Resolved question:
Hi, I Am a 26 year old female currently suffering from severe insomnia and have been for over a year. I've been tried on almost every psychotropic medicine , as my doctors thought I was bipolar at first, but have had bad reactions to almost every drug. I cannot sleep more than a few minutes every night. I feel like I'm dead. I'm now getting more and more anxious and I've turned to getting Xanax off someone I know to help with the anxiety but it just keeps getting worse. I do not abuse any drugs, but I have in the past. I am an army veteran and my treatment team is only giving me therapy-which, isn't helping at all. I'm also trying some exercise, although I'm exhausted, and eating healthier. I've tried all the tricks like drinking warm milk and such. I have had to be hospitalized for this on multiple occasions but I get discharged because the hospital makes me feel worse and I come home not knowing what to do or who to turn to. My treatment team is just as lost as I am. They will not prescribe me anything but antipsychotics which make me feel really agitated. I do have diagnosis of PTSD and major depression. What might help me sleep?
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Psychiatrist
Hello.
Thanks for using DoctorSpring.com for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
The diagnosis of PTSD and depression is very troublesome for the patient and you seem to be having a lot of distress with the symptoms. Now the only thing that can help you is medical therapy and psychotherapy. Medical therapy involves sedative antidepressants such as Mirtazapine or Paroxetine. The sedative antipsychotics like Quetiapine or Olanzapine in low doses can also work well. Among the hypnotics, if nothing works then giving Diazepam directly may also help.
I am not sure if your psychiatrist has explored all these options.
Also, in PTSD prescription of Clonidine at 0.1 mg TDS, may also help in reducing hyper-arousal and inducing sleep.
Among the newer therapies, Ketamine has emerged as a good option for such resistant cases where the above treatment does not work. Infusions of Ketamine are being used these days with successful treatment of anxiety disorders.
Among the therapies, I am sure your psychiatrist may be already trying the behaviour and cognitive therapies. You may also insist on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reaction) therapy which is also helpful in dealing with the residual symptoms of PTSD.
Hope this was helpful.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
Wish you good health.
Kind regards,
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD.