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use of short terms Lunesta for trip to Alaska


[Mi...]

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This is a crazy question but I feel desperate!

 

I am currently tapering off Ativan, down to .25 mg from 3-4 mg at night.  Still take Trazadone 100 mg at bedtime.

 

I was invited on a cruise to Alaska and I'm really panicking about how to sleep on the trip.  My doc (Not my FMD) gave me 15 pills of Lunesta.

 

I obviously don't want to mess up my taper but I also don't want this anxiety about how I will sleep.

 

Will 8 nights of Lunesta completely mess me up?

 

I want to be able to enjoy the trip...

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

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Will picking at a wound mess up its healing? I understand the fear of ruining a vacation by not sleeping, but I have been on vacations during my withdrawal and still had a good time. I just figured that if I wasn't going to sleep at home anyway, I might as well not sleep while somewhere interesting.
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There's also the possibility that Lunesta will put you to sleep but not let you sleep for long, then you'll be up and wired even more.

 

On cruises they usually offer exercise rooms, massages, hot tubs, and pools. Might be something to try during the day and evening, when you aren't sightseeing, to help you relax and wear you out in order to sleep better. Think about natural therapies rather than popping pills to make yourself feel better.

 

Plus there's the food -- eat and eat and eat and eat...

 

Have a great time!

 

:)

 

 

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Lunesta is just more benzo.  Docs keep this myth alive about ambien and lunesta being "Benzo Light" or something.  You'll sleep on your traz and Ativan crumb - you'll see.  WBB
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Thanks for all the replies. Thought i would ask anyway, knowing there's no solution other than to plow forward :-(
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[2a...]

Agree with the other people. 8 nights of a Z drug such as Lunesta can most definitely ruin your taper.

 

I speak from personal experience. Toward the end of my first taper, off Ativan, I was desperate for sleep and went on Ambien for just a week. I wasn't going on an Alaska cruise, but I was suffering from extreme insomnia and in fear of losing my job. My week on Ambien was a hellish experience. I slept, but ... Horrible horrible interdose withdrawals every day. Like the worst panic attacks I've ever had, panic mixed with DP/DR, like being trapped in a horror film. Plus the drug was mucking with my memory. Plus I developed a tolerance to Ambien really really fast. Basically, I learned there are worse things than not sleeping. It was a nightmare, no pun intended. After a week on Ambien I was so frazzled and kindled, I wound up re-instating benzos and ruining my entire 8-month taper. I think if you are tapering, your brain is already sensitized to benzos/Z-drugs, so taking a Z drug is a really bad thing, worse than it would be for someone with no prior benzo experience.

 

Like other people responding to this thread, I recommend you go on the cruise and not stress about how much sleep you get. I mean, it's a vacation, so just try to relax and enjoy.

 

I wish you a happy cruise, and successful tapering.

 

Love,

 

Chessplayer

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One nice thing about the Alaskan cruise is that a lot of the sailing is done at night so you have that gentle rocking motion to help you sleep.Stay away from too much food after 7pm and stay away too much evening stimulation. When I did this cruise I would retire to my cabin fairly early, call cabin service for herb tea and read a book until I felt sleepy.

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Awesome thread! There is so much great information and positivity on this thread; exactly why I love BB so much!

 

The accumulated knowledge from so many experienced people here far surpasses any thing that any doctor can "practice".

 

What a blessing, peace Buddies...

 

 

Wilson  :angel:

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Wow just wanted to hand it to you Mindy--you are so brave to be going on a trip--only hope one day I can be so brave!!!

 

I'm thankful for all the trips we took our kids on before this happened to me. I can barely imagine planning a trip right now.

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Teegirl-Not sure I'd call it brave. 

I think it was a mistake because now I'm experiencing so much anxiety about sleeping, which is difficult for me in the best of situations,  in my own home and own bed.

But I'm going to take the advice of the members here to just enjoy it knowing I may not get the best sleep.

That's life I guess, and i don't want to pass up a trip to Alaska :-)

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Another suggestion may be to get prescriptions for mirtazapine and Seroquil from your doc for the trip. Small doses of either are very sedating and do not bind at the GABA site. I would not take either more than 1-2 times on the trip but they can help you enjoy the week with a full nights rest.
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Thanks for that idea, Rupert.  I will do some m ore research on that possibility. 

 

Teengirl, thanks for your support!

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I just had a 12 day vacation.  Some nights I slept well and some nights poorly.  I decided to go have fun everyday anyway and it mostly worked out OK.  I stopped recording my total amount of sleep during vacation and try not to think about it much during the day.  Good luck and have fun!

 

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No no no.... Lunesta is a Z drug. You might as well take benzos for sleep. I made the Lunesta mistake (and my doctor let me) and it sent me back and sent all of my symptoms into over drive. It took almost 2 weeks to feel like I could cope. Please don't do this to yourself.
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