How much Elavil OR diphenhydramine?? - Sleep Disorders Message Board

MMMarie · 03-15-2002, 01:04 AM

Hi. I have a horrible time getting to sleep and have been taking 50 mg of diphenhyramine (generic benadryl I think) before bed and it doesn't do a thing for me. I'm not sure whether I should be taking a higher dosage.

All I know is that I really can't stand this insomnia. It is not unusual at all for me to still be laying there still awake at 5:00 a.m. It really is a problem. I have tried the 'no caffeine', light exercise, KavaKava, warm milk, lavender scents, using a sound spa (a clock that plays different sounds, such as a waterfall, etc.), relaxation/meditation, read books on insomnia......and the list goes on.

Last month, my doctor (who is actually very ANTI-drug) suggested I try a very lose dosage of elavil before bed. He said that anti-depressants at a very low dosage (10 mg.) help insomnia, while high doses (150-300 mg.) are useful for depression. So for the last few weeks, I have been taking 10 mg. at night, and it doesn't seem to have done a da** thing. I am starting to feel soooooo frustrated. I know....I just need to relax, but oftentimes I feel totally relaxed, my body feels very tired, but my mind just doesn't quit. I am not thinking about stressful things......as I lay there, songs pass through my mind, thoughts of people, gardening ideas, and on and on and on.

Someone suggested melatonin, but it was taken off the market in Canada.

Any ideas, anyone??? I'm just so sick of it all.

Thanks.

MMMarie · 03-16-2002, 03:55 AM

Pam - Thanks for your reply! I am sitting here in the middle of the night reading it because I cannot sleep.

I will write more tomorrow. Tx. again

Marie

MMMarie · 03-17-2002, 11:51 PM

Hi Pam. I must confess I did take ativan for a long time. I never took more than 1 mg., but usually only took 1/2 mg. before bed, and you're right... It was horrible to get off of. The crazy thing is that I took it for so long even though after a certain amount of time it did absolutely nothing for me. I suppose it got to the point where I was afraid to "not" take it, so yes, I took it for years, even though it did not help at all. I spent about a year tapering down from a lousy 1 mg. (which sounds to me like a really really small dosage), and even doing that was difficult. Anyhow, I will never ever consider taking a benzodiazepine again.

I have also tried a couple sleep tapes. I forget the name of the last one I had, but it was this guy talking in a very low voice slowing saying things like "relax.....take a deep breath...." and on and on. The tape was 90 min. long and by the time I got to the end of the tape, I was ready to throw the cassette player through the bedroom window (just kidding, of course), but it was very annoying to say the least....plus when it ended, I would feel flustered because I then knew that I had been laying there for an hour and a half.

What kind of tapes do you find helpful that you listen to? Are there any you would recommend?

I really can't see sleep restriction being beneficial for me. I find if I have a really bad night where I'm awake till 5 or 6 in the morning, even though I might feel really tired the next day, that night will be even worse. And when I have a good night's sleep, the next night is often good as well. I guess this is because I'm not worried about getting to sleep since I had a good sleep the night before and it wouldn't matter if I didn't get a good sleep that next night. Consequently, I guess it would then be easier for me to drift off earier. I hope that makes sense.

Also, I am a total night owl, and have always been. The idea of even going to bed before midnight horrifies me. Frankly, I wish I never had to go to bed again. I never look forward to it.

I don't know how you can stand it when you have difficulty getting to sleep....and then wake up several times during the night??? I can't imagine how awful that must be for you. Even though I can take forever getting to sleep, thank god I rarely ever wake up in the night.

Marie

MMMarie · 03-17-2002, 11:55 PM

p.s. Did you ever try lose doses of any of the anti-depressants? From anything I've read, it sounds quite effective. (What the heck is wrong with me, anyhow? lol)

Also, have you tried tylenol p.m. or stuff like that? I don't find 50 mg. diphenhydramine helps me at all. I'm not sure if taking a higher dosage would help or not.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to go to bed, and just quickly drift off?? I can't imagine how that would feel. I often wish I could go to bed at midnight or so, and count on actually falling asleep quickly, and then get up in the morning before my son leaves for school. Oh well.....maybe one day.

bird123 · 03-18-2002, 08:22 PM

Usually people take 50mg of Elavil for insomnia. 10mg is used for diabetis related peripheral neuropathy. Another non-benzodiazepine medication used for insomnia is Chloral hydrate 250-500mg before going to bed. Ambien is a short acting benzodiazepine widely used for insomnia when people have difficulty falling asleep. Long acting benzodiazepines such as Ativan or Restoril are mainly used when people wake up at the middle of the night and stay awake until the morning.