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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Donut on March 6, 1999, at 15:58:35
Needless to say I have a med problem. I am on celexa 20mg for depression and it has worked. But I have always had a sleep problem and have taken ambien for a number of years, but kept increasing dose on my own and seeing various doctors to get it. Now I want to stop. Anyone have any ideas. I also take xanax for anxiety and have increased dose of that to help sleep. Obviously, I need to stop self medicating. BUT HOW?? Anyone with similar experiences would be helpful to me. Thanks
Posted by Pat on March 7, 1999, at 11:00:17
In reply to ambien, celexa, xanax, posted by Donut on March 6, 1999, at 15:58:35
I'm having medication problems too. I was using triavil for depression and insomnia for six years and then starting switching AD's to find something better. Meanwhile, after I stopped triavil, the insomnia was intolerable so doc started me on ativan til we found an AD that would help with sleep. Now I am trying to get off the ativan and the insomnia is terrible. It's been about ten days and the most I've slept is six hours one night. Most nights I just lay there and rest. Sometimes I dream, so I know I've slept a little, but I don't feel like I've slept at all. I've read that this could go on for some weeks. I'm so tired and discouraged now. I know it can be dangerous to stop some of these antianxiety drugs like ativan and xanax on your own - they are addicting. Can you find a good doctor who you can tell all to so he can help you make a good plan to get off all these drugs? It may only be a period of a few weeks of insomnia we have to go through which will stop.
Posted by Torrey on March 15, 1999, at 17:57:49
In reply to ambien, celexa, xanax, posted by Donut on March 6, 1999, at 15:58:35
I have also had much trouble with insomnia, and with getting off Xanax. With the latter, it has been helpful to switch to Valium, and slowly taper that off. As Valium is *much* longer-acting than Xanax, it does not have such a vicious withdrawal. Even after your last dose, the active metabolites of the Valium will have some effect for several days.
As an alternative to medication, I have found some herbs and supplements that *usually* work well enough for me to sleep. I take some liquid extract of Valerian and Kava Kava, along with Melatonin and Tryptophan. You will need a prescription for Tryptophan, but the others are available in natural food stores. Since you are on medication, be sure to discuss with your doctor before you try these things!
Torrey
>I have always had a sleep problem and have taken ambien for a number of years, but kept increasing dose on my own and seeing various doctors to get it. Now I want to stop. Anyone have any ideas. I also take xanax for anxiety and have increased dose of that to help sleep. Obviously, I need to stop self medicating. BUT HOW?? Anyone with similar experiences would be helpful to me. Thanks
This is the end of the thread.
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