I've been on 12.5 mg of Ambien CR for over 10 years. I think I started in 2002. The doctor I used to have didn't care. He was the type to ask me what I wanted rather than discussing a way to cure the problem without being dependent on prescription medication. He retired and I found another complacent PCP, who I can't seem to get to spend more than the allotted 5 minutes with me to actually discuss the issue. I'm very frustrated. I've tried substituting Melatonin and end up with weird dreams and nightmares that wake me up throughout the night. I've tried weaning off it when I was out of work last summer, but once it was gone, I could get to sleep and stay asleep until almost 6 a.m., if even, and then it's time to get up! Before I was on the Ambien, I took Trazadone for a little while and it worked great and when I stopped, I didn't have any problems and had a relatively easy time getting to sleep and staying asleep, but now I can't do it. I lay there listening to my husband sleeping and every little sound and my mind just goes. It can be about any number of things, worry, not worry. If I try to think of something that's relaxing like sitting on the beach, my mind will wind around until I'm lying there obsessing about something. For example, I'm on the beach. Who am I with? My friend Mary. I haven't seem Mary in a long time. Why? And so on and so forth. It's like pulling a thread.
The health plan we have now is terrible and they don't cover Ambien. Plus, because Ambien is now classified as a Class 4 opioid, my PCP insists that I come into her office every 3 months for her to write a new prescription. So I went from paying $10 a refill to paying $50+ and paying my PCP $30 every 3 months. I want off this treadmill!
@michelle_m I know what you are going through. If you haven’t seen my previous posts, you may want to read them. Feel free to ask me any questions about my journey. I am now down to 12.5 mg. of Trazodone. I’ve been working with a CBT-I. (Cognitive Behavior Treatment of Insomnia) therapist since November. I still have a way to go, but my PCP is amazed at my progress. There is an article on this treatment on the Mayo Clinic website. Good luck.
I know it’s a cliche but I find hot milk/chocolate really helps me sleep when I’m struggling to nod off. I’ve found the effectiveness depends on a couple of things, first full fat milk, semi skimmed or skimmed just don’t seem to work. Second is heat it slowly in a pan on the cooker, zapping it in the microwave doesn’t cut it. It’s apparently got something to do with the way the fats and protein denaturate when heated.
Hi I just have a question.. Just wondering what works best for anxiety/insomnia.. I'm currently on Valium 10mg & Seroquel 50mg at night.. This is my biggest question is it just me or do these medications quit working after awhile? & what can I do about it? I never had sleep problems before I got on anxiety medications only mild anxiety. My sleep is so fragmented now it's crazy, I wake up all night long & the next morning I wake up with a migraine all day.. & are there any antipsychotics/antihistamines that do not effect the heart? The seroquel makes my heart race like crazy.. Any advice at all would be awesome! Thanks so much..
Hi I just have a question.. Just wondering what works best for anxiety/insomnia.. I'm currently on Valium 10mg & Seroquel 50mg at night.. This is my biggest question is it just me or do these medications quit working after awhile? & what can I do about it? I never had sleep problems before I got on anxiety medications only mild anxiety. My sleep is so fragmented now it's crazy, I wake up all night long & the next morning I wake up with a migraine all day.. & are there any antipsychotics/antihistamines that do not effect the heart? The seroquel makes my heart race like crazy.. Any advice at all would be awesome! Thanks so much..
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Feb 1, 2019
Hi, @num1boxer1919 - I'd like to invite @contentandwell @maryshipley@rachelanne@sndishpr to return to the conversation, since they may have some thoughts for you on what works best for anxiety and insomnia, and whether they may have seen these medications stop working effectively over time. I imagine fragmented sleep can't feel restful.
@sleepy0 - are you thinking of trying the clonazepam for a while yet to see if it starts working for the racing mind at night, or are you looking at asking your doctor for something else?
@gloriajean - did you end up taking melatonin? How is your sleep going lately?
@marcellal - how are things going with staying asleep at night?
Yes, I've had three sleep studies done in a five year span of time (and they're pretty uncomfortable). None of them indicated I needed a C-PAP machine, and once that was determined, the Sleep Center was out of options or ideas about what to do. Since then, the doctor I see for Restless Legs (and it appears that I have developed insomnia alongside RLS as well) had me wear an sort of device on one of my fingers through the night to measure my oxygen (and that was much easier to get a 'normal' night's sleep), and it came out that a drop in my oxygen level is not my problem at night. I've wondered about hypnosis from a therapist, but I cannot find someone who is certified as legitimate in my immediate area. Thanks for the sleep hypnosis link - I'm going to check that out.
Hi I just have a question.. Just wondering what works best for anxiety/insomnia.. I'm currently on Valium 10mg & Seroquel 50mg at night.. This is my biggest question is it just me or do these medications quit working after awhile? & what can I do about it? I never had sleep problems before I got on anxiety medications only mild anxiety. My sleep is so fragmented now it's crazy, I wake up all night long & the next morning I wake up with a migraine all day.. & are there any antipsychotics/antihistamines that do not effect the heart? The seroquel makes my heart race like crazy.. Any advice at all would be awesome! Thanks so much..
I can only speak from experience, and so this is based on what I know from what has happened to me. Yes, both of those medications stopped working for me, and rather quickly at that. In fact, they had a rebound effect so that the issue that creates sleep disturbances for me (Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) would intensify, and when that happened, I would get virtually 1 - 1 1/2 hours sleep per night. I'm not sure about the heart pounding, but I've taken medications for fibromyalgia that created that symptom for me, so it might not hurt to discuss that with your doctor. Is it possible that the anti-anxiety drugs are now creating an increase in your anxiety, and could that lead to your heart pounding? I know when I'm anxious, my heart pounds, and I can experience dizziness and a headache as well. Again, maybe a change in medicine would help you.
number1boxer1919: Another case in point - as @pjss48 noted, Trazadone works for her. My husband also takes Trazadone, and he swears by it for help with sleep; however, I've tried it and couldn't sleep for 24 hours straight, and I felt 'wired' for another six hours after that. Again, everyone is so different, and that's why I think it is important to keep trying until you and your doctor find something that works for YOU.
Good Evening, the Cloneazepam has not been as effective as I had hoped. Next appointment I will ask sleep Dr about alternatives. Although at the last appointment he said Insomnia is a trial and error process. I think that I have not been sleeping for so many years that finding a medication that does not have all of the associated problems may not be available. Oh well, I could have more serious medical issues. Best Wishes. BJ
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@michelle_m I know what you are going through. If you haven’t seen my previous posts, you may want to read them. Feel free to ask me any questions about my journey. I am now down to 12.5 mg. of Trazodone. I’ve been working with a CBT-I. (Cognitive Behavior Treatment of Insomnia) therapist since November. I still have a way to go, but my PCP is amazed at my progress. There is an article on this treatment on the Mayo Clinic website. Good luck.
I know it’s a cliche but I find hot milk/chocolate really helps me sleep when I’m struggling to nod off. I’ve found the effectiveness depends on a couple of things, first full fat milk, semi skimmed or skimmed just don’t seem to work. Second is heat it slowly in a pan on the cooker, zapping it in the microwave doesn’t cut it. It’s apparently got something to do with the way the fats and protein denaturate when heated.
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1 ReactionHi I just have a question.. Just wondering what works best for anxiety/insomnia.. I'm currently on Valium 10mg & Seroquel 50mg at night.. This is my biggest question is it just me or do these medications quit working after awhile? & what can I do about it? I never had sleep problems before I got on anxiety medications only mild anxiety. My sleep is so fragmented now it's crazy, I wake up all night long & the next morning I wake up with a migraine all day.. & are there any antipsychotics/antihistamines that do not effect the heart? The seroquel makes my heart race like crazy.. Any advice at all would be awesome! Thanks so much..
I was prescribed Cloneazepam for a racing mind at night. It was also suppose to help me sleep. Not sure it does either very well. Good Luck.
I take trazadone
Hi, @num1boxer1919 - I'd like to invite @contentandwell @maryshipley @rachelanne @sndishpr to return to the conversation, since they may have some thoughts for you on what works best for anxiety and insomnia, and whether they may have seen these medications stop working effectively over time. I imagine fragmented sleep can't feel restful.
@sleepy0 - are you thinking of trying the clonazepam for a while yet to see if it starts working for the racing mind at night, or are you looking at asking your doctor for something else?
@gloriajean - did you end up taking melatonin? How is your sleep going lately?
@marcellal - how are things going with staying asleep at night?
Yes, I've had three sleep studies done in a five year span of time (and they're pretty uncomfortable). None of them indicated I needed a C-PAP machine, and once that was determined, the Sleep Center was out of options or ideas about what to do. Since then, the doctor I see for Restless Legs (and it appears that I have developed insomnia alongside RLS as well) had me wear an sort of device on one of my fingers through the night to measure my oxygen (and that was much easier to get a 'normal' night's sleep), and it came out that a drop in my oxygen level is not my problem at night. I've wondered about hypnosis from a therapist, but I cannot find someone who is certified as legitimate in my immediate area. Thanks for the sleep hypnosis link - I'm going to check that out.
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI can only speak from experience, and so this is based on what I know from what has happened to me. Yes, both of those medications stopped working for me, and rather quickly at that. In fact, they had a rebound effect so that the issue that creates sleep disturbances for me (Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) would intensify, and when that happened, I would get virtually 1 - 1 1/2 hours sleep per night. I'm not sure about the heart pounding, but I've taken medications for fibromyalgia that created that symptom for me, so it might not hurt to discuss that with your doctor. Is it possible that the anti-anxiety drugs are now creating an increase in your anxiety, and could that lead to your heart pounding? I know when I'm anxious, my heart pounds, and I can experience dizziness and a headache as well. Again, maybe a change in medicine would help you.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reactionnumber1boxer1919: Another case in point - as @pjss48 noted, Trazadone works for her. My husband also takes Trazadone, and he swears by it for help with sleep; however, I've tried it and couldn't sleep for 24 hours straight, and I felt 'wired' for another six hours after that. Again, everyone is so different, and that's why I think it is important to keep trying until you and your doctor find something that works for YOU.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionGood Evening, the Cloneazepam has not been as effective as I had hoped. Next appointment I will ask sleep Dr about alternatives. Although at the last appointment he said Insomnia is a trial and error process. I think that I have not been sleeping for so many years that finding a medication that does not have all of the associated problems may not be available. Oh well, I could have more serious medical issues. Best Wishes. BJ