Sedating drugs for insomnia-what works for you?

[[ru...]]

Dealing with insomnia for over 17 years. Post wd from Ambien/Lunesta and crossover to Klonopin I have been having a real tough time. Am currently using mirtazapine 7.5 or Seroquil 37.5 with mixed results. Is anyone out there having success with any other drugs that initiate sedation and allow you to get to and stay asleep?

 

I was originally prescribed Ambien for insomnia years ago so I understand it may be with me for the rest of my life. I am just hoping there may be a  drug/remedy, I am unaware of,  that will offer me some relief. I certainly don't want anything that binds at GABAa, that is for sure.

[[NJ...]]

I use mirtazapine but have just increased to about 18 mg for various reasons. It seems to be helping with sleep better now than 15 mg. I started at 7.5 but went up. Even when I don't sleep I am at least relaxed.

 

 

[[bu...]]

Low dose Remeron (mirtazipine)

[[tw...]]

Low dose mirtazapine works for me. Atarax (hydroxyzine) doesn't affect me much at all. Maybe some relaxation but doesnt do much for sleep for me. Others have success w/ it.Unisom (the doxylamine succinate) would help sometimes during taper. As I got lower, it didn't work as well.

[[Me...]]

Have you ever tried Melatonin? It is a naturally occurring Neuro chemical but some folks don't produce enough. You can google it for recommended dosages, it is an over the counter supplement.

Have you had your çortisol levels checked? The doctor can order the test, it is a simple oral swab......Make sure they order the swabs that are done 4 times in the 24 hour testing period...You do this test in your own home. If insomnia is related to elevated cortisol at night, natural supplements like Phosphatidylserine may help.

Also, you can go on YouTube and find 8 solid hours of Delta wave sleep music which will help stimulation of Delta brain waves that are necessary for deep, brain repairing sleep.

[[Di...]]

I've used Benadryl in a pinch.

 

I don't know if it's safe to use on a regular basis though.

[[ro...]]

I use melatonin - sensitive so need less than a mg but most use more. Get a few hours with it and sometimes go back to sleep. For 3 nights now I've slept 5-6 hours...cautiously hopeful, insomnia has been a big problem. Doing my best to accept it as part of recovering.

[[Bh...]]

I use a 1/4 of a tab of unisom each night. I sleep 4-6 hours straight with it and then can sleep two more cycles of 1 1/2 hours. I end up with 7-8 hours...not bad! I probably am  dependent on it. I can't imagine it being too difficult to get off in the near future. I'm not at the healed point quite yet though to get off. Hopefully, I'll be there sooner rather than later!

[[Sh...]]

Trazadone works for me.

[[Ma...]]

Shaftoe.

 

How much trazadone do you take? I started in June at75 for a short time, went to 50 and spent last 6 months tapering to 30. Now I've hit a rough sleep issue and decided to go back up to 50 thru the taper . Is it hard to taper off?

 

[[Su...]]

Dealing with insomnia for over 17 years. Post wd from Ambien/Lunesta and crossover to Klonopin I have been having a real tough time. Am currently using mirtazapine 7.5 or Seroquil 37.5 with mixed results. Is anyone out there having success with any other drugs that initiate sedation and allow you to get to and stay asleep?

 

I was originally prescribed Ambien for insomnia years ago so I understand it may be with me for the rest of my life. I am just hoping there may be a  drug/remedy, I am unaware of,  that will offer me some relief. I certainly don't want anything that binds at GABAa, that is for sure.

 

As I understand it 15mg Mirtazepine is the recommended dose for sleep -- a higher dose is for depression -- I can only say it worked well for me.  I got to a stage where I couldn't eat or sleep but it was an overnight solution for me -- I could both eat and sleep with no problem after taking it.  Also I had no problem getting off it by gradually reducing it whenI felt ready.  I found it a very 'gentle' drug  :smitten:

[[wa...]]

I tried about 50mg trazodone last night -- early awakening is my biggest problem -- and I think I was able to get a couple of more hours on it without feeling to unwell.  I feel terrible in AMs even without an aid. 

 

I was very afraid to try traz. but I feel like hell on even low doses of non HCI Unisom.  I don't feel well on melato. or benedryl either. I could live with sleep deprivation except I have an autoimmune problem that has been reactivated this winter due, I feel, to sleep deprivation.  I had to pull the trigger for a sleep aid of some kind.  Hopefully I won't need traz regularly.  I haven't taken any AD in years so I'm a bit freaked but feel i have no choice.  WBB

[[Ma...]]

Wanna ,

 

Why were you afraid of traz?. I am taking it too and have to updose to get thru the benzo taper. I have my concerns

What are yours?

[[wa...]]

Well, I jumped last Sept. and just want a life without any med.  I still have alot of sxs so I am afraid of side effects.  Insomnia is not my only problem.  But, no, I have no hard info regarding traz being unsafe.  Frankly, I wish I had taken it sooner because then I may not be dealing with this chronic infected sore throat now.  I don't know.  WBB

[[Sh...]]

I take 200mg which is more than most people need for  sleep. After I finish my taper I'm going to try to reduce that to 150mg.  I believe this is a pretty benign drug so I'm not concerned about taking it long term.