Anxiety adrenaline waves every AM waking me from sleep.

I was told that the body easily becomes dependent on benzodiazepines so I stayed on the lowest dose .25 mg and would usually just take a half tablet, but then, I have always been sensitive to medications. Xanax worked so well for anxiety but was so short acting that whenever I took it, it would wear off in 3-4 hours. I generally tried to “power through” whatever anxiety I was experiencing and then only take it at night so it would also help me sleep. After a year or two, it seemed that my anxiety was even worse once it wore off and then I knew my body had become accustomed to it and wanted more-so it was time to get off. Actually, I did not have any horrible withdrawals when I stopped it-but I had horrible insomnia. I still have some insomnia however I can now sleep 5-6 hours most nights without taking anything and can even take very short naps during the day if I have not slept well at night. Four years ago I could not sleep at all without taking something so I have made good progress. I have found Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for sleep to be helpful in the following: Only go to sleep when you are really sleepy, and try to get up at the same time every morning despite when you fell asleep. If you didn’t get enough sleep you will be building “sleep pressure” which will help you sleep better the next night. I read several CBT books including The Sleep Prescription and No More Sleepless Nights. What worried me about taking a medicine for sleep every night is that whatever it was would stop working again just like what happened with Trazodone. I have read that many people have taken Trazodone for over a decade with success. For me, it stopped working after about 4 years and then I just about had a nervous breakdown from lack of sleep. Have you tried Trazodone? It would be helpful for the sleep and anxiety and might help you transition off the benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines have so many other bad side effects for us seniors (I am 70) and I thank the Good Lord that I was able to get off them. Hopefully your doc will have your best interest at heart and advise you truthfully about balancing the need for restful sleep vs taking a medication long term. Please let me know if I can help you in any way. I tried every natural supplement on the market including a medical marijuana THC tincture so I am familiar with a lot of alternatives that helped me transition off prescriptions.

I was told that the body easily becomes dependent on benzodiazepines so I stayed on the lowest dose .25 mg and would usually just take a half tablet, but then, I have always been sensitive to medications. Xanax worked so well for anxiety but was so short acting that whenever I took it, it would wear off in 3-4 hours. I generally tried to “power through” whatever anxiety I was experiencing and then only take it at night so it would also help me sleep. After a year or two, it seemed that my anxiety was even worse once it wore off and then I knew my body had become accustomed to it and wanted more-so it was time to get off. Actually, I did not have any horrible withdrawals when I stopped it-but I had horrible insomnia. I still have some insomnia however I can now sleep 5-6 hours most nights without taking anything and can even take very short naps during the day if I have not slept well at night. Four years ago I could not sleep at all without taking something so I have made good progress. I have found Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for sleep to be helpful in the following: Only go to sleep when you are really sleepy, and try to get up at the same time every morning despite when you fell asleep. If you didn’t get enough sleep you will be building “sleep pressure” which will help you sleep better the next night. I read several CBT books including The Sleep Prescription and No More Sleepless Nights. What worried me about taking a medicine for sleep every night is that whatever it was would stop working again just like what happened with Trazodone. I have read that many people have taken Trazodone for over a decade with success. For me, it stopped working after about 4 years and then I just about had a nervous breakdown from lack of sleep. Have you tried Trazodone? It would be helpful for the sleep and anxiety and might help you transition off the benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines have so many other bad side effects for us seniors (I am 70) and I thank the Good Lord that I was able to get off them. Hopefully your doc will have your best interest at heart and advise you truthfully about balancing the need for restful sleep vs taking a medication long term. Please let me know if I can help you in any way. I tried every natural supplement on the market including a medical marijuana THC tincture so I am familiar with a lot of alternatives that helped me transition off prescriptions.

Oh my goodness, how helpful you have been! Thank you so much for taking the time to share this information. I have not tried trazodone. I will talk to my doctor about it. I am grateful that I do have a very good GP who I have been seeing for over 10 years. I am 72 now and supposedly these medications behave differently as we age. I don’t know what the reason for the sudden need I’m feeling to increase the dosage, but I’m not keen on it. I feel comfortable that he will help me do what is best. Thank you again for your help. You may be hearing from me again!

Good morning @carolinlv
I thought I would tell you that I consulted with a Naturopathic physician online last year and he told me that as far as sleep medicines go, he believes Trazodone is one of the most benign which also gives the most natural sleep and my past experience with it would reflect that. When I started taking it many years ago because I worked different shifts, I started out at 25 mg which was half a tablet of the lowest dose 50 mg tablet. Most people start out at 50 mg but I have a petite little daughter in law with insomnia and anxiety that started at 200 mg with no side effects! I have just always been sensitive to meds. It worked beautifully and unlike Ambien that I tried, felt like a normal sleep. It is also a very inexpensive medication. I am glad that you have found this online community for support and ideas. My prayers are with you girl. You will get through this and emerge victorious! Check out David Lee “Wu Wei Wisdom” on You Tube. I find him to be wise and compassionate.

Totally forgot to mention… I am very happy you were able to get rid of the bad stuff and find methods that work for you! I can’t imagine what natural sleep must feel like! Thanks again!

Trazadone made me feel drugged. I have a med I take at night- Zaleplon. No side effects. I also take it about 30-60 min before I go to bed as I wait til I am really tired and sleepy.

I’m reading these threads because I’ve become very concerned about the benzodiazepines I’ve been taking for over 5 years. I am very scared I will end up in your situation if I try to stop taking this medication. Can I ask what your dose was and the frequency? I’ve mentioned stopping to my doctor but because I never had any problems with side effects and it only seemed to help my sleep and anxiety, I never pursued the conversation. Well, I think it’s time to pursue the conversation. I’m 72 years old now. I have taken .5 mg of Xanax once daily for the last five years. Lately I have found that if I don’t take another half a pill midday, my heart is racing and I feel a little out of body. Now, the second bad part of my story. I take .25 mg Halcion nightly for sleep. Without it, there’s no hope of falling asleep. Over the last few years, my sleep has gotten pretty bad and I’m lucky to get 5 to 6 hours at best, but at least I’m able to fall asleep with the medication. So, I am now taking a minimum of .75 mg (closer to a full milligram for the last month) collectively of benzodiazepines a day. I am becoming more and more withdrawn and have other health issues now that really make me not want to have to take medications if they are not absolutely necessary. I am at the point that I don’t know if I even need either of these drugs now because I feel fully dependent on them. I can’t tell if my body wants them or if I still need them. I have a doctors appointment in three weeks and I’m going to address getting rid of these meds if I can. Has anyone else stopped taking benzodiazepines after an extended period of time? If so, how did you do it successfully? I would love to hear others stories. My doctor usually says my dosage is so low that if it’s working, why do I need to stop? Honestly, I don’t know why. I just don’t want to take them if I don’t need them. Any help is greatly appreciated.