since starting Adderall i've noticed that my sleep is not as "restful" as, even thou i get 6-7 hours a night...i picked up the following online yesterday and it makes a lot sense....i had no idea benzos lighten the sleep cycle.....


Slow-wave sleep (SWS), often referred to as "deep sleep". Certain substances, such as benzodiazepines (e.g. Ativan, Valium, Klonopin) seem to have the reverse effect on the time spent in SWS. Instead of lengthening SWS (as do the substances mentioned above), they are known to shorten the time. While these sedatives can increase sleep duration or shorten the time it takes before sleep-onset occurs, they tend to deprive patients of deep sleep.

A chemical called GHB is known to aid in the acquisition of SWS but is highly regulated and extremely difficult to acquire in the USA due to a law passed by President Clinton[citation needed] which defined GHB (and therefore the drug Xyrem) as a controlled substance/narcotic. It is much less accessible to persons in need due to this change. It is regulated by a single, central FDA-controlled commercial pharmacy. This has made access to potentially helpful medications almost impossible to those who are on disability in the United States of America since most disability insurance coverage departments will not issue narcotics without a pre authorization which often is rejected out of hand.

As a result, these disability departments proffer chemicals that treat the SYMPTOMS of extreme daytime sleepiness with stimulants (to keep a person alert during the daytime) or hypnotics, (to put a person into the light stages of sleep, such as the aforementioned benzodiazepines like clonazepam). This is done instead of using a known chemical that is scientifically proven to increase SWS. The use of amphetamines (e.g. Adderal, Ritalin, Provigil) and benzodiazepines (e.g. Ativan, Klonopin/clonazepam) work against the brain's natural sleep-related chemistry, further decreasing the availability of SWS.

hmmmm.....

I have only been on Adderall for almost 3 weeks now but, so far, I feel that I am actually sleeping better. I certainly do not wake up as often as I used to and I don't think I toss and turn as much. I take 20mg of XR at about 7:30AM or 8AM.

the problem with me is nothing last all day, not even Vyvanse which am on now, so I have to take something in afternoon which am sure impacts my sleep.....

If people are having problems getting to sleep, I recommend taking melatonin. I take 3mg and if it doesn't start to work within an hour, I take another 1.5mg. This seems to be pretty effective for me at least even when I am feeling the effects of Adderall.

Melatonin only works to reset your bodies "internal clock". If you aren't tired, it won't (or shouldn't) make you tired. However, taking melatonin with an OTC sleep aid like unisom (doxylamine) will knock you out like no ones business.

I have used unisom (25mg) in combination with melatonin twice, and on both occasions put me out harder than xanax + alcohol.

you are spot on melatolin, doesnt do much for me in terms of sleep onset...

however i think my initial post was based on sleep quality which I believe is affected by amphetamines.....we often focus on "quantity" of sleep rather than "quality". there are two critical sleep patterns which are both needed, "deep-sleep" or SWS which has no dreaming and then REM sleep which is mostly dreaming.
i feel my SWS has been affected by amphetamine use, however is difficult to judge the impact when we run around all day stimulated!! so in effect masking the lack of sleep impact.

a lot happens during sleep, is not just "rest"......our body recovers during deep-sleep and is when HGH is released, and during REM sleep our mind reorganizes thoughts in long/short term memory....both are vital for healthy life...and I believe amphetamines impact this, whether we notice it or not

the fact that we run stimulated all day could be hidding our bodys telling sign of poor sleep quality....but I fear long term this will show. a similar analogy is being overweight, you may not feel like being overweight has any immediate impact, but long term it will

Ask your doctor about either Rozerem or Quazepam, which is a unique benzo that actually promotes SWS instead of hinders it like every other benzo.

Melatonin only works to reset your bodies "internal clock". If you aren't tired, it won't (or shouldn't) make you tired. However, taking melatonin with an OTC sleep aid like unisom (doxylamine) will knock you out like no ones business.

I have used unisom (25mg) in combination with melatonin twice, and on both occasions put me out harder than xanax + alcohol.

On the bottle of Melatonin, it says it should start working within 15 min, which is kind of laughable. I usually take 3mg an hour before I want to fall asleep and 60 minutes is usually all it takes. But I haven't heard of Melatonin only reseting our internal clock. Could you go further into what you mean exactly, by 'resetting it'?

And also, what you are saying, is that Melatonin really only works when you're tired? Like it feeds off whatever chemical is in your body when you're tired and accelerates it?

Ask your doctor about either Rozerem or Quazepam, which is a unique benzo that actually promotes SWS instead of hinders it like every other benzo.

just read up on it, looks promising, will give it shot

just read up on it, looks promising, will give it shot

Let me know how it goes.