Bugzer

So I've been sober for 72 days now, not a single drop
I am on an anti-depressant since I have countless
panic attacks... what I found out recently is that
anti-depressants have a small chance to cause
slight insomnia... I was given clonazepam 1mg for
sleep sometimes half the pill puts me to sleep
something I need the full 1mg to fall asleep...

I've been drinking for about 15 years so this is
my longest sobriety ever... and the first time
I'm actually serious about it.... I have tried
melatonin and it doesn't work I even tried
valerian root (in pill form) doesn't work....

how the hell can I get off the damn sleeping
pills and fall asleep normally.... the doctor is
a pain in the ass and is telling me it may take
some time.... I guess I'm just paranoid that
if I take these damn benzo's to sleep that
something bad might happen... I don't know
I've always been weary of pills..

I go to the gym and don't even drink anything
with caffeine... shouldn't I be able to fall asleep?
All these whack jobs in AA tell me that if I pray
I will be able to sleep....... well if praying could
solve insomnia why do the pills exist lol..


I wanna get off the benzo's they're causing
me to have short term memory loss and the
anti depressants are making me pee 30 times
a day... wtf lol

bubblehead

Hopefully, your doctor warned you that benzos are not only addictive but stop working after a awhile if you take them all the time. You build a tolerance, end up needing more. Then the withdrawals are pure hell if you don't taper Its good that you want to get off of them.

Bugzer

so how do I get off them? just stop taking them and stay up for days on
end until I can finally pass out normally?

Lenina

Bugzer,

Have you tried relaxation tapes? I use "Deep Sleep with Medical Hypnosis" on my ipod. It helps sometimes. It's very important to have a good sleep ritual. Go to bed at the same time, get up at the same time even on weekends or holidays. I try to do the same things before bed. A warm shower, teeth brushed, face washed and have a cup of herbal tea. I like Yogi Tea Bed Time.

Try to get some regular exercise early in the day or early afternoon. It doesn't have to be a full-on work out but just a 20 walk in the natural light will help your body reset itself. Avoid caffeine after noon.

I hope you get some natural sleep soon, I know how precious it is.

Love,

Lenina

Dee74

Bugzer,

It's always best to discuss with your doctor about how best to come off meds.

If you're not getting the answers you're looking for at the moment, it might be time to look for a second opinion?

I hope you get some natural sleep soon
D

Taking5

Yes, exactly.

You should consider getting off the antidepressants too. Alcohol itself is a depressant, so lack of it in your system may be all you need. It was in my case.

As always you should discuss this with your Dr.

hollybear

Hi Bugzer!
Sorry to hear about your sleeping problem I've never tried benzos because they scare me for the exact things you are describing... but I have horrible insomnia, so I do know a thing or two about sleep problems!
I second Lenina's suggestion about relaxation/meditation tapes. They have helped me immensely in trying to fall asleep.
Good luck with everything!! sleep problems are the WORST

CarolD

Sorry to know of your situation...

while this has nothing to do with addiction
perhaps this link would help you

Insomnia? 42 Simple Tips to Help You Get to Sleep - Insomnia treatment, cures

BullDog777

Getting off of the benzos cold turkey can be as dangerous as quitting alcohol all at once. some people can do it, some cannot. it really depends on how long you took it, the dosage and if you took it everyday or not.


Why doctors use this combination is really beyond me. imo, it makes things much more complicated for the person trying to recover.

My suggestion for you is to get to your doctor ASAP and get off of the anti-depressant unless you ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY need it to function.

i had the same reaction to my anti-depressant(i was on prozac) and he prescribed Klonopin to counteract the restless leg syndrome and insomnia it caused. BIG MISTAKE.

already having an addictive personality in the first place, i ended up getting addicted to the benzo I was taking and the hell i went through with alcohol PALES in comparison to the hell i was in withdrawing from the benzo... and i was a half a gallon a day drinker.

i was taking 4-6mg of klonopin a day near the end and had been doing so for awhile. i was truely F'd as far as an easy way to get off of them.

one of my close frends is an addictions specialist, and she told me about a DR. in the UK who is considered by many of her collegues as a pioneer on addiction to benzos. She had published a book, well, a manual of sorts on how to get off of them safely.

here's the link:

benzo.org.uk : Benzodiazepines: How They Work & How to Withdraw, Prof C H Ashton DM, FRCP, 2002

this manual saved my life. plain and simple. i suggest you print it and read it cover to cover.

based on what you wrote, you were on a relitavely low dosage for a short amount of time, so detoxing from it might not be an issue. Still, the longer you take them, the more apt you are to developing a dependence to them so PLEASE see your doctor ASAP.

good luck, and i'll say a prayer for you.
-BD

loveon2legs

I suffer from insomina too since I've been sober..I have been taking serqueol but it gives me restless leg syndrome...last night I was up 3-4 times just to settle my legs...it drives me nuts!!! I see my doc on Thursday and I'm hoping for some help...

DayTrader

I was on an antidepressant too, for a while (Effexor - a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor aka a SNRI). Before long I was regularly taking Tylenol PM's (on my own) and or Ambien (prescribed by the same Doc who gave me the Effexor) so I could get to sleep.

Truth is, they worked. I felt pretty good and was sleeping like the dead. Then it sorta "hit" me...... I'd likely be on this stuff for a LONNNNG time.......maybe the rest of my life. It occurred to me that I "needed" the Ambien to sleep and I "needed" the Effexor to function. Boy, that sure sounded just like the "issues" I was having with booze and drugs. Added to it, there was a side-effect to the antidepressant that I wasn't willing to live with anymore.

I was advised by my Doc to taper off. Typical alkie, I didn't listen. I got mad at myself for taking them and tossed em in the garbage disposal. A week or two later......I went back to drinking........for another 2 years.

When I finally got into and bought into AA though..... all that crap that had been tearing me up went away. I never woulda' believed there was a spiritual solution to my problems but.....of course.......that was the last place I looked.

I wish you all the best in your search.

foghead

meditating 15 mins before i get into bed everynight helps me sleep. Kepping the same routine at night and going to bed around the same time aslo helps. when your falling asleep at night easily the natural way ( with out drugs) then you know your body is working in fine tune. dont excericise before bed either. leave a gap of atleast 2 hours. cut down on sugary foods and i also heard eating a baked potato before you go to bed helps you sleep and balances out your brain chemicals for the next day to give you that calm effect. stress is a big factor for being unable to sleep so right down the things that are constantly picking at you thoughts each night and once they are down on paper, tell yourself that you no longer have to worry about them as they are on paper and you wont forget about them and can worry about them tomorrow.it works for some people. I used to get racing thoughts all the time and this all worked for me . keep your room cool and change your bed clothes a couple of times a week to keep them fresh. hope this helps

GettingStronger2

First, I would second Dee's suggestion that it may be time to seek a second opinion. doesn't sound as if you and your current doctor are communicating well, and there are plenty of docs out there.

Second, I would suggest looking for a sleep specialist. Perhaps someone with more knowledge about your particular issues may be able to address it better.

meditation and/or yoga before bed can be very helpful, as can things such as a warm bath and soft music.

Good luck!

LaFemme

On CNN today...

7 ways to get the best sleep ever - CNN.com

apparently a warm bath isn't a good idea, the body needs to cool off to sleep...who knew?!?!

bubblehead

NOOOOOO! You need to talk to your doctor! How you stop taking it depends on the dosage you're getting. Some benzos are more addictive than others. Suddenly not taking on after taking it daily can lead to the same withdrawal symptoms as alcohol and can be just as dangerous. I have a friend who recently started havig seizures when he suddenly stopped taking Ativan (another benzo). He had been taking it for less than a month.
There is a forum on the net for Benzo addiction tha specifically details a tapering method if it turns out you are dependent. If you want the link, private message me. I don't know if its OK to post here or not.
I am really shocked at how many people on this forum have been prescribed benzos for regular usage for sleep. I will admit, I have a prescription for Ativan for occasional use for severe anxiety. My doctor warned me NOT to use it for sleep and NOT to take more than three 0.5 mg pills in any one week. Benzos are not something that should be prescribed casually and your doctor should thoroughly warn you of the dangers.

lildawg

I have suffered from insomnia my entire life. I "fixed" it with alcohol. Now that I don't drink, I've had to learn to turn off my mind at night. Usually, once I do this, I doze off.

However, because you are dependent on prescription meds, you need to see a doctor.

Someone else said it might be time for a second opinion. I agree with this. Sometimes you have to doctor shop to get the care you need. If you're not already seeing a doctor who specializes in substance abuse, please do so. Your health is important, and you're important.

Once you figure out what you're going to do about your meds, then, you can work on your insomnia. You might even decide to visit a sleep clinic for help. I've thought about doing this.

Remember: If you don't see a light at the end of the tunnel, march down there and turn it on yourself.

^^I read this elsewhere today, and really like it.

Bugzer

That's what the idiot doc told me to try when I last saw him..
stay up one night not taking it then if i can't sleep just live with it
(seems like torture at this point) then the next day take a benzo..
I'm on clonezapam which is really a lot weaker then ativan for instance
but regardless I been on 1mg clonazepam for a over 2 months straight
I guess my body is hooked on it by now and I just don't know it...

thanks for all the help guys..I think i need to go to a new doc this one
isn't taking this as seriously as I am.

TwelveSteps

I'm so glad you are talking to your doctor.

I have had sleep problems my whole life and melatonin didn't work for me either, until recently I read that it is much more effective if taken in sublingual (dissolved under the tongue) form. You can buy melatonin formulated for this purpose (dissolves quicker, tastes better than pills intended to be swallowed). It's now working for me.

That said, my issue was drinking to fall asleep at night and I had to go through several days of sleeping only a couple of hours a night (if at all) and then a couple weeks of fidgety/light sleeping when I first got sober. It was unpleasant, but I was actually surprised that the lack of sleep affected me a lot less than I thought it would, and the experience was definitely worth it in order for me to have the restful natural sleep that I have now. I take melatonin every night and occasionally take a light OTC sleep med when I'm feeling particularly wired at bedtime.

I also cut out caffeine except for one occasional cup of coffee first thing in the morning, which has helped a lot.

GG

Bugzer

well for one melatonin doesn't work for me period or valerian root..
my problem is I can't fall asleep.... it's like I need to be knocked out
one way or another.... I've tried sitting in bed to relax and pass out
anywhere from 3 to 6 hours and nothing happens...

I'll just ask the doc if he can switch from a benzo to anything else
can can actually make me fall asleep and is not dangerous...

shaun00

id caution you on stopping medication abrupty.......far better to have a chat with the doc.

i was diagnosed with clinical depression when i was 16....i took meds for years and drank on top.

when i got sober and stopped taking meds..( my decision with support from doc)
the depression came roaring back....but only for a month or 2

i seperated alcohlism from depression......two illnesses with two seperate routes for me.
for alcoholism i engaged in a 12 step programme and recovered.

for depression i used a therapist sometimes.....and i have a support network in place with other suffers.
i keep an eye on my diet......exercise regular......and i have a strong faith.

depression these days is managable and rare......maybe 3/4 episodes a year lastly 1/2 weeks......all this is achieved without meds.

its my experience with depression........and meds.