Sleeping pill addiction

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:39 pm

Maybe this was covered in the Melatonin thread but I'm going to bring it up again. The doc initially prescribed 3 mgs of Lunesta for me several weeks ago. I took only a couple and only on weekends and still I was SO groggy the next day. I went back last week and she wrote another script for 2 mgs. She assured me that it's NOT addictive - "afterall you DO have a sleeping disorder!". I have a great night's sleep after taking one and try to take something, be it that or Tylenol PM every other night - take nothing for the night in between. The night in-between is not good. Takes forever to fall asleep, wake up every time I roll over, etc, not much sleep. I guess my question is----how many of you take something to sleep on a regular basis and what? I'm just afraid if I start taking Lunesta every night, I'm going to build a tolerance to it and when 2 mgs worked, then it won't and I'll have to up it to 3 and so on. I DON'T want to get addicted to this stuff but boy that good night's sleep while taking it sure feels good!! I searched on line and found something called "Somnatrol" - it's supposed to be all natural ingrediants (it does contain Melatonin too) --does anyone know anything about this? I won't take anything before running it by the doc first. Thanks!
Kathy

stunned1 · Post by **stunned1** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:56 pm

Kathy

I was taking clonazapam from the doctor to help me sleep, but was feeling the same as you. I thought I might get too dependent on it, so I tried melatonin. Well that didn't work for me and I was feeling extremely tired and exhausted for 2 weeks. I am now back on the clonazapam and feel much better. Not 100%, maybe 65%.

I also tried a few different natural remedy's but they did not help.

Lisa

macoil2 · Post by **macoil2** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 2:44 pm

Try Ambien.I have been on 5 MG nightly for the past three months It has been a life saver for me and no ill effects.

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:10 pm

Thanks, guys. I tried Ambien a long, long time ago and it didn't help at all. Although, it's been so long ago I don't remember the dosage. I'm not getting many answers here ---maybe no one uses anything but just thought I'd ask.

Sleeper · Post by **Sleeper** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:26 pm

Babbie wrote:Thanks, guys. I tried Ambien a long, long time ago and it didn't help at all. Although, it's been so long ago I don't remember the dosage.

I am the opposite... Ambien knocks me right out, even at 5mg it just takes a bit longer. During my last sleep study, on the other hand, the Doc gave me 3mg of Lunesta and it took me 2.5 hours to fall asleep.

Jere · Post by **Jere** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:26 pm

I took ativan for about 20 years. For the first 15 years I was made to feel worse than a criminal. I had to beg, borrow and steal (OK - not steal) enough to keep me going. As a result, I started to develop anxiety ABOUT the meds (on top of general anxiety). Stupid doctors.

Anyway, finally found my sleep doc and she said, "of course you should take this - you have a sleep disorder." In fact, she prescribed ambien to work in conjunction with the ativan.

At the moment, I am off the ambien and taking clonazapam. Things are really good.

By the way, if clonazapam is making you groggy in the morning, you should consider either taking it earlier in the evening OR try ativan. As I understand it, ativan has a much shorter active life than clonazapam. BUT I AM NO DOCTOR.

Finally - don't fight the meds. If you feel you need them, take them. You will cause yourself a lot of unnecessary anxiety by fighting it every 2 days. I find that my insomnia comes in cycles that come and go over a number of months. After so many years, I just don't fight the fight.

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:47 pm

Ok, I'm feeling better There were a jillion people who read my post but nobody replying---I was beginning to think I was the only one using sleep stuff!! I'm glad to hear you're experiencing good things with what you're using. I'll try not to get too excited about this and just go with it. I may ask the doc for the Ambien again and try it, but she just swears that this Lunesta isn't addictive----and if I need it to get a decent night's sleep.......... By the way Jere - I love your quote!!

stunned1 · Post by **stunned1** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:48 pm

Babbie

Most of us on this site don't like the idea of having to take sleep medication because we worry the same as you do of the possible effects.

After 9 months of trying to sleep with meds, without meds, trying natural meds I know I can only go so many nights of bad sleep that I think for me it is better to be consistant with my sleep. This is why I have decided to stay with clonazapam (a fairly low dose) and my doctor feels it is also in my best interest to be as well rested as possible. The CPAP alone is not allowing me to get a full night's rest.

I really wish I didn't need anything, but obviously I do.

Lisa

Jan in Colo. · Post by **Jan in Colo.** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 9:03 pm

I also take a small dose of clonazepam...originally prescribed for my restless leg syndrome, periodic limb movement stuff.

I like it...small dose, no problem, not groggy the next day, etc. BUT, 1) it IS addictive, definitely addictive ...and 2) I've heard it is not the best drug for restless leg syndrome either.

But my legs have settled down now that they are getting oxygen when I sleep. Still jittery when I'm tired...and OMG the symphony is just AGONY. Can't sit still and my legs itch like mad. So I just stay away from symphonies and chorales, lol....

And I like the stuff. So I just take it and skip a few days every week or so.

Jan in Colo.

Oh 2 breathe · Post by **Oh 2 breathe** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:36 am

In addition to medication approaches there are some excellent cognitive techniques that can help you recondition your sleep habits to train your mind to shut down better at night. There are many free articles available from various mental health sites on the internet. Try searching under "sleep hygiene" and "cognitive behavioral approaches to insomnia",

Here's a couple of links to get you started:

http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/howto.html

http://www.nym.org/healthinfo/docs/027/ ... ndrug.html

I wish you the best in finding your solution.

~ OTB

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 5:26 am

I use Clonazapan for two reasons - for restless legs and for an inner ear disorder. I was using Ativan for my inner ear problems and when my RL was dx - sleep doc put me on clonazapan which is a longer acting ativan type drug. Keeps me dizzy free at night, helps me sleep, and no more shaking the bed! My hubby is so thankful! For 18 years I would shake the bed and he would feel like he was shaking off the bed! Funny thing - my sleep study showed no Restless legs! My hubby went with me to the follow-up and the doc said - 18 years tells me a whole lot more than 8 in a sleep lab! She's got it!

As for my inner ear problem - it is bi-lateral Meniere's disease. valium, ativan, etc. has been used for this problem for years. I don't think they really know why, but it stabilizes one's vestibular system like a charm. Thanks to a WONDERFUL! sleep doc, he is helping me with both issues and things are finally falling into place! CPAP is working great for my upper airway resistance as well.

Jere · Post by **Jere** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 8:45 pm

Babbie wrote:she just swears that this Lunesta isn't addictive

There is Addiction and there is addiction. What you doctor is talking about is physical addiction. As I understand it, lunesta and ambien are not physically addictive.

A lot of things that are not physically addictive can become psychologically addictive. To me that means, that if you think you need it and you don't take it, the resulting anxiety - the drive to take the medicine - would resemble physical addiction (but it would not technically be physically addictive - hence the offensive lunesta commercials).

All that being said, I still believe - after YEARS of wringing my hands over this - that for some people sleep medications are a necessary part of therapy. If you and your doc think that the benefits outweigh the downside, then I wouldn't let my esoteric (and likely ignorant) discussion dissuade you. Heck, I have been taking the stuff for 20 years and I'll take "addiction" over no sleep any day any time.

PS I keep hoping someone would send me to nice warm place for 12 weeks of rehab, but nobody seems interested in paying for it

Jere · Post by **Jere** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 8:55 pm

And one last point (I promise) - lest anyone think I advocate sleeping medications over other therapy. OTB's comments on sleep hygiene are right on. Many of those techniques have been tremendously helpful to me over the years.

Ok. I'll shut up now.

materialgirl · Post by **materialgirl** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:38 pm

I've been reading this sporadically over the last year and I can't help but comment on this subject.

I didn't know I had sleep apnea for years, but knew I couldn't sleep. I woke up every two hours. My doctor prescribed Ambien - what a relief! I finally could sleep for 4 hours straight! But then, that time got shorter and shorter and I ended up taking 1 pill at bedtime and another at 2 am. Groggy mornings! When I moved to another state, my new doctor said NO MORE AMBIEN. I resorted to Benedryl and melatonin. Nothing worked. Also at this time, I thought I was getting Alzheimers because I couldn't remember simple things! I also gained about 35 lbs and had high blood pressure. So I went to a psychologist (to see if I was crazy) and she suggested that what was wrong with me was Sleep Apnea. Duh!

Now that I have been on the CPAP for almost a year, I am slowly beginning to remember things. I heard on a commercial that Ambien would not cause memory loss if taken for short times. I took it for 4 years!!!

My new doctor has prescribed amitriptoline (sp). He said it has been around for years and years and no side effects. I've been taking it for 1 month and am sleeping normally - but then what's normal!!

OldSeaRock · Post by **OldSeaRock** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 6:24 pm

Well, here we go.

I've recently begun to start taking lunesta. I got a new doctor and took my refills in - one of them was diazepam. She said to try this lunesta as it is non addictive.

Here is the hitch; Before, I'd take maybe one or two of the diazepam per month. When she gave me the Lunesta she told me that it wasn't habit forming, etc. Well - I now can't hardly get to sleep (or, I don't sleep well) when I don't take the Lunesta.

My first inclination was not to post this because obviously, the goal is to SLEEP and FEEL WELL. I now sleep and feel better than before! However, before I wasn't taking a Lunesta every night in order to get sleep.

I'll keep taking the Lunesta. On nights when I am extremely tired I don't take it.

My WIFE takes Ambien. For a year or so the Ambien worked MARVELOUS for her. Now, she isn't sleeping so well and has started taking a whole Ambien (before, she was breaking the tiny things in half and getting good results). The whole Ambien isn't doing the job for her at this point so when she runs out she is going to ask her doctor (a different doctor) for something else.

As someone stated earlier, we should not feed bad because we take medicine/drugs in order to get good sleep. We have sleeping issues - so we should address those issues. I guess I'm still having a hard time with that concept.

Mask

Additional Comments: Aussie Heated hose for rain out/PapCap Headgear and chin strap

Sleeping pill addiction

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