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Caffeine a No-No?
Fri, 07/21/2006 - 14:57Comments
Re: Caffeine a No-No?
Submitted by Matthew Simington on Wed, 2008-07-23 - 14:16
Sorry to post off topic, but this is perhaps related.
Moyeen,
I have been on Tegretol for about 20 years. I was on 1200mgs a day for most of that period, without any other meds. I think that Tegretol, or just its sedative effects, messes up your sleep/wake switch. It seems to turn on or off at random. Sometimes it was just like my body was asleep, and it didn't matter what I did or how bad I wanted to stay awake, or how much sleep I got, I couldn't stay awake. Other times, like at night, I couldn't go to sleep. When I was in one of those "body asleep" times I felt HORRIBLE, like I had been beat up like a rag doll. If I fall asleep I usually have auras, and can have seizures, so I can't "nap". I too can fall asleep right after drinking a cup of coffee, even though I hardly ever drink it.
My personal theory is that the sedative simply makes you tired or sleepy, then you either fall asleep, or your body simply thinks that it should be sleeping. Then at some time you get over it (more or less), like a "second wind". Then you can function, but only like someone who didn't get enough sleep. So, you are quickly tired again. Etc. The result is that your body clock gets all messed up. You hardly feel any more or less tired in the morning when you get up, than you do when you go to bed. This makes it hard to keep a regular schedule. Sometimes I think that, even if you do keep a regular schedule, your confused body clock and sleep/wake switch can actually aggrivate your seizures, as if you are staying up all night.
I think that this is relavant to the thread, because we drink Caffiene BECAUSE WE ARE TIRED AND CAN'T THINK. However, while this may have some short term benefit, I think in the long run it just ends up hurting.
Sorry to post off topic, but this is perhaps related.
Moyeen,
I have been on Tegretol for about 20 years. I was on 1200mgs a day for most of that period, without any other meds. I think that Tegretol, or just its sedative effects, messes up your sleep/wake switch. It seems to turn on or off at random. Sometimes it was just like my body was asleep, and it didn't matter what I did or how bad I wanted to stay awake, or how much sleep I got, I couldn't stay awake. Other times, like at night, I couldn't go to sleep. When I was in one of those "body asleep" times I felt HORRIBLE, like I had been beat up like a rag doll. If I fall asleep I usually have auras, and can have seizures, so I can't "nap". I too can fall asleep right after drinking a cup of coffee, even though I hardly ever drink it.
My personal theory is that the sedative simply makes you tired or sleepy, then you either fall asleep, or your body simply thinks that it should be sleeping. Then at some time you get over it (more or less), like a "second wind". Then you can function, but only like someone who didn't get enough sleep. So, you are quickly tired again. Etc. The result is that your body clock gets all messed up. You hardly feel any more or less tired in the morning when you get up, than you do when you go to bed. This makes it hard to keep a regular schedule. Sometimes I think that, even if you do keep a regular schedule, your confused body clock and sleep/wake switch can actually aggrivate your seizures, as if you are staying up all night.
I think that this is relavant to the thread, because we drink Caffiene BECAUSE WE ARE TIRED AND CAN'T THINK. However, while this may have some short term benefit, I think in the long run it just ends up hurting.
Re: Caffeine a No-No?
Submitted by moyeen_h on Wed, 2008-07-23 - 11:45
hi all .
interesting point is-- i don't feel the effect of caffeine ! i take Tegretol 400mg/ day and i feel very sleepy time to time . Many a times , I drank 1 or 2 mugs of tea/coffee and went staight for 8-9 hours sleep ! again, sometimes i feel sleepy out of no reason and at those times 2-3 cups of coffee can't help !
can anybody explain ? btw, i have bipolar disorder which started only recently .
hi all .
interesting point is-- i don't feel the effect of caffeine ! i take Tegretol 400mg/ day and i feel very sleepy time to time . Many a times , I drank 1 or 2 mugs of tea/coffee and went staight for 8-9 hours sleep ! again, sometimes i feel sleepy out of no reason and at those times 2-3 cups of coffee can't help !
can anybody explain ? btw, i have bipolar disorder which started only recently .