Can't take this anymore...will probably reinstate and taper?

[Guest [Th...]]

Another zero night in the books and I mean ZERO, no sleep.  I am over 2 months out and this is not changing.  I know I will build tolerance, but am HIGHLY considering reinstating with Valium and doing a taper.  Maybe Kindling will come into play, maybe not?  Don't know, but doesn't seem like I have made any progress so far.  My sleep is about the same as it was when I CT'd all the benzos I was on in early August.  Mostly Zero sleep nights at last 3 - 4 times per week with an occasional 5 - 8 hour night in between.  I just can't take all of the ZERO hour nights...at least 20+ since I jumped.  I know a lot of you will say "stay the course" "it will get better"  I simply cannot do this for another 6 - 12 months or longer with ZERO noticeable signs of improvement!

 

[Guest [ch...]]

Sleep will return but I can't predict when. If the insomnia is really intolerable then re-instating Valium followed by a slow taper is an understandable move. Only you can decide if staying the course is bearable.

I was in a similar boat last December (no sleep at all, after reaching 0 in previous taper). I re-instated 10mg Valium and did a slow taper. Now after almost a year of tapering I am close to 0 again but doing a lot better. Sleeping 4 to 6 hours per night; much better than 0 to 2! Slow tapering gives your brain a chance to heal while tapering.

Best wishes,

CP

[Guest [Th...]]

Not sure if that would work as I reached tolerance before I jumped and I was at about 2 - 3 mg a night between temazepam and Klonopin and only getting 2 - 3 hours of sleep per night.  If I reinstated I might have to go to 30 or 40mg of Valium and then I might reach tolerance quickly or it may not even work?  I have heard that happening to other people.  You were stable when you cut to 0 then jumped over to 10mg of V, correct?  And you had not reached tolerance before you started your original cut, correct?  Not sure If I go that high on the V that I could do a taper that would take more than a year?

[Guest [ch...]]

My first taper was straight off 2mg Ativan. I was not in tolerance, but I tapered too fast and when I reached 0 I was not sleeping at all. So, not stable @ 0 at the end of taper #1. I reinstated @ 10mg Valium which got me stable and sleeping again, and then commenced a slower taper. This 2nd taper has gone a lot better. At 0.5mg Valium now and stable and expecting to be at 0 in a month or two.

 

I'm not trying to push you into emulating me; in fact if you can hold out it's better to stay off the benzos. But in case you do go the route of re-instate Valium and slow taper, maybe this info will be useful.

 

Take care,

CP

[[...]]

Me too 42 hours awake

[[Pr...]]

We have a very similar thing going on right now. I too never sleep and I mean basically never. I have to take Remeron to sleep. I'm 3 months and 2 weeks out of a cold turkey off of k I was on for 5 years at .5 mg. I too am thinking of reinstating. Called my doctor yesterday and he is getting it ready for me. (Valium) I'm scared because I was defiantly in tolerance too. Not getting any sleep for 3 months is no fun. I'm getting used to it which is completly unhealthy. Nothing works for me because I am in s constant fear state that keeps me up at night all night. No relief

[[br...]]

I think that remeron is a better option than going back on benzos.

 

Why would anyone want to ask the benzo nightmare back

[[me...]]

Not sure if that would work as I reached tolerance before I jumped and I was at about 2 - 3 mg a night between temazepam and Klonopin and only getting 2 - 3 hours of sleep per night.  If I reinstated I might have to go to 30 or 40mg of Valium and then I might reach tolerance quickly or it may not even work?  I have heard that happening to other people.  You were stable when you cut to 0 then jumped over to 10mg of V, correct?  And you had not reached tolerance before you started your original cut, correct?  Not sure If I go that high on the V that I could do a taper that would take more than a year?

This just sounds like a terrible idea. Valium is not a sleep medication, I've had nights when I took Valium and didn't get a wink of sleep, despite being VERY relaxed! I can't believe that it would work better than something targeted for sleep.

 

Do you have scrupulous sleep hygiene? Take a look at this list I made--your system is highly sensitized right now.

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=164920.0

 

Have you tried going with absolutely nothing for more than one day? Throwing a bunch of different things at your body really revs it up.