No sleep or sleep meds
I have been unable to sleep since stopping Ambien (5 months ago) and Ativan(2 months ago). I have not slept for over 2 hours a night. I understand I supposedly have rebound insomnia, however I have had a sleep problem since I was very young. I have researched this question on the web but only found answers that sleep aids ARE BAD!
My question is: What is worse? No sleep or sleep using sleep meds?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sleep Health Support Group.
In addition, regarding your Apple Watch - I have a Garmin band that shows my sleep. I've stopped using it because it often shows me as having been asleep when I was lying wide awake. There's also something they call a "body battery" which is supposed to reflect my energy. Total cr*p.
In my opinion the only thing the watch is good for is measuring steps - maybe. Sometimes it shows that I climbed tons of steps. Know when? After I ride the escalator in the mall!
The Apple Watch does great for workouts, etc. And my Garmin golf watch works well too. The review by a science guy on utube gave the sleep function an 87% good rating after extensive testing comparing it to the one they wear on the head in sleep clinics, but I still have to second guess it. The main thing I question is it records time awake sometimes as "core" sleep, which is same as light sleep.
That's really funny it thinks the escalator is steps but I kinda get it.
Second night on Lunesta another fail, but last night (3rd night) with turning off iPad 30 mins before, drinking Sleepytime tea with honey, meditating a few minutes then taking Lunesta worked better. Slept about 6 hours. Maybe because I was so exhausted my brain gave up.
I guess there's a reason Apple products are expensive. My Garmin band was a gift from my employer - looks like they chose the cheapest model.
I was taking .5 mg lorazepam for sleep and it eventually stopped working. I did not want to continue to increase the dose so I weaned off it
Are you now sleeping naturally or doing something else?
I am taking 7.5 mg of mirtazapine. It’s not a benzodiazepine like lorazepam and my doctor is more comfortable with this drug
I am taking .5 to 1mg of Lorazepam too for sleep....just started a couple months ago...my question is What did you switch to? Or are you now taking no sleep meds for sleep?
kawanee....how is the Mirtazapine working for you? I have a bottle but haven't tried it yet since I'm currently taking Lorazepam
Working well
Have you had an overnight sleep study? I did, and love my sleep doc.
Have you absolutely stopped the intake of any and all caffeines?
Decaf is not non-caf. No colas, no green or black teas, no chocolate. Life can still be worth living without chocolate. I know that’s hard to imagine, but try it.