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What Causes Insomnia Despite Taking Antibiotics?
Posted on
Fri, 19 Aug 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 19 Aug 2016
Answered on
Mon, 12 Sep 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi,
My question is about sleep.
I have always been a good sleeper, sleeping up to 9 hours. I never had any serious sleeping problems before. I don't have any changes in my life, no new job, no new stress, no depression, I do not have bipolar disorder or any mental illness symptoms, I have always had normal menstruation and there has been nothing different, if anything, my periods have been getting lighter over time. There were no changes in my routine and my life was exactly the same as it always was. I took a blood test (over 6 months ago) and everything was fine.
The problem is I began waking up every couple of hours. Actually, this problem began the day after I made a comment about someone who is a criminal, in May 2016. The very next night, I began waking up every couple of hours, every single day. I contacted my family and also some national authorities. As recommended by the previous doctor, I bought a CCTV camera to record what was happening. I know this person is able to gain access to where I live.
My sleep was always bad after May 2016, but it got worse when I made comments relating to this person on Facebook. For example, sometimes I was sleeping for four hours but after I made some comments I was only able to sleep for one hour. This happened a few times. I recorded that with the CCTV and also collected the evidence of the comments I made. I tried phernergan, melatonin and even listening to binaural beats to relax my brainwaves but every night I was still waking up.
After 3 months of this problem, I decided to get some sleeping tablets. The doctor prescribed me 1 mg Alprazolam at night. I have never taken any strong pills and I am concerned because it is a strong medication. I told the people I know and also the criminal that I had got these tablets and that I was recording everything on the CCTV camera. I recorded myself taking the tablets. For 4 nights I was sleeping really well. I slept all the way through, between 7 - 9 hours every night.
Then on the fifth day, the criminal insulted me. So I made some strong comments about them again on Facebook. That night, I was unable to sleep again. I began waking up every single hour, even though I took the Alprazolam. I even took another 1 mg tablet that night, that is, I took 2 mg of Alprazolam on the fifth night. I was still unable to sleep and I kept waking up every hour. I read somewhere that 2 mg of Alprazolam can actually make someone pass out.
So, I want to go to the police about this person. I have collected the evidence on the CCTV and I do not believe this situation is normal and I think they are committing a crime against me. Other people have also complained about this person as well and said they were also being disturbed. However, I first wanted to get a medical opinion about what a doctor thinks is going on with my sleep. Please note, I am not asking you to be involved with the authorities about this. I am going to ask my regular doctor I see here in person with that because he has the medical records. But I wanted to get a second opinion and it is easier to ask online.
So my questions:
What do you think about my sleep from a medical perspective?
Do you think it is a bit strange that I could not sleep even after taking Alprazolam for only a few days?
Do you think the Alprazolam should have worked if I took 2 mg on the fifth day?
Do you think I should try another sleeping tablet?
If so, what other sleeping tablet should I try?
Do you think I should stop taking the Alprazolam for a while and then try to start taking it again later?
Are there any tests I could take to see if there is a genuine, natural reason why I am waking up?
What is the best way to resolve a sleeping problem?
Thank you so much I appreciate your help.
XXXXXXX
My question is about sleep.
I have always been a good sleeper, sleeping up to 9 hours. I never had any serious sleeping problems before. I don't have any changes in my life, no new job, no new stress, no depression, I do not have bipolar disorder or any mental illness symptoms, I have always had normal menstruation and there has been nothing different, if anything, my periods have been getting lighter over time. There were no changes in my routine and my life was exactly the same as it always was. I took a blood test (over 6 months ago) and everything was fine.
The problem is I began waking up every couple of hours. Actually, this problem began the day after I made a comment about someone who is a criminal, in May 2016. The very next night, I began waking up every couple of hours, every single day. I contacted my family and also some national authorities. As recommended by the previous doctor, I bought a CCTV camera to record what was happening. I know this person is able to gain access to where I live.
My sleep was always bad after May 2016, but it got worse when I made comments relating to this person on Facebook. For example, sometimes I was sleeping for four hours but after I made some comments I was only able to sleep for one hour. This happened a few times. I recorded that with the CCTV and also collected the evidence of the comments I made. I tried phernergan, melatonin and even listening to binaural beats to relax my brainwaves but every night I was still waking up.
After 3 months of this problem, I decided to get some sleeping tablets. The doctor prescribed me 1 mg Alprazolam at night. I have never taken any strong pills and I am concerned because it is a strong medication. I told the people I know and also the criminal that I had got these tablets and that I was recording everything on the CCTV camera. I recorded myself taking the tablets. For 4 nights I was sleeping really well. I slept all the way through, between 7 - 9 hours every night.
Then on the fifth day, the criminal insulted me. So I made some strong comments about them again on Facebook. That night, I was unable to sleep again. I began waking up every single hour, even though I took the Alprazolam. I even took another 1 mg tablet that night, that is, I took 2 mg of Alprazolam on the fifth night. I was still unable to sleep and I kept waking up every hour. I read somewhere that 2 mg of Alprazolam can actually make someone pass out.
So, I want to go to the police about this person. I have collected the evidence on the CCTV and I do not believe this situation is normal and I think they are committing a crime against me. Other people have also complained about this person as well and said they were also being disturbed. However, I first wanted to get a medical opinion about what a doctor thinks is going on with my sleep. Please note, I am not asking you to be involved with the authorities about this. I am going to ask my regular doctor I see here in person with that because he has the medical records. But I wanted to get a second opinion and it is easier to ask online.
So my questions:
What do you think about my sleep from a medical perspective?
Do you think it is a bit strange that I could not sleep even after taking Alprazolam for only a few days?
Do you think the Alprazolam should have worked if I took 2 mg on the fifth day?
Do you think I should try another sleeping tablet?
If so, what other sleeping tablet should I try?
Do you think I should stop taking the Alprazolam for a while and then try to start taking it again later?
Are there any tests I could take to see if there is a genuine, natural reason why I am waking up?
What is the best way to resolve a sleeping problem?
Thank you so much I appreciate your help.
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
I believe your lack of sleep could be related to a bipolar hypomanic or manic episode. I do indeed find it remarkable that you are not sleeping even with alprazolam, further proof that this could be a bipolar episode.
I think you need to speak with a psychiatrist about your symptoms to consider a different medication for sleep such as lithium, valproate, or clonazepam.
You could obtain some basic bloodwork including CBC, CMP, and TSH, but I am concerned this is onset of bipolar disorder, which is typical time of onset for your age. I would talk to a psychiatrist in-person about this.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
I believe your lack of sleep could be related to a bipolar hypomanic or manic episode. I do indeed find it remarkable that you are not sleeping even with alprazolam, further proof that this could be a bipolar episode.
I think you need to speak with a psychiatrist about your symptoms to consider a different medication for sleep such as lithium, valproate, or clonazepam.
You could obtain some basic bloodwork including CBC, CMP, and TSH, but I am concerned this is onset of bipolar disorder, which is typical time of onset for your age. I would talk to a psychiatrist in-person about this.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
? Well I did say I do not have any mental illness symptoms. People who know me, know I do not have bipolar disorder, so it can't be that (I know it's easy to imagine a carefree world but there are some people who commit unusual crimes).
Ok so my question is:
1. Are you saying the only natural reason that would have happened is if I had bipolar disorder?
With thanks.
XXXXXXX
Ok so my question is:
1. Are you saying the only natural reason that would have happened is if I had bipolar disorder?
With thanks.
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Followup
Detailed Answer:
I'm not saying a bipolar diathesis is the only explanation here. I find it a likely and concerning explanation which needs further in-person psychiatric assessment. As I said above, you could obtain some basic bloodwork including CBC, CMP, and TSH, which if abnormal are possible medication explanations. But I think you need further evaluation in-person, as a bipolar hypomanic or manic episode is a strong possibility here.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
Followup
Detailed Answer:
I'm not saying a bipolar diathesis is the only explanation here. I find it a likely and concerning explanation which needs further in-person psychiatric assessment. As I said above, you could obtain some basic bloodwork including CBC, CMP, and TSH, which if abnormal are possible medication explanations. But I think you need further evaluation in-person, as a bipolar hypomanic or manic episode is a strong possibility here.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
I understand you may be inclined to think there is a natural cause for this however I am quite concerned that you are completely ignoring what I am saying and instead suggesting I have bipolar disorder, without any factual basis whatsoever. I have a friend with bipolar disorder, I am well aware of the symptoms and I do not have any of those symptoms. Everyone who knows me knows I do not have any bipolar symptoms.
Ok so my questions:
1) Are you saying there are only two possible reasons for this: either something medical in my blood or manic bipolar disorder?
2) Are there any other natural reasons why this could be happening?
I will get a blood test and a psychiatrist report and then I am going to the police.
With thanks.
Ok so my questions:
1) Are you saying there are only two possible reasons for this: either something medical in my blood or manic bipolar disorder?
2) Are there any other natural reasons why this could be happening?
I will get a blood test and a psychiatrist report and then I am going to the police.
With thanks.
Brief Answer:
Followup
Detailed Answer:
There is actually substantial evidence this could be a manic episode. You have had severe insomnia for over three months. You are having significant trouble sleeping despite using a strong, potent tranquilizer (alprazolam). And you are paranoid surrounding a criminal to the point of installing CCTV cameras and recording yourself. This is all strong evidence of a possible bipolar disorder. As I said, there may be a medical cause, so I would get the bloodwork suggested above. You could also obtain a sleep study to assess for sleep apnea and related sleep disorders. But I strongly advise an in-person psychiatric evaluation.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
Followup
Detailed Answer:
There is actually substantial evidence this could be a manic episode. You have had severe insomnia for over three months. You are having significant trouble sleeping despite using a strong, potent tranquilizer (alprazolam). And you are paranoid surrounding a criminal to the point of installing CCTV cameras and recording yourself. This is all strong evidence of a possible bipolar disorder. As I said, there may be a medical cause, so I would get the bloodwork suggested above. You could also obtain a sleep study to assess for sleep apnea and related sleep disorders. But I strongly advise an in-person psychiatric evaluation.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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