SleepyDave -

The Zoloft causes the REM latency which means there's no delta sleep (stages 3&4) which means that I'm not getting any real rest...is that the order of events?  If so, maybe the depression is caused by the lack of delta sleep?  Maybe I should talk to the doc about stopping the Zoloft?

I don't have the study info electronically...not sure how to get the graphs to you (?)

I'm 40...the only other medications I take are various vitamins/supplements and OTC-strength Claritin for allergies...no head injuries...did have optic neuritis about 15 years ago...the MRI showed that my hypothalamus "looks funny"...they said it may have always looked like that...follow-up MRIs showed no changes

PLMs and Sleep Stages                
Stages          PLM-Arousal Index    All-PLM Index    PLM-Arousal Total    All-PLM Total
Total Sleep    4.3                          25.6                                35                         210
Stage REM     1.9                          37.1                                  3                          59


Respiratory Events with Arousals
Parameter                        Index                   Total
Total Events                        0.4                       3
NREM                                  0.5                       3
REM                                    0.0                       0

Thanks for the help...I really appreciate it!  wp

Hey,

My sleep specialist just prescribed Provigil 200mg for me, the more research I did the more I think I won't fill the prescription.  My EDS isn't too bad, and I think I will wait for my body to get more fully adjusted to the CPAP as I haven't been on it quite 2 months. I had concerns with Provigil because I have high blood pressure that my PCP just managed to get under control, and I don't like the idea of taking a legal version of Speed. Even my PCP had reservations about it.  It just isn't known yet what the long term effects are on a person. They are just finding out that Ritalin long term hasn't got great effects on adolescents.
I think I will work on finding an alternative natural supplement with a bit more exercise and letting my body adjust to the CPAP. I have been sooooo long without sleep that my body is sleeping too hard now to make up for the lost time.  

Hi wp:
If you can scan the graphs, edit them to be about 800 by 600 pixels or so, save them as a .jpg file, upload them to a third party website that stores photos, then link to the file using the "img" function on the keyboard creating your post.  You can see how to do it by holding your cursor over the "img" button.

Or e-mail them to me and I can do it.

Zoloft delays REM periods from the normal onset of about 90 minutes.  In your case to over 5 hours.  The effect does not translate into changes in delta sleep.  Interestingly, you must have had a pile of REM at the end, cause your REM% is essentially normal at 19.4%.

A youngster of 40 should have a hefty dose of delta sleep, and I don't know why you don't.  Checking sleep architecture may provide a clue.  The halting of Zoloft would be a separate issue, one that you'd have to weigh the risk/benefits.  Depression can wreck sleep architecture just as well as a number of other things, so you might be trading one issue (assuming there is an issue that discontinuing Zoloft would address) for another.  Still, not a bad idea to review that course of action with your physician, have him do the risk/benefit analysis.  

We're still left with no delta sleep and a wicked daytime sleepiness.  Might get simply stuck with idiopathic hypersomnulence, idiopathic meaning "the heck if I know".  But get that additional information, we can still try to look for something.

sleepydave

Hi SleepyDave -

Thanks for your latest message...I need to figure out a way to get the graphs scanned.

I spoke to my sleep doc on Tuesday and we've decided to try life without the Zoloft...will "step down" over a 2 week period and then give it another 2-3 weeks to see how things go.

I asked him about the absent delta sleep and he said it's common for people to have little/no delta sleep when in the lab...have you heard about that happening to other people?

The headaches are still around, but I'm hoping they'll go away when I can get another nightguard made to help alleviate the problems with clenching (my braces are scheduled to come off in March).

Have a good weekend and thanks again for all the great feedback!  WinstonPepper

Hi wp!
No, I wouldn't go so far as to say it's common for a 40 year old to have zero delta sleep because of lab effect, but there are plenty of other reasons for that to happen.  Perhaps the other information will give a clue.  Stay in touch.
sleepydave