r/DSPD • u/insufficient_nvram • 1d ago

Insomnia with DSPD?

I’m going on 24 hours of no sleep after getting ~5 hours the last time I slept. My body is tired af. I’m super doped up right now after 1000mg Gabapentin, 75mg Hydroxyzine, 1mg Ativan, 1mg Xanax, and smoking a 1G joint. But my brain is wired!

I was recently diagnosed ADHD/ASD/Alexithymia/Sleep Apnea. I take 30mg Lisdexamfetamine. Need at least 50mg to regulate.

Stimulants are not the cause, as this has been my normal cycle for as long as I can remember. 3-4 days of 5.5 hours to 7.5 hours of sleep starting no earlier than 2am, followed by 3-4 days of very fitful sleep to no sleep. I’m in my mid 40’s. This is worse in fall/winter and under stress (double whammy right now).

I have night terrors too when I do sleep. I’ve accidentally hit my wife during one of those fits. She’s scared to sleep next to me sometimes and usually build a pillow wall between us as well as sleep on my arms, on my stomach to restrain my self in case I have a terror.

I do not wear a CPAP. My Apnea is mild and is well controlled by exercise and keeping my weight down. I do not have PTSD. Severe RSD though.

Is anyone else like this or have any ideas to deal with this? I’m tired literally and tired of this cycle.

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u/bad_ukulele_player 1d ago

I just read the comment you wrote on my post and checked your posts to see what you meant. We are indeed alike. However I think I know what your issue might be: your benzos. I went through months and months of insane insomnia and indescribable horrific anxiety because I had grown tolerant to a tiny dose of Ativan. When I went up slightly, the insomnia went away. What I went through, and what I think you're going through, is what's called "inter-dose withdrawal". I'm going to attempt to go to sleep now so I can't get into it. But, I'll leave you with this - if this is the case, there's HOPE! You can slowly and safely withdraw from both your benzos using the protocol outlined in the Ashton Manual. It's free online. And it saved my life. I withdrew many years ago. I tried to do it on my own and messed up my brain. But, if you follow the protocol you very likely won't mess up yours. While I withdrew I took Mirtazepine for sleep. It really helped. If I could do it all over again, I would have taken Trazodone or Belsomra. Anyway, do your best to relax and get some sleep. Listen to an audiobook to distract yourself before bedtime and use only dim amber light a couple hours before bed. Talk later.

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u/sofiacarolina 1d ago

I’m also on benzos and experience awful interdose withdrawal. What I’ve been doing to try to get sleep is taking all my daily Xanax before sleep (3.5 mg, lately 4 mg or more..) instead of spaced out like I used to but tht doesn’t even work bc of tolerance and how much in withdrawal im in by the time I take them. How did you like belsomra? I’m terrified of trying new meds and can’t do trazodone and hydroxyzine makes me comatose for days

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u/bad_ukulele_player 1d ago

I have to stress that if you have developed interdose withdrawal you must taper very slowly. Slower than you could do so by slicing off bits of the tablet or taking, say, three tablets instead of 4. This is what I did and it landed me in the ER and two visits to a PSYCH ward. (I wasn't admitted though) The safest way to withdraw is to use the Ashton Manual. It's free online. If not, you will need more and more to get the same effect and one day your doctor will cut you off or stop increasing the dosage.

I liked the Belsomra for about 10 years. I have severe insomnia, DSPS and other sleep conditions, so I'm a tough case. The thing about the drug is one minute you're awake and then the next minute you're asleep. It shuts off the wake mechanism. It can take 2 or 3 weeks to start working. The scary side effects you may have read about occur in a small number of people. Most don't have any side effects. And here's the best thing about the drug. It's not bad for the brain. In older people, it's actually good for the brain. Benzos are terrible for the brain because they carry a high anticholinergic burden.

Food for thought...

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u/sofiacarolina 22h ago

Yeah I’m aware of the ashton manual nd how to taper but I’m afraid of more insomnia while tapering. I also can’t take valium which it recommends bc I get a parodixical effect. I’ve been on daily Xanax for over 20 years now..and I guess I will have to try belsomra but I hve a lot of anxiety with new meds and the idea of not being in control of my body like that

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u/bad_ukulele_player 21h ago

I see. Bummer about the Valium. Mirtazepine might work. At 7.5 mg it's not as bad an anticholinergic. Or even Clonidine if you don't have super low blood pressure.

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u/sofiacarolina 19h ago

I have super low blood pressure! No I wanna try the belsomra but I’m just scared. I am also willing to try the mirtazapine which is what was originally offered. The thing is what’s cool about belsomra is that it’s the only one tht didn’t have a major interaction w all my heart meds (potential long qt syndrome which can cue a fatal arrhythmia 🙃)

Also wanna try cbd gummies which is what my cardio suggested lol he doesn’t me on more meds since I’m already on like 7 but I doubt they’d be powerful enough

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u/bad_ukulele_player 17h ago

cbd should be just fine! a really good brand is sunset lake. if you try belsomra and don't like it, you can just stop. very rare chance you'll have a scary side effect.

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u/sofiacarolina 14h ago

I’ve been trying like every sleep med in the antihistamine class…did hydroxyzine one night then promethazine and both let me sleep (paired with Xanax ofc) some but the hangovers were insane, like bedbound unable to move for 24 hours after each. It’s almost better to be sleep deprived at that point. My cardio told me to go to a local compounding pharmacy where they sell cbd so I’ll see what they offer