For example, he took during the day 375 mg of Effexor and at bed time (3 AM) took two Tylanol PM and one other former depression pill now used for inducing sleep in patients. He slept for 12 hours (to 3 PM) and even after " breakfast" he kept nodding off when he had work to do. He drank two cups of Coffee to try to wake up, but that did not work. What can he do to wake up if he also has no energy and no desire to do anything but sit around when he gets in this kind of situation. I mean something quick so he does not ruin the next night's sleep by sleepin any more that day and not being able to sleep a regular 8 or so hours?
2007-01-11 09:53:23 · 4 answers · asked by agreeableone 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
The answers are good for the long run and make more sense of this situation. But what to do if this happens again. Is there something to speed up recovery from the medicine so he wakes up quickly? Other times, he did eventually get alert before bed time, but then could not go to sleep at a normal hour so took more medicine. I think his doctor who gave the Rx knows about this and told him to cut down on the dose of the sleep medicine, but I don't know about the Tylenol. So, the hoped for answer is one that says how to get the first night's dose over with and how to go back to normal sleep the next night. Thanks for your interest and I hope this clarifies things more.
2007-01-11 11:05:10 · update #1
Hmm. Is he taking the prescribed dose of Effexor? Why does he add the Tylenol PM? Did his doctor TELL him to continue taking the other antidepressant for sleep? This is why doctors have phone numbers -- Effexor can be kind of sedating and with the Tylenol PM and the other pill, no wonder. If he wants to try one more night before calling his doctor, tell him to take exactly what he was prescribed and to ditch the Tylenol PM for now.
Add: Depression by itself causes problems with sleep. I wonder if it could have to do with the effexor as I was very unmotivated when on it. Anyway even if he can't sleep he shouldn't take the Tylenol PM -- it has dyphenhydramine which is pretty sedating. It's possible the drugs are causing the insomnia but he needs to talk to his doctor and stop taking so many different things.
2007-01-11 10:14:25 · answer #1 · answered by rcpeabody1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the medication. E-mail me for more personal info if you want a good personal insight. krazykritik@yahoo.ca
In the meantime, cut the 'sleep' medication in half. If it was actually an antidepressant before, then it shouldn't hurt to chop it by 50%.
You see, meds work slower when we sleep because our metabolic rate really slows down, so they have a much more slower rateof absorption.
Therefore, when he wakes up, the medication is actually still being absorbed and thereby is still affecting him.
Half the dosage while sleeping, in effect, is as potent as a full dose while awake.
If this doesn't work, go to the doctor for a medication change.
2007-01-11 10:06:49 · answer #2 · answered by krazykritik 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that he needs to go to the doctors....maybe get on a real sleeping pill like lunesta....but watch him when he is on that....sleeping pills can make depressed people suicidal....it happened to me....but they work really well.....
2007-01-11 10:12:07 · answer #3 · answered by </3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He has developed tolerance, in my opinion, please take him to good rehabilitation centre or Psychiatrist.
Regards.
2007-01-11 10:01:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋