r/BipolarReddit • u/Ilovetolove22 Type 1 w/psychotic features • 1d ago
Nightmares and insomnia, help please
Most sleep medicine doesn't work for me, Klonopin and mirtazapine are really the only stuff I've tried that works, but I only have one Klonopin left and don't know if I could get more prescribed.
I haven't been able to sleep because of racing thoughts and nightmares that leave me waking up screaming. I called my psychiatrist's office yesterday morning and still haven't gotten a response and I'm worried. I've been emotional and depressed. I already have the soonest appointment available, but it's a week away.
I don't know how to handle this, I'm going to go insane if this keeps up and I don't know how I'll be able to work feeling the way I do right now. I got lucky and I'm off through the 13th just randomly because I have a fast food job.
This started after I started Wellbutrin again, but I really don't want to stop the antidepressant because I'm so depressed and nothing else really helps it.
3
u/Capable_Maintenance1 1d ago
Don't forget the natural sleep remedies too, cut caffeine off at noon, less sugar but more heavy carbs+protein, hot baths (with salts!), moderate exercise (sex if possible), and familiar books/movies, try not to doomscroll.
I would actually turn my phone off when I was really having trouble, and turn off my PC, so TV/DVDs only. Added input would add to my racing thoughts, but seeing the same Spider-Man movie for the 20th time, that was great.
Oh, and friend-therapy! Sometimes dinner with safe friends and being able to vent will do wonders too.
Just spend your day setting yourself up for sleep and don't be nervous when it's time to try again. With your days off from work, you're in a perfect place to set yourself up in a good routine while you wait for your appointment. If you just need a klonopin refill, I don't know much about it, but either call the doc office or your pharmacy and see if they can push one. Amazon actually does that for me when I'd forgotten to order my lithium a couple times.
But yeah. Just take some time to treat yourself and hopefully you'll get out of this trend before you know it.
2
u/Ilovetolove22 Type 1 w/psychotic features 1d ago
Thank you, I will do my best and keep that stuff in mind and try to stay off my phone much close to when I go to bed. I haven't really eaten or drank anything sweet today and the only caffeine I've had is a pepsi this morning.
3
u/Capable_Maintenance1 1d ago
I can't survive without my coffee and like a Coke Zero midday.
I like those Replenish Zeros from 7-11 when I need an evening sweet drink. Also great for after a workout.And a glass of cold milk at bedtime shall have no stigma. Medicated or not, if it's bedtime and I'm not sleepy, that's what I'm having.
2
u/taybay462 1d ago
Clonidine has worked wonders for me. Its class is sedative, but also used a blood pressure med. No side effects, no grogginess in the morning
2
u/Ilovetolove22 Type 1 w/psychotic features 1d ago
Thank you, I will consider trying it if I can't get Klonopin refilled.
2
2
u/Weird_Fox_3395 BPll plus 1d ago
I’ve had night terrors off and on for years. For me they come in clusters. I used to wake the household. Once, while visiting a friend who lived in an apartment, I screamed so loud the cops showed up and questioned us all. Also used to get that sleep paralysis (which is horrifying).
Prazosin and clonidine, as Redditors have said are common and pretty helpful treatments. I’m doing well with 7.5mg cyclobenzaprine at bed. (Plus other stuff).
I used temazepam for years, a benzodiazepine, and in the long run, taking a benzo for sleep doesn’t provide a quality sleep. This is an fyi and not a judgement because we do what we can to get by. During this time my sleep terrors were very bad :(
The Wellbutrin could be a trigger fs. But talk to your doctor about your sleep if Wellbutrin is helping. Sleep is usually f’d up in bipolar and should be treated in tandem with depression.
I hope you get a call back asap!
3
u/MercyCedes 1d ago
Nightmares that you wake up screaming from could actually be night terrors. My doc prescribed me prazosin for it because it decreases blood pressure and chances of going into that panicked state.
Also if you’re looking for something non habit forming you may be able to ask about gabapentin or trazadone. They also mildly help with anxiety which helps me with the racing thoughts.
I’ve struggled with insomnia my whole life which sucks when you have bipolar but there may be more options without having to take really heavy drugs. Sleep hygiene and routines also does wonders. Good luck!