it right as I get into bed. Usually, I manage to fall asleep, but then I find myself waking up in the middle of the night, unable to drift back off—even with the help of Dormicum.
Here is another update from my side. Since my hypnotic medication tends to wake me up after only five or six hours, I am wondering if it would be advisable to take a mild benzodiazepine alongside it—perhaps something gentle like Normabys or something stronger, such as Lexapro or Lorazepam. I attempted to substitute the hypnotic with 25 mg of Prazosin, but it was quite disappointing; I didn't experience any sedative effect whatsoever.
Timothy Wood38 said:What "most people"? Honestly, I'm actually jealous of folks who find relief with anxiolytics. I've developed such a massive tolerance to them that my psychiatrist basically told me there's no point in even bothering anymore. For instance, I can knock back 60 mg of Diazepam and feel absolutely nothing—just like I swallowed a glass of water. Same goes for 5 mg of Alprazolam, 7 mg of Lorazepam, and so on. These days, I tackle my insomnia by taking 300 mg of Prazosin about two hours before bed, having a glass of wine in the meantime, and then finally topping it off with 30 mg of Ambien right as I'm turning in. I just build a tolerance to almost everything way too fast. And apparently, once you hit that level of tolerance, it stays with you forever—at least, that's what my doctor claims.
Thank you all for the input. I will definitely need to consult with my doctor, though I likely won't be mixing hypnotics. By the way, I honestly don't understand how benzodiazepines can put anyone to sleep; I don't use them myself, but if I did, there's no way they would help me drift off—it's a shame.
Ray, I still remember your struggles with Effexor; thank God that chapter is finally closed.
Since Rejica already touched on hypnotics, I have a question. Personally, I’ve been struggling with waking up in the middle of the night and finding it nearly impossible to drift back to sleep. For about a year now, following my psychologist's advice, I’ve been taking one Ambien every night, though lately, I’ve had to increase it to one and a half. I am wondering if it is wise to rotate different sleeping pills to combat tolerance, or perhaps if there is something else I could add to boost the effectiveness of my current dose—should I combine them, or is that a dangerous path to take? I am also considering a benzodiazepine, though I am very reluctant to develop a dependency on those, as I rarely use them. Is it more damaging to increase the dosage of a single medication, or to mix different types? Furthermore, is it helpful to switch between them occasionally? Sometimes I take 20 mg of Lunesta, and other times I stick to the Ambien. I keep holding out hope that the same dose will eventually work for me again, but it just hasn't happened. I wanted to gather some insights from your experiences before I bring this up with my doctor, as it is somewhat difficult for me to admit to myself just how dependent I have become on these.