I haven't been able to sleep at night. Last night I wasn't able to sleep at all. I have been up over 24 hours right now. This is insane. Now I have to go to work.

Pittguy, firstly you need to let your doctor or healthcare provider know about this. Secondly there is a thread in this forum called "How's your sleep pattern guys". There's lot's of good info in there.

Your doctor might send you to a sleep lab, to try to determine exactly what is going on (they basically just pop a bunch of electrodes on your head and monitor heart rate respiration and brain activity while you sleep). Your problem could be due to Pattern Sleep Disturbance with afflicts about 75% of adults with ADD, and oddly enough one of the best treatments for this is to take your ADD meds before bed (This, of course, depends on the med. Strattera for example is long acting and taking extra would probably be harmful. So always consult your doctor with med dose or schedule changes, but it doesn't hurt to do your homework first as he/she may be unaware of new studies in this area. We are always our own best advocates). On the other hand, you may also be on too high a dose of your meds, be practicing poor sleep hygeine (something your doctor can help you with), or simply be under excessive stress. Little things like removing distractions from sleep from your room can help, avoiding exercise any sooner than two hours before sleep, eating excessive carbohydrates later in the day, or myriad other things.

As confusing as all that sounds, your doctor can help you find a fix that works. Even if it's as simple as a sleeping aid.

I hope you find an answer that works for you, and my reply was of some use to you. I have been in your shoes, and in fact was last night because they screwed up my proscription (hee hee), and I know how badly we need our sleep.

I did call my doctor today. I am waiting for him to call me back. I have tried melatonin, valerian root, and theanine with no success. I even took two tylenol P.M.s last night and it didn't have an effect. I am ready to collapse. I had a problem for about a month prior to christmas, and then it went away for a few weeks and now it is back.

Weed puts me to sleep, I'm no doctor in anyway, more like a pothead, but considering your problem, I would try it. I bet you'll get a great night sleep. If you never smoked weed ever before in your life, then don't take what I suggested.

T-Bass

yeah, in my experience weed is pretty much the most effective downer. imo the most natural and safe too. you wake up really refreshed from a great night's sleep.

i just never want to fall asleep. i just want to stay up and think more. i need medication

I have big problem with insomnia myself. I have one natural way that works lets say 65% of the time for me. Is i just dont stress about it. I started it many years ago and i swear it works. When you have insomnia, accept that you wont sleep and say it out loud talk to yourself and say. Fine i wont sleep and whenever i will i will have the best restfull sleep no matter how many hours i have to sleep. Dont look at the clock set it for what ever time you have to get up, and dont look at it anymore for the rest of the time you are up, and most important dont look at it when you go to bed. If you dont sleep at all, i am sure you have done it before and you did not die from it. That is what i say to myself if i did not sleep at all . It,s not fun fonctioning with no much sleep. But i am not a medication person i always try natural way first. But it's like anything in our life i think .... it's to change the tape our brain as been playing on for years.

Digitl who is not sure if she can post here.... sneaking out:cool:

Try a bacopa melatonin mix. The bacopa lowers my dopamine levels, and the melatonin puts me to sleep. Works like a charm for me.

Up until my insurance stopped covering it, I took lunesta for my sleep. it works very well for me. Get a full 8+ hours of sleep...

Pittguy is this lack of sleep still a result of stimulant use? You really ought to report this to the doctor, as so many have advised you. Lack of sleep is going to nullify the stimulant's effects or drastically decrease them. Then what's the point?

Two Attend capsules + fish oil + multi-vitamin + multi-mineral = sleep. This is what worked for me after weed, Temazepam, and Trazodone failed.

There is also a point where you might realize you function fine without the extra sleep. All my life I have had issues sleeping 8 hours and ended up staying up until I fell asleep getting 4-5 hours. I have realized I function just fine on this limitation with one day or so on the weekend with a massive catchup. I find that the hardest problem sleeping is shutting the head up. The hardest part with staying asleep is shutting the head up. After five hours of sleep I am fully awake and my head is swimming with thoughts. I have just learned to accept it and move on. It does not effect my work or my life(I think).

The hardest times I have is when my wife insists going to bed early. I always end up awake after four hours with no chance of returning to sleep.

Oh well, if it does not effect you don't stress it and realize how much more productive you are from the lack of sleep. I get up at 4 every morning after going to bed around 11-11:30 and I read articles and work on side projects, then I go to work. That extra two hours in the morning is so0m of my most productive personal hours unless I watch tv, read a book and do crosswords.

My 2cents.

I have the same situation as whrsmymind, wife goes to bed early, I wake up and can't get back to sleep. I just start working and get a couple hours later on.