Hello
@serafim. I'm a severe insomniac also...really, severe. I'm 77 years old and have been through almost every sleep med available until the age of approx. 75.
In my case, everything stopped working within one night or until 2:00 a.m. the next night. I talked it over with my longtime neurologist and he agreed with me....there was no point in taking anything as the problem was in a part of the sleep center that had been partially destroyed.
So life went.....I would get perhaps 3 hrs. max, and often nothing at all. I had myself cleared for things like bipolar illness.
I also suffer from anxiety/panic disorder. OK, anxiety is bad enough, but bad panic attacks take over your entire thinking process and you can't break the cycle. I've tried on my own, attended groups, and finally ended up on fairly mild meds that I would take only when things were heading out of control. Now I'm in a different level and rely on Xanax....yes, I'd prefer something natural, but there comes a time when you have to do what's best for your mind and body.
I always start with the lowest dose....usually a low dose XR pill cut in quarters. The same with an antidepressant and I take Lexapro and have no problems whatsoever. I also suffer from severe pain (FM)and take Lyrica. Again, start with a super low dose (cut the pill, if possible) and move up from there. Most doctors prescribe the lowest dose PILL, thus you just take less of that. Sometimes you're even told to do just that.
By accident, I found that if I took some of my meds (I have other problems, too) and vitamins (as some can cause insomnia), earlier in the day....like with lunch, others at 2:00 p.m., others at 5:30 p.m., one at 8:30 and the final one, an antihistamine....Vick's Ny-Quil OTC, I'm actually sleeping. I'm afraid to write that last sentence, but I want to help you if possible. I get good sleep and I've been on it for four days now. It may be that I'll have to change to another antihistamine, but if that's how I have to sleep, that's how it will be.
I've been to sleep clinics twice....total and complete waste of time, unless you have sleep apnea. Everyone else is sent away with the same med.
I've learned over the years that most doctors can't be relied on for every matter. They're specialists today and it's almost impossible to find a specialist who knows the entire human body. Besides, here in the U.S. they don't have time. Insurance dictates the incredible numbers of patients they have to see per day.
Some do their very best and some don't. I would suggest that if you see a doctor who's half-nice and respectful and need someone for a second appointment, that you go back to this doctor. By the 4th
appointment you should have built up some rapport. I do have an internist who knows the entire body, but even though she's older, she really doesn't know what the specialists want done. Please remember that the entire medical system is ruled by insurance codes. Totally. (No, I'm not in the medical field in any way.)
I hope this will help you somehow. This is my experience only and I hope it continues to work. No sleep is a hard thing to live with. I'm a reader, so I can always do that, go "into" the computer world, answer problems, write letters, etc. I wish you well. Yours, Lenora