Somulin? - Sleep Disorders Message Board

inquisitive1 · 02-16-2009, 01:31 PM

For the past month I've had a terrible time sleeping. Two nights in a row I was awake until after 4 A.M. and I have to get up and ready for work at 6 A.M. I went to the doctor and they don't like to give meds for insomnia because they think it's a behavior thing. I did get some Trazodone, but only after I begged for something. I only got one refill, as well, so after that I'm not going to get anything else. I tried sleeping without the meds at first, but then I was up the entire night, so I took the meds the next night.

They also did blood tests which came back okay. I don't drink caffeine after noon, I don't watch TV in the bedroom, and I eat early in the evening. I also exercise at a decent time of the day. I'm not doing anything differently now than I did before this all started. I don't think it was an anxiety thing until I had three work nights in a row when I was awake all/most of the night. Now, no matter how tired I am I cannot fall asleep until late, usually after I break down and take the Trazodone.

The Trazodone has done okay. Each night I'm exhausted and try to relax and I think I'm going to get to sleep without any help. But when 11 or midnight rolls around and I'm still awake and still tired, I'll get up and take a pill. Usually, it takes 1-2 hours to work. It doesn't make me any more tired than I already am, but it does shut my brain down a bit since it doesn't seem to have an off switch.

I tried melatonin, Tylenol PM, and Benadryl, before I went to the doctor, but they didn't help me sleep. Now, someone has recommended Somulin, but when I searched the board, I couldn't find any posts that mention it. Does anyone know if Somulin would be a good choice or if there are some other OTC meds that will work? I'm really tired, both literally and figuratively, of not being able to sleep.

nochange · 02-17-2009, 02:59 AM

hello. well i cannot sleep at all without sleeping pills also. (and that's starting losing its effects also and as any sleeping pills you need to increase the dose all the time and that's why your doctor refuse to give you more sleeping pills i guess? you should check into it.
but you know if you don't sleep you will be sick(they say now you can get diabetic and heart problems...). try anything you can as long its been approved by the FDA. it's all like vicious circle. but you be better off taking meds than not taking meds i would think. yesterday i was only sleeping 4 hours with the sleeping pills, add to it i also take lyrica with it to help sleeping and that's starts losing its effect also. my doctor increases the dose of lyrica also. it's all making me insane. my doctor said 4 hours is fine, yeah right, 4 hours sleep...... i have this problem for 3 years already since the car accident and the chronic pain i have that won't let me rest of sleep at all. let me know what you decide to do. best wishes to you.

inquisitive1 · 02-17-2009, 04:26 PM

My doctor believes that insomnia is a behavioral problem and he does not believe in giving meds to solve the problem. The only reason I got meds is because he was on vacation at the time and I saw another person in his office.

Somulin is OTC so I'm not sure it's regulated by the FDA. I'm not exactly sure how that works. Since I haven't been sleeping I have a cold--not as serious as the problems you mentioned--but still really annoying and I feel terrible.

I don't know why I can't sleep. I've never been a great sleeper, but I've never had so many problems falling asleep as I have now. I worry that this will never be solved which just adds to the problem. I'm so tired yet I can't sleep. I figured that eventually my body would just give and I'd be able to sleep, but, no.

bethsheba · 02-17-2009, 07:54 PM

Inquisitive,

In my humble opinion, I do not believe sleep problems are related to behavior, and the sleep hygiene guidelines some people recommend, only serve to impose guilt on those who are already doing everything in their power to get quality rest.

I would encourage you to see a sleep specialist...although docs can rule out causes for basic sleep problems (thyroid conditons, etc) most docs aren't qualified to address basic sleep disorders much less something more complex.

If your doctor won't refer you, you might contact your health insurance company and ask them what sleep specialists are in their plan...then call the offices of those specialists and ask them IF you need a referral...and if you do, what primary's in your plan have referred patients to their office.

Good luck!

melanie in mary · 02-18-2009, 12:00 PM

I would be willing to give Somulin a try as well. Is the internet the only place you can get it though?