Dealing with insomnia

[[be...]]

Hi there,

 

Just looking for some feedback on lingering insomnia. I went off valium/remeron last August. I was taking them to help with with long-term, chronic insomnia. I refuse to take any medication before going to bed now, to break out of that habit. So far I have managed to do that, but I will sleep without medications for two or three nights and then have a sleepless night.

 

I can't cope very well on no sleep. I have a demanding job, so I have resorted to taking some valium in the middle of the night once or twice a week to avoid completely sleepless nights. This is no recipe for long-term success, but I don't know what to do. I've gone through CBT-I, but found it of little help.

 

My insomnia is hardcore. I've tried just about everything to help, to no avail. Can everyone can off these meds, or are there some that have to choice but to keep taking them? Not sure the medical profession even knows the answer to that question! I ask myself that question everyday.

 

Thoughts?

[[Ni...]]

I wouldn't mess with benzos ever again.  My insomnia is very bad and I'm working with my doctor on finding an alternative to benzos or Z drugs.

[[be...]]

Thanks for the thought.

 

What have you tried so far as alternatives to help with sleep?

 

 

[[ru...]]

I have suffered with chronic insomnia for 15+ years. My enlightened "Sleep Doc" handed me a prescription for Ambien back then and told me to take 2 of these a night for the rest of your life. Eventually they were next to useless. In my signature you will see I have managed to withdraw from the Z drugs and benzo's over the last 3-4 months. Still, insomnia persists. I find the sedation offered in mirtazapine and quetapine to be beneficial in getting sleep. I try to use these drugs no more than twice a week each to keep tolerance at bay. Also, OTC, doxalamine succinate seems to offer some benefit as well.

 

I have been reading all I can find  on CBN for sleep. Although I am in a state that does not even allow medicinal MJ at this point, depending on where you are located, I would give it a try if available.

 

rupert

[[Mi...]]

Hi there,

 

Just looking for some feedback on lingering insomnia. I went off valium/remeron last August. I was taking them to help with with long-term, chronic insomnia. I refuse to take any medication before going to bed now, to break out of that habit. So far I have managed to do that, but I will sleep without medications for two or three nights and then have a sleepless night.

 

I can't cope very well on no sleep. I have a demanding job, so I have resorted to taking some valium in the middle of the night once or twice a week to avoid completely sleepless nights. This is no recipe for long-term success, but I don't know what to do. I've gone through CBT-I, but found it of little help.

 

My insomnia is hardcore. I've tried just about everything to help, to no avail. Can everyone can off these meds, or are there some that have to choice but to keep taking them? Not sure the medical profession even knows the answer to that question! I ask myself that question everyday.

 

Thoughts?

 

Insomnia is what I was given benzo's for in the first place. At the time it was a wonder cure for my insomnia, but eventually they did nothing anymore, nothing except for poisoning me. After I recovered I found out that there are 10000 other ways of getting sleep, benzo's were never needed in the first place. There are alot of suppliments that help the body relax, and alot of techniques/routines that help with insomnia, certain rules to follow before going to sleep. You'll find alot of information online if you do some searches. Never go back to benzo's. Actually they can mess up you're sleep and make it even worse.

[[lo...]]

50mg seroquel.

[[Ni...]]

I recently tried seroquel for two weeks and it was a hit and miss.  There are the tricyclics antidepressants that have sedative effects at low doses.  I'm looking into those and maybe gabapentin. My insomnia isn't just regular insomnia.  After I tried a medical marijuana edible a couple of months ago (wrong one first time use) it gave me a THC high which caused a panic disorder with my sleep.  I now suffer with nocturnal panic attacks, sleep paralysis and apnea episodes that I never had before.  It's horrid!

[[Mi...]]

I wouldn't use seraquel. It gives alot of people parkinsonism syndrome.

[[wa...]]

I wouldn't use seraquel. It gives alot of people parkinsonism syndrome.

 

Please cite source of this assertion

[[be...]]

Thanks for all the replies.

 

My insomnia is not transitory, it's chronic. Meds can only offer short-term relief, but at a cost. They lose their effectiveness over time, leaving you on a high dose of a medication that no longer works. You are then left with a more intractable sleep problem as you work you way off the drug. Many of us then turn to a new drug, only to repeat the cycle. We never get well while we are on the drug merrygoround. I don't know about others, but for me taking medication that knocks me out and induces sleep leaves me feeling awful the next day. It's no secret that all these drugs alter your sleep architecture. You are not really sleeping, at least not normally, when you are on these meds.

 

If you are on a medication and it is still working, use the time wisely and go get help to address the underlying issues that triggered the insomnia. Then go through some CBT sessions for insomnia. This may help some, like it did for me, but I still suffer from chronic insomnia. That's why I joined this site - to find others that may have some helpful advice.

 

After so many years of taking drugs (benzos and others) to help combat the sleeplessness, my brain chemistry has been altered. I'm fighting the withdrawal effects while dealing with an underlying anxiety disorder at the same time. I wish I had never gone  down the medication route in the first place.

 

I have little hope left. I won't go back to taking medication on a regular basis. I would rather have a small outside chance of getting truly better, of finding a way to deal with anxiety and insomnia naturally. Only then do I have a chance at a full, satisfying life. I'd rather live through hell until I kick the bucket, than live a half life stuck on the drug merrygoround. Right now it Looks like it will be hell for ever.

 

Good luck to all of you.

[[be...]]

Insomnia unfortunately is fairly common, especially during the first year. I am going to give you a link to our insomnia board. I think it would be good board for you to connect with others you struggle with it "hardcore".  I think that taking it several times a week will quickly lead to a reinstatement. Once off, it is best to stay off. Subsequent withdrawals are often much more difficult than the previous one.

 

Again, here is the link to the insomnia board.

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?board=83.0

[[Je...]]

I slept well my whole life until this withdrawal. Now i have been around 2 hours a night for 4 months at least. I do not cope great with such little sleep. I could not keep working like i was and am in a complicated financial situation but I am single and have to take care of myself alone. If it means I lose everything I have accepted it. The more I resist, the harder things feel and I think that is with sleep and every other area. Our health and healing is most important. Sorry if I am rambling. I would just encourage you to keep pressing ahead and know that your body will sleep when it is ready. That is wat I have learned though this. Oh and there is a good ohone app called insight timer and i use it for sleep meditations and relax. Maybe it will help you.

[[He...]]

Can you exercise early in the afternoon, just even a walk around the

Block a few times to start, then work up to longer and more intense

 

[[be...]]

Hey Herewegoagain,

 

I have a set schedule because of my work, so I try to squeeze some exercise in at lunch (usually a run). I don't find that it helps.

 

I'm this close to going back on Remeron at 15 mg.

 

My wife goes back to work full time in two weeks...with both of us working full time and two small kids at home, not sure if I'll be able to tough it out. Realy don't know.