Unfortunately, my physician knows little about sleep medication, or insomnia. I'm in the process now of, hopefully, getting an appointment with a sleep psychologist. In 1973, I went to Dartmouth Medical Center where Dr. Hauri was one of only 8 doctors in the US who did sleep studies. He later was the head of the Sleep Medicine Center at Mayo. This new sleep doctor I hope to see attended Dartmouth Medical which is now a large facility. In 1973, It was just Dr. Hauri and an assistant. Hauri asked that my husband go with me to my appointment; he believed the spouse should understand what having insomnia entails. Then my husband left and I spent two nights in the lab and he also tested me for my ability to relax (not good). He sent me home with Dalmane and Elavil, two strong medications. Dr. Hauri was Dutch and had an accent. He phoned in the medication to the pharmacy but the pharmacy gave me Mellaril instead -- a drug for schitzophrenia! Thankfully, after taking one pill and calling Hauri because of the horrible effect on me, I didn't take a second pill. But I've been on meds since then.
Later, Hauri promoted cognitive behavior rather than drugs. He was truly a pioneer in the sleep industry.
I had an amazing internist (now retired) but he wanted nothing to do with sleeping pills and I always had to rely on a sleep center.
My sleeping pill prescriptions are filled by an NP who has never met me.
It's why I'm looking forward to meeting a bonafide sleep medicine neurologist with whom I can have a conversation about what goes on with me. I don't know how I can taper off a capsule.
Tonight, I'm going to try taking an OTC aid to see if that might help (I doubt it). I think I would need to go to a drug rehab center since I am addicted to benzos.
I definitely need help and hope i will be able to get an appointment with the neurologist soon.
Thanks again, for your help.