recommended bipolar/insomnia medications?

Question

I have asperger's syndrome and I've been taking a drug called Seroquel for 5/6 years. I'm also taking Zoloft 100mg and Adderall 30mg (both in the morning along with Seroquel). I've just read and asked the manufacturers who handle seroquel that there seems to be an amnesia side effect. Is there any other medication out there that can treat bipolar and insomnia problems and won't have any bad reaction with zoloft and adderall?

Answer 1

Can't sleep...It is the Zoloft and Adderall that are keeping you awake...even if you are taking them in the morning.

Talk to your doctor. He/she should be able to help you find the right combination of meds.

Things that I have noticed with certain meds:

Want to sleep Zyperxa, Risperdal, or Geodon will knock you out--all will work with zoloft and adderall.

Instead of Zoloft try Prozac or Cymbalta-taken at night with 5 oreo cookies will help you sleep like a baby.

Instead of Adderall--Strattera (taken at night) will help you to fall asleep--Strattera takes 6 weeks to really help ADHD or ADD.

Answer 2

I take Seroquel for bipolar and to help me sleep (100 mg at night and 25 mg in the morning) It works well for me. Every medication has lots and lots of possible side effects, and in combination with other medications, even more side-effect possibilities exist. If you've been taking it for 6 years and it seems to be helping, then why start worrying about some side effect that isn't affecting you?

I also have the tendency to worry about this kind of stuff, so I can surely understand why you have this concern, but I've found that I feel better if I don't think about this too much.

Answer 3

There are plenty of medications out there to treat bipolar. Some of them are Lamictal, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Lithium and Depakote. Each has it's pros and cons and you really have to discuss with your doctor to determine which one (or mix) is best for you. I don't recall Seroquel can cause amnesia though.
All three meds that you take can cause insomnia, so by taking them in the morning, it should minimize this side effect. Also, try traditional methods first before sleeping pills. Things like no alcohol, caffeine or over exercise before bed etc.

Answer 4

I have my 12yo rescue dog on a supplement to build up the synovial fluid around the joints for ease of movement. It's a glucosamine, chondrointin and MSM supplement. I'm in Australia and the supplement is called MSM Joint Formula over here. Look for a product wherever you live that contains those three ingredients. It's available in pharmacies and health food stores. It's a powder I mix with her meals, she's fed twice a day, and it works very well. She rarely needs pain relief since she's been on this whereas before she had pain meds almost every day. The supplement takes about 6 weeks to fully kick in but you should see some improvement within 2 weeks.. My oldie has hip dysplasia as well as arthritis and this supplement seems to help both conditions.

Answer 5

You might try lithium for the bipolar and for insomnia try Unisom. It's an over the counter medication and there's two kinds. One is basically benadryll, which you could also try taking, the other one is succinate or something like that. You may need to take two even though the directions say to take one. I have taken only one and not fallen asleep before.

Answer 6

Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!

1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.

2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.

The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.

After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net

Ohhh..and Good Luck!

Answer 7

My bipolar cocktail consists of : zoloft, topamax, and trazadone for sleep. And if I really can't sleep I have imovane on hand which is a real sleeping pill.

I've read zyprexia a number of times here. It's an antipsychotic medication used for sleep that allows your brain function to slow down..Risperadone is another one as well..that has less side effects than zyprexia.

A completely non addictive sleeping agent by prescription only is Starnoc and it works wonderfully as well !!

Answer 8

Gee, you have been taking these meds for over 5 yrs and haven't asked your doctor? I have been taking what was believed to be Trazodone but am under the impression it contained more than they said it had. As to whether or not you would have any problems I really don't know. You should have some information with your meds when you have them refilled or just ask your pharmacist.

Answer 9

I can only tell you what I take: for bipolar of course: Geodon, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, that coctail has been working fine for me for more than a year now, very few side effects.

Answer 10

I take zyprexa as a mood stabiliser and anti-manic. It could sedate an elephant.

Meant to add, I'm also on Lamictal, but I don't find that sedating at all.