ptsd Sleepless Nights

[chinavet]

I have cut way back on Klonopin and no longer rely on it to sleep. It's dangerous and morality rates are higher for folks who use sleep aids.

So

I have tried some new methods with some success:

No TV or computer for 1 hour before bed. These cause melatonin issues and biologically screw up ability to sleep

I take Melatonin: it puts me right out. But it has a short half life so should be taken within 30-40 minutes of actually going to bed. If you pass 90 minutes you likely need to take it again. It's non addictive and works on me like a charm if I'm not super stressed.

Prazosin/minpress

It's a blood pressure med. and in small doses at night has proven to reduce nightmares and might terrors.

I had my first week of terror free sleep on this last week!!!

It makes me a little shaky in the morning but works!

It also brought down my resting heart rate which the cardiologist said had climbed to 105 due to PTSD... My BP is normally fine and doesn't go too low on the medicine.

Check with your primary care doc or shrink.

Other insights??