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Hi Dr. I Had Been Getting Your Advice Before My
Question: Hi Dr.
I had been getting your advice before my subscription lapsed. I am now on Nardil (phenelzine) as Marplan distribution has stopped.
Before I stop taking MAOIs mainly due to extremely emotional numbness and compulsive behavior, I am trying to find a way to save the treatment as there are many benefits.
My doctor suggested Clonidine to help with sleep. I noticed a significant reduction of numbness the following two days, making me think the numbness is a symptom of complex trauma exacerbated by the adrenal boost from MAOIs.
However, the clonidine actually interferes with my sleep. I get this hyperfocused, half-asleep state where a single thought/image gets stuck in my head and stays there. I think it probably comes from noradrenal boost in the higher brain. I get similar sleep problems when on nortriptyline and effexor.
My question: is there a way to counteract this so that I can take the clonidine and still sleep? I was thinking maybe trazodone but not sure.
Thanks,
I had been getting your advice before my subscription lapsed. I am now on Nardil (phenelzine) as Marplan distribution has stopped.
Before I stop taking MAOIs mainly due to extremely emotional numbness and compulsive behavior, I am trying to find a way to save the treatment as there are many benefits.
My doctor suggested Clonidine to help with sleep. I noticed a significant reduction of numbness the following two days, making me think the numbness is a symptom of complex trauma exacerbated by the adrenal boost from MAOIs.
However, the clonidine actually interferes with my sleep. I get this hyperfocused, half-asleep state where a single thought/image gets stuck in my head and stays there. I think it probably comes from noradrenal boost in the higher brain. I get similar sleep problems when on nortriptyline and effexor.
My question: is there a way to counteract this so that I can take the clonidine and still sleep? I was thinking maybe trazodone but not sure.
Thanks,
Brief Answer:
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing back to me.
I am glad to know that numbness is responding to use of clonidine. Your doctor is right to say that clonidine helps in sleep but unfortunately it is not applicable for everybody.
Among the individuals where clonidine increases alertness it will be right to use it in the morning rather than at night. This is no XXXXXXX as clonidine also used to increase alertness and attention among children with ADHD.
So I mean to say that try to use clonidine in the morning hours.
Secondly in case this does not help you in the sleep low dose of quetiapine such as 25 mg at bedtime can be used. Although this is antipsychotic medication but helps extensively in sleep at low dosages.
I hope this helps you.'
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing back to me.
I am glad to know that numbness is responding to use of clonidine. Your doctor is right to say that clonidine helps in sleep but unfortunately it is not applicable for everybody.
Among the individuals where clonidine increases alertness it will be right to use it in the morning rather than at night. This is no XXXXXXX as clonidine also used to increase alertness and attention among children with ADHD.
So I mean to say that try to use clonidine in the morning hours.
Secondly in case this does not help you in the sleep low dose of quetiapine such as 25 mg at bedtime can be used. Although this is antipsychotic medication but helps extensively in sleep at low dosages.
I hope this helps you.'
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you doctor! are you saying to take seroquel at night in lieu of the clonidine or with it?
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.
I mean to say that first shift the major dose of Clonidine in the morning hours as it makes you hyper focused and alert. It is possible that this single step will resolve your sleep problem issue without burdening with additional medications.
In case this is not enough to address your sleep problem adding low dose of seroquel can be considered for sleep as next step.
I hope this clarifies further.
Thanks and regards.
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.
I mean to say that first shift the major dose of Clonidine in the morning hours as it makes you hyper focused and alert. It is possible that this single step will resolve your sleep problem issue without burdening with additional medications.
In case this is not enough to address your sleep problem adding low dose of seroquel can be considered for sleep as next step.
I hope this clarifies further.
Thanks and regards.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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