Thank you for making it into a link. I received a warning that I could not post it, so the underscore up front allowed me to. It is from the University of Minnesota and is a safe link.
Thank you for asking; my son is doing ok. His sleep issues are so severe he is on total disability, but he has several additional disabilities, such as Aspergers Syndrome, ADHD, depression, and anxiety, to name a few. He would like to work, but his sleep disability is so bad he has no circadian rhythm.
He got a job at Costco but resigned after two months due to absences. He would have been terminated the day he left as he could not work.
He is titrating on Clonazepam which the study I included identified as helping. We started at .25 mg and can go up to 1 Mg. We are going to .75 mg tonight as the lower doses have not helped. Other options after this include temazepam between 15 to 30 mg; if that does not work, Lunesta between 2 to 3 mg. We have been working with another local sleep specialist for about five years. His current Psychiatrist recommends evaluation at the Mayo Clinic.
After ten years of helping with his treatments, we both know not to expect miracles. However, I will not give up hope. There is always hope, but if I stop hoping, there is nothing.
I am still hoping what I learned at Mayo can help someone!
I would steer clear from Benzodiazepines altogether. They are extremely addictive and disrupt your entire natural physiologic ability to sleep. They actually block receptors in your brain in a way that prevents normal sleep. Getting off of Benzo's is an absolute living hell and takes months or even years too.
In your case, creating a daily rhythm is crucial. Wake up the same time every day, eat healthy and regularly and exercise lots. If your son has so much free time, I would recommend mountain biking. 10 to 20 miles a day of intense cycling doesn't get boring and by the time he finishes the body is physically tired. I found this to be the key to recovery myself: If your brain is not capable of normal sleep, make sure the body is exhausted and your brain will follow automatically.
Now, if you're not used to exercise, don't go overboard on day 1 and build it up gradually. Start slow and time your progress. It may take a few months to get into the habit and get to a point where you're able to get enough exercise and get back into a normal sleep cycle, but once you do, most of your issues will gradually fade away and you won't need any prescription drugs anymore.