delayed sleep cycle syndrome

[Bmuff4]

I have been diagnosed with delayed sleep cycle syndrome and have been being treated for three years with a sleep disorder physician with moderate results. I also am ADHD. I have difficulty sleeping since I was a child -often not falling asleep until 2 a.m. and and I aged It has gotten worse. I take estazolam 2 mg at night, Adderall xr 30mg in a.m. and Wellbutin to combatthe ups nd downs of the Adderall. I have a low immune system - catching everything that goes around (I had strep throat 5 times this past summer) The worst symptoms are the cyclical nature of this disease. I never feel good - my brain closes down every day at 5 p.m. but I don't want to take more adderal. I am able to function for about three weeks at a time and then I start feeling sick with no energy and am hardly able to get out of bed. I on't go out at night but on the rare occassions when I drink, I will not sleep for the next two weeks. I am looking for more information and the guru of sleep physicians. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Dr. Adams]

You are in South Carolina. Are you close to MUSC in Charleston? They almost certainly have a sleep disorders clinic. You sound quite miserable and the medication seems a vicious cycle. You do not mention any areas in which there is quality of life.

[Claudine]

You may try using bright light therapy. The bright light therapy treatment relies on using a bright light turned on by the bedside of the patient. The treatment also follows the same thing restricted in the evening.

The patient should avoid bright light in the evening to ease the body and produce melatonin at the regular time. Chronotherapy helps in resetting the circadian rhythm. Some doctors recommend vitamin B12 and melatonin as dietary supplements to DSPS patients.


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[Claudine]

The bright light therapy treatment relies on using a bright light turned on by the bedside of the patient. The treatment also follows the same thing restricted in the evening. The patient should avoid bright light in the evening to ease the body and produce melatonin at the regular time. Chronotherapy helps in resetting the circadian rhythm. Some doctors recommend vitamin B12 and melatonin as dietary supplements to DSPS patients.