Health - Benzodiazepines and sleep problems

[the creator]

SWIT have been lingering around the forums here for some time now and finally decided to register and participate. For those of you who don’t recognize my name I was one of the founding members and site administrators of chemhead, which sadly was shut down. But back on topic.

SWIT has chronic insomnia problems and has for many years now. He has tried many different pharms for sleep. His doctor had him on Temazepam 30mg, which seemed to work but he would still wake up several times throughout the night. SWIT even increased it to 60mg and had the same problem. Even taking It 1 hour or 30 minutes before bed SWIT would wake up after only two hours of sleep and not be able to get back to sleep. I know Temazepam has between and 8 and 22 hour half life so SWIT would think that after 2 and a half 3 hours the plasma levels wouldn’t drop drastically enough to wake him up. So SWIT’s doctor offered to give him XANAX and SWIT happily agreed. The odd thing is his doc skipped the .25mg, .5mg, 1mg and went straight to the 2mg barsJ SWIT almost fell over when he saw what strength the doc wrote for. He told SWIT to take one (WHOLE ) bar a half hour before bed and see how it worked. To the amazement of SWIT it worked like a charm and now it damn near takes a nuclear explosion to even wake him up. Which is fine with SWIT he really likes his sleep. But the problem is when he wakes up 8 to 9 hours later he feels like he has been ran over by a tank. I know the half life for xanax is 6-12 hours but SWIT is still dragging ass late in the afternoon which is like 16 hours after taking it. With the Temazepam SWIT would sleep like shit but at least there was no hang over. Has anyone else ever had this problem with xanax? SWIT will be going back to the doc in a few weeks and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on a better benzo to try for sleep? Also SWIT does have a script for 10mg Valium Tabs but is worried these may cause an even worse hangover. Anyone have any thoughts on that? What benzos have the least after affect? SWIT does take 80mg of adderall XR in the morning, but he had the insomnia long before he started the adderall.

[Nagognog2]

The combination of SWIT being on adderal during the days adds an additional problem to the sleep-pattern. And the amount of benzodiazepines being taken is quite alarming. Aside from suggesting trying a new medication for sleep, such as Ambien XR (extended release), I would suggest an entirely new pharmacological approach to the situation. Read: Find something aside from amphetamines for daytime use to start with.

I'd be talking to a good neuro-psychiatrist about coming up with an approach that doesn't equate with becoming dependent on benzos.

Good luck to SWIT.

[mouthwater]

Has SWIT had any luck by participating in psychotherapy practices? Any life circumstances that may have caused, or be keeping, your sleep issues present? Has SWIT had any luck with melatonin? SWIT might want to consider Rozerem, which, from what SWIM understands, is non-habit forming and actually works better the more one has been using it. SWIT's sleeping medication doesn't have to have recreational effects.

[Riconoen {UGC}]

I agree with bongo, ask your doctor for a script for ambien or lunesta. and lay off benzos for awhile or you're just asking (or already have asked) for withdrawal hell.

[Micklemouse]

Given that SWiT is not benzo naive the doctor's decision kind of makes sense.This probably goes without saying, but do not stop the benzo's dead, even for a short period, especially if they have been used regularly for longer than a few weeks. Always taper. Given that Diazepam has probably the longest half-life of the benzo family (there are longer, but they are not commonly prescribed as far as I'm aware) it is usually the choice for withdrawal programs. Xanax is renowned for having nasty after-effects, valium less so.

Another factor that does not seem to be taken into account here is that long-term benzo use can lead to... Insomnia!

My advice would be to take SWiT back to the doc & tell him/her that he's not happy with his current med regime, & that it is having a seriously negative impact on his day-to-day functioning. Demand a review. If SWiT has no joy, demand a 2nd opinion or go & see another doctor.