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Suggest Treatment For Insomnia When Having A Pineal Cyst

Posted on Tue, 5 May 2015

Question: I suffer from insomnia. I also have a 1x1cm pineal cyst floating in liquid that my dr says is not the cause. But could it be hindering melatonin production? My dr put me on 100mg of seroquel for sleep & anxiety bc he thinks anxiety is the cause for the insomnia. Could it be hormonal? I have no history of psych issues/problems & am 33 yr old

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Melatonin treatment may help

Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern.
Pineal cyst probably is not the reason for insomnia. A small cyst will not hinder the melatoniin production.
Yes, Anxiety can cause insomnia.

However, you may try 3 week course of melatonin to reglate your sleep cycle. It is available as an over the counter product in USA. Try with 3 mg Melatonin first. There are mouth dissolving talets available a well.

In your case, reducing anxiety also helps to beat insomina. Please maintain a sleep hygeine. Try to sleep early between 9 to 10 pm every day. Switch off TV, computer or XXXXXXX game or anything which stimulate brain for at least 1-2 hours before sleep. Have an early dinner. Walk for half an hour after dinner. Do a nice warm shower before sleep. Use a calm , dark room which is well aerated. Switch off phone and all disturbing things. Avoid all stimulants like tea/coffee/smoking etc after 5 pm. Reduce day time Coffee intake or Cola intake. Avoid day time sleep. Try to wake up same time every day.

Practice meditation and yoga. These are the techniques i advice my patients when they complain of insomnia. It works quite well.

Regards
Binu

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (7 minutes later)

If the seroquel puts me to sleep does that mean my sleep problem is from anxiety? Or could it still be melatonin

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Melatonin

Detailed Answer:
YES, anxiety is the problem with you. Pineal cysts are common and i have not seen anyone with pineal cyst suffering from sleep problems. Melatonin is secreted when there is darkness and regulates sleep wake cycle. It is difficult to quantify melatonin levels.

It is used in shift workers and for jet lag and for short term treatment of insomnia.

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (22 hours later)

Can seroquel effect sleep architecture

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Seroquel and sleep

Detailed Answer:
It is an antipsychotic drug. It can cause sedation and possibly help you to get some sleep as well.

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (2 minutes later)

But its not sleeping pill? Is my sleep natural or is it forcing me to sleep?

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (1 minute later)

Brief Answer:
Seroquel and sleep

Detailed Answer:
It is not a sleeping pill. It modifies the chemical architecture of the brain neurotransmitters and reduce agitation, depression and psychosis. An addditional effect is sedation. It will positively reduce your anxiety and depression and in that way helps you to have a better sleep quality.

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (2 minutes later)

So is my sleep natural or forced?

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Both

Detailed Answer:
It could be both. As i mentioned earlier, in the begenning, Seroquel cause sedation and you get to sleep.This is a kind of forced sleep.

However, over next many weeks, it regulates the neurotransmitters in brain and that way, reduces the anxiety and depresion and you get a smoother sleep. This is natural.

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (5 minutes later)

Can dependance develop?

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possible

Detailed Answer:
Dependence can develop if you take seoquel without sufficient supervision. Your doctor will assess your symptoms and improvement periodically and wean you off gradually. It is not good to abruptly stop it. My advice would be to be under regular follow up. Trust your psychiarist and follow his advice. They will be able to taper down the dose gradually.

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (2 minutes later)

Can anxiety/stress really cause insomnia like this? Or is it something neurologically wrong? I cant fall asleep w out it

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes.

Detailed Answer:
Yes it indeed. Anxiety and depression can take away your sleep very badly.

Apart from being a doctor, i can also say it from my personal experience too. Used to suffer severe anxiety nearing medical exams during medical school days. It used to take away sleep and made things worse. And i can say that, meditation really helped me.

MAny people have combination of anxiety and depression. It surey affect the sleep. As i previously mentioned, you will have to master your mind by controlling it. Medicines alone may not be sufficient. Learn Yoga and Meditation. I would advice you to take a month off from work and travel to a quiter part of world to meditate. Meditation surely helps.

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (4 minutes later)

Thank you that is very helpful :). I am working on stress reduction. Is seroquel a med that can be taken then weaned off of or is it a forever drug? Could melatonin help?

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (1 minute later)

Brief Answer:
Melatonin is helpful for short term use

Detailed Answer:
Yes, It could be weaned off gradually as per your psychiatrist's advice. Melatonin is helpful in short term. It is only recommended for use up to 3 weeks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (4 minutes later)

I worry I will never get my natural sleep back. Could it be lost forever?

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (1 minute later)

Brief Answer:
You will get it back

Detailed Answer:
Nope. Depression/anxiety can not go on for ever. You will get your natural sleep back if you do the right things. ( Medications and Meditation)

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (23 hours later)

On average how long would this anxiety/depression effect sleep before it restores? Could taking the seroquel 100mg/night hurt my brain?

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Cyclical episodes

Detailed Answer:
Good day,
It is oten cyclical. Each cycle can last for several week to months. But you can cut short it by medicines. Seroquel doesnt hurt your brain.

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (20 hours later)

Can 100mg of seroquel/night cause psychosis? My dr says no & that the mg isnt high enough to change brain chemistry anyway?

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It doesnt cause psychosis

Detailed Answer:
No. It helps to reduce psychosis. The dose is only moderate anyway. Please continue the treatment.

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (19 hours later)

Ty. Could taking it for extended period XXXXXXX me of my ability to sleep naturally again? All my drs tell me its safe & promise I wont grow dependant but I worry

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Not to worry

Detailed Answer:
Well, what do you mean by extended period. Anti psychotics need to be taken for a long time. After a while body get adjusted to it and you will not have trouble sleeping naturally again.

A i mentioned earlier, if you want to come off these medicines gradually, you need to try and learn alternative techniques to calm your mind which includes yoga/exercise and meditation.

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (7 minutes later)

Its been almost 2 months & I still need nightly but they work well

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
A short period until now

Detailed Answer:
Oh it is just 2 months. It is a very short period now. Usually these pills need to be taken for 6 months or long. Again the dose used is not huge. Please relax.

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (36 hours later)

All my drs tell me my sleep onor is natural but is it knocking me out

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Seroquel can cause mild sedation

Detailed Answer:
Well, from interacting with you on this forum, I gather that you are a really overtly anxious person. You need to realize that any treatment for psychiatric conditions take time to respond. 2 months is not a long period. Do you mean that Seroquel is knocking you out??

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (3 hours later)

Yes I feel the seroquel is knocking me out but my psychiatrist says all its doing is relaxing me enough to fall asleep naturally. But I get confused by this bc I do sleep 10+ hours from it & have vivid dreaming particuarly last few hours of sleep. So I worry its actually a sleeping pill then I fear I will never restore ability to sleep naturally etc

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Alternatives

Detailed Answer:
Well, you may consult another psychiatrist and take a second opinion. There could be safer alternatives. The dose which you are using is not very high. But if you are unable to tolerate it, then you must seek alternatives

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

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (23 minutes later)

What are some common alternatives

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Need to discuss with psychiatrist

Detailed Answer:
it depends on your underlying illness. If it is depression with anxiety, drugs like Escitalopram, Venlafaxine, Duloxetine are useful. But some patients my need antipsychotics. You need to discuss this with a psychiatrit as it require psychiary expertise.

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