16 replies to this topic

[AmericanMe]

Has there been any development in insomnia treatment for the last year,
Supplements or other devices?
I've been using Melatonin for 1 1/2 year, but I'm looking for something new.

[AmericanMe]

Bumping this one..

[jadamgo]

Have you done CBT-I? (Cognitive/Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia)

It's getting rave reviews in the scientific literature, consistently winning in comparisons against sleeping pills and simplistic, old-fashioned "sleep hygeine" techniques.

You can learn it from a psychologist, a sleep doctor, a book, or this link: http://www.psycholog...insomnia-part-1
Warning: CBT-I works great but you have to have discipline, or some effective substitute for discipline.


That's really the only major innovation I can think of. They might have introduced another sleeping pill or two in the past year, but I probably would have heard about it if it'd been anything truly groundbreaking instead of a remix of something we already have. The nonbenzos (ambien, lunesta, sonata..) are like the benzos. Rozerem and its siblings are like time-released melatonin. Seroquel is basically "Haldol + Trazodone + Benadryl." (Good lord, don't take seroquel for insomnia. Even if you find a Dr willing to prescribe it.)

In terms of OTC supplements... I don't think there's anything new there either. Especially with the new law about supplements. There's theanine, phenibut, valerian, chamomile, hops, melatonin, 5-HTP, Unisom, alcohol, kava kava, Tylenol PM... but that stuff has been around for a while. There's probably some new brand names or combinations of the above ingredients, but I wouldn't expect drastic results from anything other than phenibut, which is badly addictive when used chronically.

So from a neuroscientific standpoint, the only new thing they have is CBT-I. For those interested in the brain details, CBT-I works via classical conditioning, and correction of inappropriately timed activity of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, locus ceruleus, and adenosine system. So it will keep working as long as you keep using the techniques.

The Rx drugs and supplements mostly rely on GABA enhancement or histamine blocking, both of which stop working when you develop a tolerance to the drug/herb. The exceptions are Rozerem which is a longer-lasting melatonin substitute and trazodone which is a sedating antidepressant used at low-doses for stress-related insomnia.

[nowayout]

Not so new, but if you want to think outside the box, perhaps low dose amitriptylene or low dose Remeron (mirtazapine) may be options.  I personally am thinking of trying the latter...

As for Rozerem, it really performed very disappointingly in studies - hardly any better than placebo.  It is a melatonin mimic.  You might as well take melatonin, and I developed a tolerance for melatonin after a week or two - can't imagine why Rozerem would be any better.

Edited by viveutvivas, 25 May 2012 - 03:08 PM.

[siafujc]

I suddenly developed issues with sleep a couple of months ago where I would lay awake until around 5am before finally dozing off. Melatonin, Valerian root and OTC sleep aids were not making me go to sleep, they were just keeping me drowsy but I was still quite alert and unable to fall asleep.

I recently discovered Ashwaganda from this very forum and found it makes me drowsy and I also tend to "zone out" every so often on it. I figured it would make a good sleep aid so now when I am not feeling sleepy, but trying to go to bed, I take 570mg to 1140mg (1 to 2 pills respectively) and I don't seem to have much of a problem thereafter.

From what I've read though low doses can give you more energy while higher doses can make you feel sleepy.

[Lufega]

What dose of melatonin are you using ?  I've been researching this for my brother who's suffered from insomnia for years!  Looking at his 23andme results, turns out, he has an SNP that predisposes him to the lowest levels of vitamin B6.  B6 is needed for GABA production, melatonin, etc. so I recently started him on P5P and it seems to make him drowsy.  We'll see with time...

[nowayout]

Lufega, on 17 June 2012 - 07:50 PM, said:

What dose of melatonin are you using ?  I've been researching this for my brother who's suffered from insomnia for years!  Looking at his 23andme results, turns out, he has an SNP that predisposes him to the lowest levels of vitamin B6.  B6 is needed for GABA production, melatonin, etc. so I recently started him on P5P and it seems to make him drowsy.  We'll see with time...

Which SNP is this?  I want to look mine up in my 23andme data but there are so many....

[Lufega]

Rs4654748

C;C) 2 2.90 ng/mL lower Vitamin B6 blood concentration (C;T) 2 1.45 ng/mL lower Vitamin B6 blood concentration (T;T) 0 normal Vitamin B6 blood concentration

My brother is CC.  My mother and I are CT.  Interestingly enough, the three of us have had Carpal Tunnel syndrome at some point.

[nowayout]

Tnanks, I am CC and have had insomnia for many years.

Can we just take supplemental B6?

[IRAtional]

Donormyl

[IRAtional]

Magne-B6

[TheFountain]

I have seasonal insomnia. I have a very difficult time sleeping in the summer time for some reason.

[IRAtional]

Then deal with reason and insomnia will gone

[idquest]

TheFountain, on 03 July 2012 - 05:10 PM, said:

I have seasonal insomnia. I have a very difficult time sleeping in the summer time for some reason.

Same with me. I attribute this to heat, humidity, and early sunrise. Can't make myself go to bed earlier.

[niner]

Lufega, on 18 June 2012 - 03:53 AM, said:

Rs4654748

C;C) 2 2.90 ng/mL lower Vitamin B6 blood concentration (C;T) 2 1.45 ng/mL lower Vitamin B6 blood concentration (T;T) 0 normal Vitamin B6 blood concentration   

Lufega, any luck with P5P supplementation?  Like viveutvivas, I'm CC also, so I'm curious how it worked out.  Insomnia can be a problem for me.

[TheFountain]

idquest, on 25 July 2012 - 10:14 PM, said:

TheFountain, on 03 July 2012 - 05:10 PM, said:

I have seasonal insomnia. I have a very difficult time sleeping in the summer time for some reason.

Same with me. I attribute this to heat, humidity, and early sunrise. Can't make myself go to bed earlier.

Covering the windows and taking melatonin in the summer helps greatly.

[Lufega]

niner, on 26 July 2012 - 02:30 AM, said:

Lufega, on 18 June 2012 - 03:53 AM, said:

Rs4654748

C;C) 2 2.90 ng/mL lower Vitamin B6 blood concentration (C;T) 2 1.45 ng/mL lower Vitamin B6 blood concentration (T;T) 0 normal Vitamin B6 blood concentration   

Lufega, any luck with P5P supplementation?  Like viveutvivas, I'm CC also, so I'm curious how it worked out.  Insomnia can be a problem for me.

I can't get my bro. to take it consistently so it's hard to say.  Have you found something to work for your insomnia?