Night Terrors

[mickenator]

Iam a pscyzophrenic who takes Olanzapine to help with the day to day things but what I can't deal with is the night terrors, it keeps me awake for ages after a bad dream as I'm to frightened to go back to sleep. My question is does anyone else have these problems and if so how do they deal with them ? Is it a case of changing meds or are there some other meds that can be taken as well or is it just one of those things I have to deal with as part of my illness ?

[Woodman]

I don't know the particulars about your case, but many people who are NOT schizophrenic ALSO experience night terrors, but most do not seem to experience them as frequently as you seem to.

I feel strongly that most night terrors have more to do with the spiritual cause rather than being symptomatic of some sort of "state of mind". This makes a lot of people uncomfortable because the spiritual realm remains largely unexplored, scientifically, so it makes it easy for academicians to scoff at the concept even as clinical treatments remain largely ineffective.

A spiritual attack will often mimic the signs of mental disorder, and is usually diagnosed as such.

You may want to look in to some sort of alternative (spiritual) treatment method, perhaps one which does not conflict with any of the medical treatment you are currently receiving.

[Nature Boy]

Originally Posted by Woodman

I feel strongly that most night terrors have more to do with the spiritual cause rather than being symptomatic of some sort of "state of mind". This makes a lot of people uncomfortable because the spiritual realm remains largely unexplored, scientifically, so it makes it easy for academicians to scoff at the concept even as clinical treatments remain largely ineffective.

I'm of a similar opinion although I would change the word 'spiritual' for 'psychiatric'. Clinical treatments may not be the solution. Therapeutic help might reduce the problem however.

[mickenator]

Thanks you guys for the quick response, as to Micklemouses first question I've had the night terrors for a long time now but they weren't as bad as since I've been taking olanzapine. I have also found that if I get the slightest bit stressed during the day It makes for a sleepless night ( the night terrors are far much worse ), secondly I normally take my medication when I get up but I'm willing to give your advice a try and start leaving my meds till late at night and see if the sedative effects of the tablet don't make for a more restfull sleep.

[Nicaine]

Originally Posted by mickenator

Iam a pscyzophrenic who takes Olanzapine to help with the day to day things but what I can't deal with is the night terrors, it keeps me awake for ages after a bad dream as I'm to frightened to go back to sleep. My question is does anyone else have these problems and if so how do they deal with them ? Is it a case of changing meds or are there some other meds that can be taken as well or is it just one of those things I have to deal with as part of my illness ?

Sorry to hear about your illness, I've known quite a few people with schizophrenia including having two girlfriends with it (I was in the mental health system with panic disorder/depression from ~1988-1992) and it is a damn tough thing to deal with on a daily basis.

Anyway... maybe a prescription for a sedative-hypnotic like Ambien, Lunesta, Zopiclone, etc. would help keep you sleeping through the night instead of waking up & having trouble falling asleep again? Might be worth talking to your pdoc about. Changing psych meds is no picnic & can throw everything out of whack, so maybe just adding something on for better/deeper sleep might do the trick.

P.S. SWIM looked around online and did find Olanzapine can cause nightmares, unusual dreaming and such for some people.

[Micklemouse]

Sound words from Nicaine & Woodman. It's worth mentioning though that many alternative practitioners are wary when it comes to dealing with psychiatric illnesses, especially the psychotic illnesses,although the fact that 'symptoms' are well controlled, other than the terrors, may have bearing on any decision to treat.

A couple of questions of my own. Firstly, are the terrrors something that has started since commencing Olanzapine, or were they a part of life before the first episode of psychosis? If they started since commencing Olanzapine, then it may indeed be worth talking to SWiY consultant about changing meds. I doubt that Olanzapine will be the cause of the terrors however - it is used to treat night-terrors in PTSD, & this study http://web.archive.org/web/200707081...l/efficacy.asp found no incidence of nightmares in the Olanzapine group compared to them being significantly reported in a group taking Risperidone. That said, it is not to be entirely discounted.

Secondly, what time does SWiY take their meds? If SWiY takes the full dose in the morning, it may be worth looking at splitting the dose & taking it morning & night, or just at night - the terrors may be a form of 'breakthrough' symptom which is not being controlled if the Olanzapine is wearing off while asleep; splitting the dose would ensure a steady supply of the med throughout the 24 hour period. Another alternative may be taking a slightly higher dose at night (e.g. say SWiY're prescribed 15 mg/day, take 5mg in the morning, 10mg at night), providing that little extra night sedation without introducing an extra med. If this already SWiY regime, then again speak to SWiYconsultant about possibly changing. Given Olanzapine's chemical relation to them, benzo's or similar may not be an option as a sleep aid (also not such a good idea given SWiY predilection for opiates. Introducing another sedative could have dire consequences with regards to over-sedation & CNS depression!)

Best advice I can give though is make an out-patients appointment with SWiYer consultant & talk through the options with him/her.

Best of luck!

[Micklemouse]

A third question - was Olanzapine the first med tried? And a fourth - could it be said that the terrors weren't as bad before becoming unwell initially, rather than before Olanzapine? Like I said earlier I find it unlikely (though not impossible) that Olanzapine itself is the cause, unless not quite cutting it for controlling symptoms could be said to be a cause... I'm a nosy bugger, so please don't feel under any obligation to answer here mate!

I would heartily advise discussing this with SWiY doc (either gp or preferably consultant if SWiY still have one) first mate - I'm sure they would agree with the plan, but for various reasons it is best to get the go-ahead from the geezer with the certificate before playing with meds like this. This way everybody is covered should (Heavens forbid!) things go tits-up. Changes to medication regime should be documented & monitored, that way if the worst happens & a hospital admission becomes necessary the staff will know what has worked & what hasn't.

The standard way is generally a split dose, morning (to control symptoms during the day, allowing the taker to get on with their life; often a lower dose to avoid daytime sedation, but sometimes equally split), & night (to control symptoms such as those you describe, as well as providing night sedation aiding rest, cutting down the risk of insomnia that can by itself lead to a relapse).

It may also be worth talking to the doc about some counselling as well, especially as this has been going on since before the first episode of psychosis, & especially in light of the stress response you mentioned having an impact on sleep.

I strongly recommend getting an appointment as soon as ye can.

[El Calico Loco]

Questions of spirituality aside, dreams are often your unconscious mind trying to tell you something. You might look for recurring themes, objects, symbols, and such, and then try to figure out what they represent from your waking life.


ECL

[mickenator]

Thanks for the response Micklemouse and in answer to your questions no Olanzapine is not my first med, over the years I have tried most of the meds about but my last one was Depixol in a slow release liquid injected into my bum. The night terrors have gotten worse over the last 12 months but even before that they were quite bad. As to the tought that my problems maybe spiritual I can't see it, I have never really been a spiritual person and seriously don't think that that is a reason. I intend to talk this through with my GP as it is seriously stressing me out in the day and making me overly irratable and agressive at work, I would hate to take my fustrations out on someone for no reason.

[D.U.M.B]

SWIM has suffered many sleep related things in his life.

Night Terrors is one on the list. Now SWIM hasn't had one in years, he mainly got them as a kid and would often take minutes for him to be calmed down by his folks. SWIM doesn't know much of how meds etc. can effect the occurance of night terrors but just wanted to add that he got them while under the influence of nothing under than childhood innocence.

SWIM also suffered from insomnia, sleep paralysis and that one where you sleep more than you need to and nod off during the day etc. SWIM doesn't know the name of that one off hand

[Nature Boy]

Might it have been narcolepsy?

[mickenator]

Just a quick reply, I took micklemouse advice and now take my meds in the evening and my nightmares haven't been as bad of late and I sleep better.

[The Mama]

I know I'm kind of late to the party here but, You might want to consider asking your doctor about Abilify (aripiprazole). It's used for treating symptoms of schizophrenia but is also sometime prescribed for sleep.