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Suggest Treatment For Insomnia While Having Bipolar Disorder

Posted on Thu, 16 Jun 2016

Question: I am bipolar and have been having trouble sleeping. I take 900mgs of neuron tin at night for sleep. I can't reach my doc. Could I increase this? Insomnia is bad. Please help.

Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
yes you can increase the dose of neurontin

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing to us.

Recommended dose of neurontin for insomnia is 1800 mg. You can increase the dose after consultation with your doctor.

I also want to suggest use of seroquel or benzodiazepine group of drug for insomnia. You can discuss these options with your doctor if you are not able to sleep with neurontin.

I also want to mention some measures called 'sleep hygiene' which would help in sleep. You can find the same in below link.

sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene

Drinking a cup of warm milk before going to bed helps in 30-40% of patients and they do not need medicines as per my clinical experience.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.

Regards,

Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (12 hours later)

Thank you for your help!! So taking 1800 mugs of neuron tin should be ok?

By the way, I am already on seroquel and it does not seem to help with sleep.

Unfortunately I can't get in to see my psych doc. And she is not answering my calls. And she has nobody covering her. So this help is very important to me. Because of my insomnia, I may increase my dose just a little. I know that is not good to do on my won without my doc. But I don't want to end up in the hospital. Will increasing the dose on my own be a very bad thing?

Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
yes you can take 1800 mg

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for follow up and sorry for delayed response.

You can take 1800 mg dose. Yes it is not good that you are increasing the dose without consulting your doctor but it is also not bad to increase the dose as you are suffering on current dose and you have at least taken some opinion. You of course can inform your treating doctor about the same.

Let me know in which dose, which preparation(ER or plain) and at what time of the day are you taking seroquel?

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (3 hours later)

I take two 300mg pills of seroquel and also one 100mg pill of sequel at night.

I have 300mg pills of neuron tin. My usual dose has been 900mgs at night. But my plan is to increase it by two additional 300mg pills. See how it goes for tonight.
I don't think that it is a good idea to go to the ER yet. I am not depressed or manic.
I just want to be sure to sleep. I know sleeping is so important.
Thank you for helping me!!!

Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
shift more dose of seroquel to night

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for information. Shifting one 300 mg dose of seroquel to night means taking 400 mg seroquel at night may help you in good sleep.

Hope you will get good sleep with adding 600 mg more neurontin to your current dose.

If still any query there, I will be happy to answer. If not, you can close the discussion and give your feedback and rating so I can improve my service.

In future if you wish you can contact me directly with following link:
http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki

by clicking on 'Ask me a question' on same page with three follow up questions.

Wish you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (16 hours later)

Thank you so much for your help!

Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
welcome and all the best

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

You are always welcome.

Take care and wish you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (19 hours later)

Just wanted to double check with you. Is 1800 mugs of neuron tin ok for sleep? I had to take more than my usual dose. I took six 300mg pills.

Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
yes 1800 mg is ok

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for asking your doubt. Sometime neurontin is used up to 2400 mg and in severe cases for short duration it is used up to 3600 mg. In general maximum recommended dose is 1800 mg so you can take up to 1800 mg for insomnia.

Take care dear.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar