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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bellame on August 1, 2007, at 16:27:54
I developed an addiction to benzos and have been sober for over 90 days and want to stay that way. However, I have a hard time sleeping(reason I started benzos in the beginning). I take prozac and lamictal for depression. Are there any meds that help sleep--rozerem did not work, and I cannot take anything that might be addicting. Thanks
Posted by zmg on August 2, 2007, at 1:29:02
In reply to 90 days sober but what can I take for sleep?, posted by Bellame on August 1, 2007, at 16:27:54
I am definately not a doctor so you might want to consult one but I've used 2 things with fairly good results: kava kava extract (I use the glycerin extract by Gaia) and I might just be a freak, but I buy bulk powdered Bacopa and taking a dose of that before bed is probably about as effective for me as anything (I didn't buy it for this reason or expect this reaction, but go figure).
I've done benzo addiction and know the feeling. Assuming kava isn't too hard on your liver (wasn't there some concern?) that and then the Bacopa really did help me get sleep while I gradually decreased my dose.
There's also Phenibut but its a chemical and might have some abuse potential. I didn't find it to be particularly rewarding, but my wife did notice my breathing was different (shallow?) when I'd take it which alarmed her and put me off. It's also available at most nutritional/health stores (Whole Foods in my neck of the woods) under various brand-names. Relax-All was the brand I'd taken and one other I think was called Tension RX.
Good luck staying off the benzos. I didn't find it that difficult (granted, I took at least 1 1/2 months) but addiction is addiction and god knows there are enough problems without adding more on our own. (:
Posted by ClearSkies on August 2, 2007, at 8:50:58
In reply to 90 days sober but what can I take for sleep?, posted by Bellame on August 1, 2007, at 16:27:54
> I developed an addiction to benzos and have been sober for over 90 days and want to stay that way. However, I have a hard time sleeping(reason I started benzos in the beginning). I take prozac and lamictal for depression. Are there any meds that help sleep--rozerem did not work, and I cannot take anything that might be addicting. Thanks
You can try an antihistamine like benadryl that makes you sleepy. Getting yourself into a sleepy-time routine is good. I sometimes take a tepid bath with lavender oil, play soothing music on a cd. Ambient noises can be really distracting, so perhaps a white noise generator (like they sell at Blackstones) would help.
Some people get sleepy reading (not me). Some nights I put my head down and that's when things get busy, with thoughts swirling around and around. I keep a notebook beside the bed and writing those thoughts down helps to drive them out of my head.
The biggest help I had was a change in medications. I am now taking Remeron for depression, and it's notorious for making you sleep! Waking up, now that's another problem...
Good luck, and congratulations on 90 days!!
ClearSkies
Posted by rina on August 4, 2007, at 18:48:58
In reply to 90 days sober but what can I take for sleep?, posted by Bellame on August 1, 2007, at 16:27:54
Trazadone is good for sleep and it also has anxiety and antidepressant agents. Congrads on your sobriety. Keep up the good work. Remember, 24hours at a time.
Posted by sanjonlight on August 10, 2007, at 22:54:19
In reply to 90 days sober but what can I take for sleep?, posted by Bellame on August 1, 2007, at 16:27:54
Hi,
you might try Melatonin. it is a natural substance in your body that your body releases in night time for sleep. you can purchase at GNC vitamin stores or other places that carry vitamins.
It is important to take it near the time you go to sleep. somewhere between a half hour and hour or so. i took 1 mg pill and found it to work. if 1 mg doesnt work increase dosage little at a time. very few side effects and good for the body.
Posted by blueboy on August 20, 2007, at 13:53:23
In reply to 90 days sober but what can I take for sleep?, posted by Bellame on August 1, 2007, at 16:27:54
Yeah, rorazem is the perfect sleeping pill with the sole drawback that it doesn't work.
You haven't mentioned the "non-addictive" but effective drugs like Ambien (now in generic) and Lunesta. These worked for me even when I was in hyper-insomnia due to starting an MAOI. The downside here is that there is no real research on long-term effects of constant use.
Really heavy physical exercise can also work. At some point of exhaustion, your body and lower brain will just take over. I understand the various levels of downside and difficulty with this, I'm just saying.
My sympathy on the benzo addiction, and congratulations for kicking it. I'll pray for you to make it one more day. You should be pretty much past the "rebound" phase where the insomnia is worse due to kicking the habit.
IMHO antihistimines make a bad sleeping pill. You get groggy the next day and you habituate to them really really fast. They can actually aggravate insomnia when you get habituated. I mean, why mess with them when you can get Ambien?
Posted by James_glasgow on October 3, 2007, at 1:18:24
In reply to Re: 90 days sober but what can I take for sleep?, posted by blueboy on August 20, 2007, at 13:53:23
Hi there
I am not saying blue boy is wrong, but I would do a bit of research on zolpidem, (es)zolpiclone, and zaleplon, before you choose them over a sedating anti-histamine, to be on the safe side. I know zopiclone has been avaiable here in the UK and it is considered on the same level as benzodiazpines, although I note the American license lets Doctors use it for an indeterminate length of time, here it is the usual 2-4 weeks.
James
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