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What Causes Lack Of Sleep Despite Taking Clonazepam, Keppra, Lamictal And Hydromorphone?
Question: why can I not sleep? I have not drink any caffeine for the last 24 hours I have taken stuff with codeine in it like Clonazepam, keppra,, lamictal also hydromorphone medications that normally make you sleep I took ativan I took ambien Exedra however nothing is putting me to sleep and I have Church in the morning I have to get to church somehow and put myself to sleep I tried multiple measures I need some advice please be in and be in. dephth with your answer thank you
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! I am sorry you are not feeling well. I am sorry if answering somewhat late but due to time difference was not up at the time of your question.
As for your question it is a difficult one. That is because judging from past questions as well you seem to be continuously taking different combinations of drugs which all influence the central nervous system in their own ways, changing the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. They can have all similar effect through different pathways and it is hard to assess which effect or side effect is due to which one.
In my opinion the most likely cause is abuse with benzodiazepines. You already are under Clonazepam, a benzodiazepine, and you go and add on top of that Attivan (Lorazepam) another benzodiazepine. Ambien while not being a benzo acts on a similar way as well. Benzodiazepines are known for their tolerance and dependence issues, tolerance meaning they start to lose their previous effect on the same dosage and the body requires more and more higher dosage. If by advice you mean an easy overnight solution I do not think there is an easy solution for that. Actually what is recommended is a gradual reduction over many weeks until interruption and it's not an easy process, there can be withdrawal symptoms. Because it's a difficult process you have to talk it with the prescribing doctor as well, especially since Clonazepam is given also for your seizures (but you do not describe it as effective anyway).
Another issue to be considered is possible psychiatric side effects of Keppra. In a percentage of patients it can cause irritability and nervousness, so if there is any behavior changes noticed since you started it must be considered as a factor as well.
I am not sure what do you mean by "Exedra", I do not know any medication of that name and searching on the net doesn't provide any results either. Could you possibly have meant excedrin? If yes that is not for sleep, actually has caffeine inside so can work the other way round.
As for other drugs for sleep, you seem to already be allergic to Benadryl and tried quetiapine. So it leaves either insomnia treatment like suvorexant, melatonin or the use of sedative antidepressants like mirtazapine. But as I said before I think the real issue might be poly-pharmacy, too many drugs, so I would consider new additions only if some reductions are made first.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! I am sorry you are not feeling well. I am sorry if answering somewhat late but due to time difference was not up at the time of your question.
As for your question it is a difficult one. That is because judging from past questions as well you seem to be continuously taking different combinations of drugs which all influence the central nervous system in their own ways, changing the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. They can have all similar effect through different pathways and it is hard to assess which effect or side effect is due to which one.
In my opinion the most likely cause is abuse with benzodiazepines. You already are under Clonazepam, a benzodiazepine, and you go and add on top of that Attivan (Lorazepam) another benzodiazepine. Ambien while not being a benzo acts on a similar way as well. Benzodiazepines are known for their tolerance and dependence issues, tolerance meaning they start to lose their previous effect on the same dosage and the body requires more and more higher dosage. If by advice you mean an easy overnight solution I do not think there is an easy solution for that. Actually what is recommended is a gradual reduction over many weeks until interruption and it's not an easy process, there can be withdrawal symptoms. Because it's a difficult process you have to talk it with the prescribing doctor as well, especially since Clonazepam is given also for your seizures (but you do not describe it as effective anyway).
Another issue to be considered is possible psychiatric side effects of Keppra. In a percentage of patients it can cause irritability and nervousness, so if there is any behavior changes noticed since you started it must be considered as a factor as well.
I am not sure what do you mean by "Exedra", I do not know any medication of that name and searching on the net doesn't provide any results either. Could you possibly have meant excedrin? If yes that is not for sleep, actually has caffeine inside so can work the other way round.
As for other drugs for sleep, you seem to already be allergic to Benadryl and tried quetiapine. So it leaves either insomnia treatment like suvorexant, melatonin or the use of sedative antidepressants like mirtazapine. But as I said before I think the real issue might be poly-pharmacy, too many drugs, so I would consider new additions only if some reductions are made first.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
we r already considering getting rid of the Kepprap due to the fact that is not working as it should be this was supposed to be a seizure med it...it is causing other problems and having adverse effects the klonopin being used for seizures is doing a rather good job as well as the ..... Lamictal is working
As well a clonazepam....They want to try Tegratol good drug or no I did not mention any of the side effects nor did they ever mention many of the bad things about it they only mention the good things so the question I have is what are the bad side effects if there are any if there is hardly any bad side effects to the medication I would be willing to try tegretol I am only hesitant due to that factor and by X cetera I mean ETC Answer back when you have a second thank you very much look forward to hearing from you again be as detailed as possible when you write back so I can understand what you are saying and why you say it is much easier to understand that way thank you again for that response I am sending you this one now I'm trying to see which medication I can add to the Klonopin and then lamictal that would make a good combination...... TEGRTAL
As well a clonazepam....They want to try Tegratol good drug or no I did not mention any of the side effects nor did they ever mention many of the bad things about it they only mention the good things so the question I have is what are the bad side effects if there are any if there is hardly any bad side effects to the medication I would be willing to try tegretol I am only hesitant due to that factor and by X cetera I mean ETC Answer back when you have a second thank you very much look forward to hearing from you again be as detailed as possible when you write back so I can understand what you are saying and why you say it is much easier to understand that way thank you again for that response I am sending you this one now I'm trying to see which medication I can add to the Klonopin and then lamictal that would make a good combination...... TEGRTAL
Brief Answer:
Side effects and interactions possible
Detailed Answer:
In terms of efficacy Tegretol is a widely used and effective drug. However in terms of side effects it is not that benign, it is among the antiseizure medication with most side effects. Most common ones are eye movement abnormalities leading to blurred or double vision, coordination issues, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea (there are others but these are most common). Of course it is not said that you will have them, appear only in some patients, but certainly is not free of side effects.
Another issue with Tegretol is interaction with other drugs. You say that Lamictal is showing good efficacy. Tegretol though interacts with Lamictal and decreases its levels, so I would be concerned that adding Tegretol would take away some of Lamictal's benefits.
If your doctor's really want to ad a drug with Tegretols manner of acting perhaps Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) would be more suitable (actually it is a derivative of Tegretol, simalar chemical structure). It acts in a very similar way to Tegretol but with fewer side effects and doesn't affect Lamictal levels.
Side effects and interactions possible
Detailed Answer:
In terms of efficacy Tegretol is a widely used and effective drug. However in terms of side effects it is not that benign, it is among the antiseizure medication with most side effects. Most common ones are eye movement abnormalities leading to blurred or double vision, coordination issues, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea (there are others but these are most common). Of course it is not said that you will have them, appear only in some patients, but certainly is not free of side effects.
Another issue with Tegretol is interaction with other drugs. You say that Lamictal is showing good efficacy. Tegretol though interacts with Lamictal and decreases its levels, so I would be concerned that adding Tegretol would take away some of Lamictal's benefits.
If your doctor's really want to ad a drug with Tegretols manner of acting perhaps Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) would be more suitable (actually it is a derivative of Tegretol, simalar chemical structure). It acts in a very similar way to Tegretol but with fewer side effects and doesn't affect Lamictal levels.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Oxcarbazepine ( trileptal) did not respond to me at all it caused many more seizures than what I am on now they are trying different medications that are new on the market that I already have this way they may get the right combination and I might stop having convulsionsn and or seizure if it is possible for you to call me on a private line or to Skype me then we can talk a little bit more but on here is getting to be a bit much because everybody is getting to see including healthcaremagic which I don't want to put too much over the Internet all messages on skype or on the phone I already have one but he is not a neurologist and he is not affiliated with healthcaremagic as much as I like to communicate with you sir it is just not good for me to have to keep typing it is hurting my hands my fingers and my head the font is too small
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
If Trileptal did not work for you then I am afraid Tegretol is not likely to work either. As I said their structures and side effects are very similar, Trileptal is a newer drug which was commercialized as a more safe drug (less side effects and interactions) then Tegretol, so whatever side effect Trileptal cause Tegretol is likely to cause as well.
Tegretol is not a drug which is new in the market either it is one of the oldest anti-seizure medications out there actually.
As for talking on Skype or private line, I am sorry but you have to understand that I can not break rules on this site, I am not an owner or administrator. My answers to you are monitored by the sites moderators. So I hope you understand that I can't do that, not unless it goes through the site administrators and they allow it. Our exchange and your request will be evaluated by an administrator today or in the coming days, if they see it fit they will notify us.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
If Trileptal did not work for you then I am afraid Tegretol is not likely to work either. As I said their structures and side effects are very similar, Trileptal is a newer drug which was commercialized as a more safe drug (less side effects and interactions) then Tegretol, so whatever side effect Trileptal cause Tegretol is likely to cause as well.
Tegretol is not a drug which is new in the market either it is one of the oldest anti-seizure medications out there actually.
As for talking on Skype or private line, I am sorry but you have to understand that I can not break rules on this site, I am not an owner or administrator. My answers to you are monitored by the sites moderators. So I hope you understand that I can't do that, not unless it goes through the site administrators and they allow it. Our exchange and your request will be evaluated by an administrator today or in the coming days, if they see it fit they will notify us.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
okay well you know I mean I will have to contact the site administrator and let them know because I do have a current doctor that is contacting me on skype from here and he is a primary doctor therefore I am NOT naming that doctor I am only going to give them that hint
Brief Answer:
Ok
Detailed Answer:
As you wish, I do not have any say on that regard.
Ok
Detailed Answer:
As you wish, I do not have any say on that regard.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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