Still not sleeping despite meds

[basten]

I am on Mirtazapine, Clonazepam, Zopiclone, Risperdone and Amityptiline.

My body has become tolerant to the sedative effects and I get off to sleep ok but am awake on and off all night with broken sleep and up by 4 or 5 wide awake. Never any drowsiness. At first i slept well on the Mirtazapine but its sedating effect has worn off. It's also caused lots of food cravings and weight gain. I missed a Zopiclone one night, was awake all night then the next day had terrible head and awful anxiety so took them again. Has anyone got any ideas as to what other meds is put there for sleep which the effect wont wear off. I cant take Quitiapin or Olanzapine or Trazadone as bad reactions . Thankyou

[JimmyJackson]

No but from my experience all those ( & I also suffer from insomnia) play absolute havoc with your liver

[basten in reply to JimmyJackson]

Ok

[Moonsts]

I've been taking alprazolam for at least 15 years. It helps reduce the anxiety at bedtime, so I can fall asleep. But now I sometimes take more. They won't prescribe an increase, so I have to manage carefully.

Lately I've seen a lot if bad things about benzodiazepines and it has me worried.

[basten in reply to Moonsts]

Hello yes I've been reading on Face Book about people who are suffering awful withdrawals coming off Benzos. Mine is Clonazepam. I'm 70 and cant take not sleeping at all which stopping them can do plus my psychiatrist said never just stop taking them as you could have seizures. Your body has become tolerant to them I guess hence the need for more ro get the sleep. I originally was given them for restless leg syndrome and never heard about benzos then. Took them on and off no trouble. The Zopiclone has become tolerant for me too but I cant stop it as I missed one night, was awake all night and next day had awful panic attack and felt off my head. I take all these meds and still wake up all night and early a.m. but it's better than lying awake all night. I do feel for you after 15 years. The GPs should never have prescribed these drugs for me for so long my psychiatrist said and he feels I must stay on them. I once worked in an office drug abuse prescription centre. A man asked how he did he get off Diazepam after 15 years I heard the staff say and they laughed and said....no chance !! Now I understand. I once stopped Clonazepam and didn't sleep for a whoke week ( that's all I was on) and was in pain so took an overdose of them...and went into a comatose sleep...luckily to wake up unscathed. I cant help you to decide what to do. A doctor can advise you. But if they wont prescribe additional increase you may not sleep too well. I wish you all the best. The whole thing sucks i know.

[lcs067]

I've been on everything for sleep - anti-psychotics, semi-hypnotics, benzos, anti-depressants, and I think, rather than seeking that ideal medicine, that it is indeed more of a placebo effect than anything else when I see an improvement in my sleep quality. I just need to psychologically believe that I can sleep again, and then I do. It's probably not the efficacy of the pill at all. I also think withdrawal is more psychological than physical.

[basten in reply to lcs067]

No my withdrawals of missing one night of Zopiclone was awful. Massive anxiety panic attack. Yes, for me nothing seems to work my body gets tolerant to the drugs. Thankyou

[ThisIsHer]

I have been on zopiclone for over 10 years and the withdrawal symptoms are the worst . Its terrible vomiting diarrhea tremors anxiety aches and pains muscle cramping hallucinations and the list goes on

[basten]

Did you go back on them. Or rather, why after 10 years did you stop them?. I'm 70 a nd couldn't handle such awful withdrawals . I dread it if my dr stopped them. I felt so I'll the next p.m. after missing just one and was awake all night. I live in the UK

[MITCHMATCH]

FRIEND I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH INSOMNIA SINCE I CAN REMEMBER HAVE BEEN GIVEN CLONAZ EVERY ANTI DEPRESSANT WAS PRESCRIBED ZOPICLONE TWENTY YEARS AGO AND NEED 3-5 A DAY FOR IF NOT CHANCES OF HAVING GRAND MAL SEIZURES ARE MORE LIKELY THAN NOT MY REASON FOR LIVING IS QUESTIONABLE CAN NOT SHUT OFF MY MIND BODY BECOMES MY WORST ENEMY I HAVE TO PURCHASE FROM STREET AS DOCTORS HAVE ZERO EDUCATION AND ASSUME I JUST NEED ANTI DEPRESSION MEDICINE

[basten in reply to MITCHMATCH]

Hello I was very I'll when I missed just one night Zopiclone. Felt i was going off my head next day so now I'm hooked on them as long as doctors here in uk prescribe if not I've told psychiatrist i would have to go into hospital under supervision to stop. I'm also on Clonazepam it's a nightmare

[Bettz]

I take Gabapentin 200 mg - it keeps my legs from hurting and helps me sleep - there is some carry over in the morning - a little dizziness so cannot recommend G for everyone but worth trying.

[Christine2014]

Please do not just stop taking any medication unless you speak to a doctor.

I was one who tried to take myself off of Clonazepam and I ended up in the emergency room due to withdrawal and also believe it led to a miscarriage (not that the miscarriage may apply to everyone).

I struggle with sleep a lot as well, but there have been some non medication things I have been doing to help my body become tired and I am able to get some rest.

We as humans love routine. Every night at 9 pm I completely take myself off my phone, electronics and the only thing that I can do electronically is watch television. Around 10pm I go in my room, take my meds (that aren’t related to sleep) and lay down. I sleep with a mini iPad next to me as my fiancé hates the television being on, turn on a show that I know really well that I wouldn’t care missing since I already know what happens and I think about things that I am grateful for. Honestly some nights it’s just the air that I breathe. Some times I’m able to drift off in the next half hour or so, sometimes it takes longer, but I keep thinking about my gratitude list if negative thoughts start to creep in.

In my opinion medication is a tool in my toolbox. If I don’t put in work to change the behaviors that I don’t like or are not effective in changing things for the better, I continue to go down the same path of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and so forth. It’s by no means easy...I’ve been working towards this for a while, and I do feel a difference a little bit at a time and I choose to focus on the positive differences.

[Shayna1980]

I’ve just finished tapering after 2 years of use and I’m getting 2 hrs a night if I’m lucky. It’s horrific. It’s not Just psychological it’s pHysical too I am always sick tingling arms and legs anxiety nausea dry retching. If u want to know more about it visit benzo buddies u will see how many people are extremely ill from these drugs

[basten in reply to Shayna1980]

Hello I am re reading.your post re tapering . Are you sleeping any better and physically any better? I've just started tapering diaz still on Zopiclone and Mirtazapine. 2 plus yes zop 3 yes clonaz then July switched to diaz still functioning but have had aggression restless legs bad sleep not good hyper sexual urges since diaz which I hate crying pacing. Calmed again a bit till next cut . I am wondering why I should come off and my psych even offered me to go back on clonaz 0.5!! But I've read longer use can get worse I just wondered how you doing now,?

[Shayna1980]

Hi there. My sleep got better before Xmas I was sleeping 3-4 hrs a night but now gone back to 0-2 it’s been a very difficult week. I’m still on 1.39mg Valium doing microtaper. U need to get on benzo buddies. Ur taper might be too fast. Do they use Valium equivalent to clonaz from Ashton manual?

[basten in reply to Shayna1980]

Oh sorry to hear that. No my psych never heard of Ashton etc. Since cut from 4 to 3 diaz sleep bad on 4 and combo was getting off but waking on off. Notice now what I eat affects way I sleep and last night wide awake till 3 ..had to eat something cereal then slept but as I've bad acid not supposed to lay down 3 to 4 hrs after eating so pain this morning. Diazepam cut had made me very depressed etc. Agriohobic a lot too and I've zopiclone withdrawal to go too. Not coping. Yes thanks I've read benzo buddies. On own all week lonely and kids may pop round weekend. Theyve had enough of me. Theyve been here for me supported me....my daughter mostly but she had own issues and on verge of breakdown and cant handle my issues poor girl. Thankyou.

[Shayna1980 in reply to basten]

Taper zopiclone first. Keep Valium til last snd don’t drink alcohol

[basten in reply to Shayna1980]

Oh ok thankyou