1. < Sleep Health

Many years taking sleep medications

Posted by toren123 @toren123, May 23 6:11pm

I will be 86 years old in about 3 weeks. I have been taking sleep medications for 24 years. I have also learned CBT-I. That does not get me off sleep medications. Some meds that I tried never helped. Others used to help but don’t anymore. I have been taking lunesta for some time. It still works but not as well as it once did. Many doctors in the state I live in don’t want to prescribe controlled substances, as many sleep meds are, and are the ones that work. If I don’t take something to help me sleep, I’m afraid I would die before I sleep. This has caused me much anxiety and frankly I don’t know where to turn. I don’t know where to go to get off sleep meds and be able to sleep, even if that’s possible. I also have sleep apnea, but a bipap machine takes care of that and it’s not a big problem.
Any suggestions?

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toren123 | @toren123 | Jun 3 2:32pm
In reply to @sheil09 "My sleep issue is I wake up between 3am and 5am with an extremely dry mouth..." + (show)
@sheil09

My sleep issue is I wake up between 3am and 5am with an extremely dry mouth evrey night. When this happens I drink water which helps, but unable to find cause. Anyone have or had the same issue?

Sheil09

Jump to this post

I’ve had that problem. I believe it’s because you open your mouth when you’re asleep and it causes your mouth to be dry. I don’t necessarily recommend it, but taping my mouth with mouth tape helps somewhat. I use a full face bipap mask so mouth and nose are enclosed and air is forced through the nose.

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marialyce | @marialyce | Jun 3 4:37pm
In reply to @toren123 "I’ve taken trazadone, sonata, temazapam, Ativan, diazepam, mirtazapine, rozerem, belsomra, melatonin and other OTC pills including..." + (show)
@toren123

I’ve taken trazadone, sonata, temazapam, Ativan, diazepam, mirtazapine, rozerem, belsomra, melatonin and other OTC pills including magnesium, doxepin, seroquel, ambien, and lunesta, which I take now. Trazadone worked for a few years but then stopped. Sonata only helped for about 2 hours. Doxepin helps a little bit but not very well, even if I double the dose. I couldn’t handle the side effects of seroquel. Ambien puts me to sleep, but the side effects are also an issue with it. Blurry vision and depression. All the benzodiazepines work, but doctors here in San Angelo, Texas, where I live, won’t prescribe them. I guess they think it’s better if I just don’t sleep. We moved back here 3 years ago from Georgia. At that time I was alternating nights with lunesta and temazapam and it was working fine. But after moving here, temazapam was out. So I was left with Lunesta, but only 1 mg. I went to a neurologist, advertised as a sleep specialist. She would only prescribe doxepin and when I ask for something more effective, she wouldn’t help me anymore. So I finally had to drive 90 miles to see a neurologist in another town. He upped the lunesta to 3 mg. It still works, but not as well as it used to. He said those with chronic insomnia will always have to take medication. I don’t know what he’ll say when I see him again. I also follow the guidelines for CBT-I. So I’m still searching.

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What were your side effects from seraquil? I’ve just been prescribed this. Thanks

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1 reply
carlissa0701 | @carlissa0701 | Jun 3 9:46pm

I'm an 88 YO female and I've been a poor sleeper most of my life. I take 25 mg quetiapine (sp??) every night for 3 years. It works well but I worry about side effects from long term use. Anyone else have experience with this drug?

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toren123 | @toren123 | Jun 3 9:57pm
In reply to @marialyce "What were your side effects from seraquil? I’ve just been prescribed this. Thanks" + (show)
@marialyce

What were your side effects from seraquil? I’ve just been prescribed this. Thanks

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I only took it 2 nights. The 2nd night, shortly after going to bed, my whole body tensed up and I couldn’t lay still. It was 2 hours before I could relax and go to sleep. That was enough for me. However, I know some who have taken it for a long time without problems. Hopefully you will be one of those.

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chuckiepoo1 | @chuckiepoo1 | Jun 4 7:08am
In reply to @sheil09 "My sleep issue is I wake up between 3am and 5am with an extremely dry mouth..." + (show)
@sheil09

My sleep issue is I wake up between 3am and 5am with an extremely dry mouth evrey night. When this happens I drink water which helps, but unable to find cause. Anyone have or had the same issue?

Sheil09

Jump to this post

You may want to try Xylimelts, which are a small tablet that are made to adhere to the gums. It will last most of the night and help alleviate dry mouth. It has helped me tremendously and I have told several people about it with the same problem and all have good results. They can be purchased at most drug stores and or online and come in 2 or 3 flavors. They were introduced to me by my dentist and I have now been using them for several years. They are highly effective or dry mouth. Good luck

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david707 | @david707 | Jun 5 12:48pm

I am 79 and I see no reason to get off sleep meds. Right now I take 1 to 2 mg Lunesta per night. But I also take CBD, CBG oil which keeps me calm. I also take 150 mg Venlafaxine for anxiety. I function fine and the oil allows me to take naps. Benzos of course are addictive and my partner has a few old Xanax in the safe in case of a severe panic attack but that rarely happens anymore. Sleep is so important for our mental health, especially us older folk as we have a lot more time on our hands and sleep is a luxury we deserve now.

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1 reply
sundancerdb78 | @sundancerdb78 | Jun 12 11:53am

TOTALAY AGREE WITH DAVID! I have taken 10 mg of Ambien for 25 years! I have to laugh at doctors who say we should not take sleep medicine, "IT'S ADDICTIVE"! BS!
Not sleeping is one of the worst thing humans can do to their bodies!
I laugh every night when I see the adds on about OTC medications for sleep medicines! Even saw Bill O'Reilly pushing a new sleep drug OTC!
HOW IS TELLING US THE TRUTH??
SUNDANCE aka RB

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1 reply
tiredandthristy | @tiredandthristy | Jun 12 7:04pm
In reply to @sundancerdb78 "TOTALAY AGREE WITH DAVID! I have taken 10 mg of Ambien for 25 years! I have..." + (show)
@sundancerdb78

TOTALAY AGREE WITH DAVID! I have taken 10 mg of Ambien for 25 years! I have to laugh at doctors who say we should not take sleep medicine, "IT'S ADDICTIVE"! BS!
Not sleeping is one of the worst thing humans can do to their bodies!
I laugh every night when I see the adds on about OTC medications for sleep medicines! Even saw Bill O'Reilly pushing a new sleep drug OTC!
HOW IS TELLING US THE TRUTH??
SUNDANCE aka RB

Jump to this post

Bill is advertising a "natural" sleep aid which, I think we all know, none of them work.
But yes, if it helps you sleep, do it!

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tim1028 | @tim1028 | Jun 13 12:30am

Sleep issues are so common among us seniors. I’m 76 and use a CPAP. I’ve also had restless legs for the past 15 years and take low dose pramipexole. I take 600 mg gabapentin before bed and low dose timed release melatonin. Good quality sleep still eludes me most nights, especially deep restorative sleep.

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triciaann99 | @triciaann99 | Jun 13 12:33pm

The person who prescribed you, your sleeping pills should be able to help you with a taper. Best to you.

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