Insomnia

Insomnia used to be quite frequent for me before I started taking the meds I am on now, especially when I was manic or severely depressed. For about five years I have had very little trouble going to sleep, probably because my moods have been so stable. However, a couple of months ago I started waking up several times a night, and was sometimes unable to go back to sleep. Now, for the past week or so I am having a very hard time going to sleep. I have taken some over-the-counter sleep aids like Tylenol PM, Unisom, Melatonin, etc, and I'm still finding it hard to fall asleep. I am scheduled to see my psychiatrist this Thursday so I guess I will mention it then. I feel hesitant for my meds to be changed since, for the most part, I have done so well for years. But I have to sleep. It has always been really important to my mental health to get adequate rest. When my sleep schedule gets messed up my bipolar symptoms come out to play. So far I haven't had that happen this time, but I am starting to feel really run down.

My husband has severe insomnia and has to use prescription meds for his. I have tried his Ambien before and it made me feel like I had restless leg all over my body, then I blacked out and apparently raided the fridge though I have no recollection of it. I don't really want to take a drug that makes me do things I don't remember. His other med is Amitriptyline. In his doctor's words, his dosage is strong enough to knock out an elephant. He offered me one last night but I'm afraid I would never wake up if I took that!

So...I'll just see what my doctor says Thursday. Now I'm off to attempt sleep again...