Posted by Tony P on December 1, 2008, at 22:19:43
In reply to Re: remeron, posted by desolationrower on December 1, 2008, at 21:47:25
If I've got the biochem. right, Remeron's sleep-inducing effect is mainly an H1 (histamine) one, so almost any old-fashioned anti-histamine should have a similar effect -- cyproheptadine or good old diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which has the great virtue of being cheap!
As others have said, there are many Rxs that are commonly used off-label for sleep, with less risk of tolerance & poop-out than Lunesta or related meds. Some that have worked for me are trazadone, serzone, seroquel, neurontin (gabapentin), trimipramine ....
Gabapentin didn't help me fall asleep but helped me stay asleep, so I'd combine it with something else if I were taking it again.
Trimipramine has some risks in adding a TCA to whatever other A/D you're taking, although my pdoc said it is the weakest of the TCA's in antidepressant effect, and it has a l-o-n-g halflife -- so set two alarms and the coffemaker on auto! But it gave me absolutely the most natural sleep of anything I have evr taken, not excepting the benzos & lunesta/Ambien etc.
Tony
poster:Tony P
thread:866128
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081123/msgs/866209.html