Sleep while tapering

[[La...]]

Has anyone experienced what I am now? I managed to taper from 5 to 2.5 mg of valium in 6 months, and, although my sleep was of very poor quality, with multiple awakenings, I managed to get perhaps 5-6 broken hours of sleep most nights. Now that I have tapered lower, I am barely sleeping, in fact, last night I slept 1 1/2 hours after 6 am. I heard that sleeping can improve as you lower your dosage, but has anyone experienced worse, not better, sleep while lowering dosage, and then at some point, did it start to improve? Just looking for some hope. I don't know how I'll cope with another night like the last one.

[[An...]]

I have just started my taper, but was in tolerance withdrawal and ended up only getting 1-3 hours a night, which ramped my anxiety and depression.  I tried melatonin which worked with getting back to sleep, but in the mornings I would cry and cry, for some reason it worsened my depression.  It could maybe work for you if you have not tried it.  I ended up going on Remeron Low dose for the time being, as I was not functioning without sleep. I now sleep 8-9 hours a night, but I hate adding another med to my poor system.  I have used Epsom salts but was in such a state of withdrawal when I cut 50% I don't think anything would work.  Try warm milk and honey, look into tryptophan....I could be wrong about that one though. 

 

I think insomnia is more common the more you lower your dose.  I never experienced insomnia until now so I know how horrible you feel.  I hope it gets better for you.  Annie

[[ma...]]

Hi,

 

I'm with Annie on this (and also very sorry about your insomnia.) I have had insomnia at each drop in dose which makes sense given what these meds do. I am using low dose seroquel for sleep which does not make me happy, but after several nights of basically zero sleep and using over the counter stuff, I had no choice.

 

I have heard that Remeron, amitriptyline, seroquel, and trazadone are sometimes useful meds for sleep. People also use propanolol, benadryl, unisom, etc.

 

One thing that seems to have helped me is zero TV after 8:00 PM and lights out by 10:00 PM. It's a bit boring but better than the drama of insomnia. When I'm all healed up from this horrible adventure I'll stay up late and have fun again.

 

Best to you,

 

M

[[La...]]

Thank you both so much for your suggestions and for your good wishes. I will see what may work for me. I guess it is normal in many, if not most, cases, for sleep to worsen as you taper, and then hopefully to get better after a certain point. Best to you both. Somehow we will get through this.

Laura