• Neuroscience & Pharmacology Discussion Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules
    Recent Journal Articles Chemistry Mega-Thread
    FREE Chemistry Databases! Self-Education Guide

  • N&PD Moderators: Skorpio | someguyontheinternet

Recommended hypnotics, sleep aids for ages 70+ ?

JohnBoy2000

JohnBoy2000

Bluelighter
Joined
May 11, 2016
Messages
2,596
I know some antihistamines have anticholinergic properties which may be an issue in older ages via effect on memory.

I believe the same is true for older anti-depressants such as amitrytaline used in small doses for insomnia.

Zopiclone/benzos don't actually work in this persons case (old age neighbour I was discussing this with).

Anti-psychotics at low dose are best avoided.

Mirtazapine at low dose due to appetite spike, also cautious of.

........

All that being said, recommendation for hypnotic, insomnia aid for demographics around 75 years of age?

I'd personally think the most benign would be promethazine or an OTC anti-histamine;

But the question of anti-cholinergic effects?
 
I have no first-hand experience with them but I‘ve heard great things about dual OX1 and OX2 antagonists like lemborexant, daridorexant and suvorexant.
 
Last edited:
simple cannabis edibles

www.cnbs.org

A Guide to Cannabis and Seniors - CNBS

A guide to cannabis use among seniors, including why they’re using it, the age-related medical conditions it can treat, and the potential social benefits.
www.cnbs.org www.cnbs.org

plus it will take most of there joint pain away and give them a good appetite as well as making them happy and high :)

most used and known drug in history really.
 
I don't know where you are, but in the UK clomethiazole used to be the standard medication because it has a fairly rapid onset but doesn't cause a hang-over the morning after (so people are not at risk of falls and such).
 
Fertile said:
I don't know where you are, but in the UK clomethiazole used to be the standard medication because it has a fairly rapid onset but doesn't cause a hang-over the morning after (so people are not at risk of falls and such).
Click to expand...

there is a very good point in here and one against cannabis.

although in smaller doses and after a little time the hang over goes with cannabis there is still the risk of a fall in the early period of use and if one takes too much.
 
Well by a quirk of fate, clomethiazole (Heminevrin) isn't a controlled drug in any nation on earth. I have NO idea where one would order it BUT please do read the instructins - after all, Keith Moon who survived more drugs than seems possible was eventually killed by just 6 x 192mg (3 grain) capsule.

The fact it was originally measured in grains informs you of how old this stuff it - discovered 88 years ago.

It's very effective - but don't take more than 1.
 
ok thats so not good for oldies.

they have often little boxes with days on it so they dont screw up there dosages.

memory problems and overdose are a common thing.

on one hand with cannabis if you take to much you will get a hangover the next day but it wont kill you.

on the other no hang over but if your memory fails and you take to much your dead.

I would say keith moon was not old when he died and as we get older our bodies get more fragile this includes when it comes to drug overdoses.

on that hand im still for pot.

if eating it is too dangerous due to the hang over use the dropper and drop it under the tongue then it will not convert to the hydroxyl compound in the liver as much

and be more like smoked cannabis.

the other thing in favour of cannabis is that it feels great :)

and kills pain really for me that and opiates are all I want in my older years.

and a strong barbiturate for when its time to check out.

I will go by my own hand and no one will tell me otherwise ;)
 
Suvorexant does mention 'daytime sleepiness' as a side-effect.

I I see it's schedule IV 'modest potential for misuse'.

I would certainly be interested in reading a report on it's subjective effects.
 
Really? I was given some tablets but never dared to take them. Isn't the onset very slow and duration very long?

I was scared I might drift off to sleep and then OD hours later.
 
Fertile said:
Really? I was given some tablets but never dared to take them. Isn't the onset very slow and duration very long?

I was scared I might drift off to sleep and then OD hours later.
Click to expand...
Nah man it's actually quite safe if no other depressants are involved

Several grams would need to be used to cause fatal overdose in a non tolerant user

The clinical effects are more uniform and predictable than what we see with benzodiazepines, ideal for an elderly person
 
I’ve had multiple psychiatrists tell me that mirtazapine is tolerated well by elderly populations

it’s typically prescribed for depression but most certainly has a nice sleep inducing effect (it has completely eliminated my insomnia)

I wouldn’t be too concerned about the appetite tbh. That side effect tends to level out/disappear after a few weeks ime
 
JohnBoy2000 said:
I know some antihistamines have anticholinergic properties which may be an issue in older ages via effect on memory.

I believe the same is true for older anti-depressants such as amitrytaline used in small doses for insomnia.

Zopiclone/benzos don't actually work in this persons case (old age neighbour I was discussing this with).

Anti-psychotics at low dose are best avoided.

Mirtazapine at low dose due to appetite spike, also cautious of.

........

All that being said, recommendation for hypnotic, insomnia aid for demographics around 75 years of age?

I'd personally think the most benign would be promethazine or an OTC anti-histamine;

But the question of anti-cholinergic effects?
Click to expand...
I don't know about it's efficacy in the elderly specifically, but I have been hearing a lot of good things about lemborexant, a new medication used for treating insomnia. Might be worth looking into.
 
Fertile said:
Suvorexant does mention 'daytime sleepiness' as a side-effect.

I I see it's schedule IV 'modest potential for misuse'.

I would certainly be interested in reading a report on it's subjective effects
Click to expand...

Had it once in the hospital, don’t know the dose, one tablet. After 15-20 minutes I just got awfully tired, no psychoactive affects otherwise. Barely made it to the bed like I was on 4mg clonazepam without any tolerance or psychostimulants. I slept for around 9-10hours and woke up fit and refreshed although I had a 2 or 3 day a-pihp binge behind me. No daytime drowsiness or any psychoactive effects noted afterwards. I can only recommend this substance. What is interesting is that there are different orexin1 and 2 antagonists out already in the USA and they have a somewhat different structure. Anybody can lead be to a paper concerning the qsar or differing effects on these compounds.

As far as I can tell there are sora and Dora,sora are selective for one receptor, dora work at both and those in use are both dora (dual orexin receptor antagonists).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top