Do sleep meds interfere with recovery from PCS?
 

I've been taking Clonazepam (.5mg) and Doxepin (3.5mg) to help me sleep for the last several months. After I got a concussion last fall, I started only being able to sleep a couple hours per night, so I had to take something to help me sleep.

Once I started sleeping, some of my symptoms improved (e.g., ability to talk) and I generally felt stronger. But I still have lots of PCS symptoms, like difficulty using a computer, watching TV or reading for any length of time, and inability to be in crowds.

So I'm wondering if the sleep meds might be interfering with my brain's ability to recover in these other areas.

I had all the problems you mention before taking any sleep meds. I just started taking clonazepam at the end of January for seizures and I have noticed it actually helps with the anxiety of going in to crowded places. I also started taking Ambian for REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and insomnia. I have not noticed that it has made these problems any worse. I think they are just from the PCS. I personally have not noticed sleep meds to worsen the condition.
Brain

I think the two are unrelated, personally. Vision problems can cause the other symptoms, have you had your vision tested by a neuro opth?

Otherwise from what I understand, better sleep and time, are the things that seem to make symptoms fade.

I have always had disrupted sleep. At 14 I was put on trazadone for sleep maintenance.

After my accident at age 25, I now take trazadone and klopin for sleep. Two other meds are taken at night as well, (Atenolol and Flexeril) which have side effects that they make you sleepy. (That's why they are taken at night)

I would say it is unrelated. I used to be sooo anti-meds. But taking what I take now is the only way I can sleep (and thus have my brain heal while sleeping).

Some people will tell you that meds are problematic. However, I can promise you that not sleeping is wayyyyyyyyy worse for brain recovery than taking meds. Your other symptoms sound like part what we all know here, post concussion syndrome.

I agree with Rio, see a neuro-opth to make sure your visual system is processing information in a functional way. If not, that can cause huge problems related to reading, TV, computer balance, being in crowds etc. (I know where glasses and had to do 3 months of vision therapy to get to a point where I can read, watch tv etc.) Crowds still bother me because too many things are moving around me and my brain is trying to process them all.

CBS,

What other things have you tried to help with sleep ?
A magnesium supplement an hour before sleep is effective for some. L-Tryptophan is also helpful. It can help with the anxiety issues that the Doxepin treats.

I went off clonazepam and replaced it with gabapentin. I do much better with the gabapentin. It is not sedating like clonazepam. It just allows the brain to 'let go.'

Amitriptyline (Elavil) is the more common tri-cyclic antidepressant than Doxepin for post concussion insomnia. Usually 10 mgs before sleep helps.

Benzos like clonazepam have been studied and shown to cause memory and cognitive function decline at an alarming rate. We don't need more of that after getting a concussion.

My best to you.

The brain requires sleep to heal. After my concussion, I was only able to sleep for two hours at night. Prior to this, I did not have any issues with insomnia. The lack of sleep after the accident intensified the PCS symptoms, and impaired my ability to function at work. I took Zopiclone to help me sleep. It did not seem to make any of the PCS symptoms worse. I was on it for three years. A couple of months ago, my sleep patterns started to normalize, and I was able to wean myself off of the medication.

my sleep is getting bad again
 

The psychiatrist is trying to taper me off benzos to get ready for the future when I start cognitive therapy so I cannot have the benzos interference with the therapy.I went from xanax 2mg(undiagnosed) to 20mg valium now.I know this benzo has to go for best result of the cognitive therapy when that time comes. (Probably next fall)

My sleep has got bad lately.My original sleep schedule was 10pm to 9 or 10 am I was sleeping 10-12hrs a night, then it changed to 8-10hours a night and now this past week I been only able to max 6-7hrs:eek:I was taking my 2 10mg valium @ night, magnesium, melatonin, and hot showers threw this whole change period.It was not like I changed anything to much except maybe fall asleep a hour earlier and no matter what wake up at 5am and cannot go back to sleep till 8 or 9am.

When Monday comes I have to chase my psychiatrist down and I need to make some change and add some sleep meds so I can get back to longer sleep.I would rather get sleep any day then be up with my days being longer with cabin fever and not happy with increasing anger.So with that said I am going to bed and if I get up @ 5 or 6 am.I'm about to loose it!

I do not know about sleep meds but I am going to have to take a try to help me sleep ASAP.I guess add another medicine to the list:thud:
I feel like I just gotta do what I got to do to get threw this battle.And sleep is needed!!!