Insomnia & apnea

Does anyone take Seroquel? My doctors, shrink & sleep specialist, both, have prescribed it for insomnia. My sleep doc says that I might need to continue using the lorazepam that I've been taking at bedtime for the insomnia. My apnea is complex central. Thanks.

While I know (first hand) a fair amount about insomnia, I've always been lucky enough to manage it without drugs---until now. And even now, I only take a Sonata on a very rare and occasional basis---as in once a month or so. So I can't really offer any insight into the drugs you mention.

I would suggest a long chat with the doctor about the overall plan for the drugs for insomnia: Be sure you understand exactly what each of the two drugs is supposed to do to alleviate the insomnia. Be sure that you understand the correct way to take the two meds. And inquire about whether the doc thinks you'll be on both meds long term or not. And if the idea is to eventually wean you off one or the other drugs, ask about how that will be done.

How long have you had the insomnia? What triggered it in the first place? And how well does the lorazepam work? And what is the Seroquel supposed to do to help the lorazepam work better?

Have you started using a xPAP yet?

Sometimes insomnia can be caused or aggravated by untreated sleep apnea. And in that case, establishing an optimal xPAP therapy that does an excellent job of managing the apnea may help---in the long run---with the insomnia. But central and complex anpea can be much harder to treat than garden variety OSA. So you could be in for a longer than average period of working to find a good, quality xPAP therapy solution. Among other things, your insurance may insist that you fail at CPAP before letting you move onto a machine that is more appropriate for treating central and complex apnea.

Unfortunately, starting xPAP can also trigger or aggravate insomnia during the adjustment period. So if the insomnia gets worse after you start xPAP, let your sleep doctor know immediately. Don't just assume that it will somehow get better or back to normal on its own. And whatever else you do when you start xPAP, do NOT lie in the bed for hours masked up, but NOT sleeping and getting more and more anxious about the mask. That will likely make the insomnia much worse and it will also likely make it harder to adjust to xPAP. If you can't sleep with the mask on, get out of bed and go to a different room and do something quiet, but enjoyable to get your mind off both the insomnia and the xPAP mask. When you are sleepy enough to return to bed, remember to mask up. And then try to get back to sleep.

And good luck with dealing with both the insomnia and adjusting to xPAP.

Bump, you still on it? Hows it workin out?

My doc just prescribed it to me since cpap therapy isn't showing many results yet.