The ADHD Adults Podcast Episode 137 - ADHD and Insomnia
Nov 6, 2023
The ADHD Adults Podcast talks about the relationship between ADHD and insomnia, including the impact of medication on sleep. They share personal experiences and strategies for coping with insomnia. The hosts also discuss the features of Spotify for Podcasters and their experiences with losing medication. Additionally, they explore various insomnia strategies such as playing games on their phone and using brown noise.
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ADHD And Circadian Delay
- ADHD often disrupts circadian rhythm and evening melatonin release, contributing to delayed sleep phase in many people.
- Poor sleep and ADHD symptoms can interact bidirectionally, worsening each other through reciprocal causation.
Mixed Evidence On Sleep In Adult ADHD
- Research on insomnia in adults with ADHD is mixed: self-reports often show higher insomnia, but objective sleep studies give varied results.
- Medication effects vary: stimulants can improve or worsen sleep depending on drug, dose and person.
Medication Helps But Can Still Fail
- James describes using clonazepam (clasepam) to manage periodic limb movements and sleep, but it sometimes fails.
- He reports short stretches of severe insomnia that dramatically impair his daytime function and executive skills.