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Didn't know I was addicted to my sleep medication until I ran out
I have been taking prescription Alpralozam for two years or better. Prescribed for insomnia that was making me crazy, and nothing else was putting me down at night. In the beginning it was incredibly helpful, and I was very glad to get back to sleeping at night. Fast forward to last Tuesday. I ran out and my doctor was off having eye surgery. No big deal, I thought. I didn't think it would kill me to go without....I had been thinking about quitting them anyway because they had lost their efficacy over time. So I get ready for bed, and had trouble sleeping. I started sweating and immediately thought I was having symptoms of peri menopause and hypothyroid. Tossed and turned all night, and then slept not one wink Wednesday night. Then not again on Thursday night. By Friday I was experiencing all of the normal symptoms of sleep deprivation and was struggling at work. I actually managed to get several hours of sleep Friday night, but then comes Saturday morning. I awakened to discover that my entire body was numb. My scalp, teeth, gums, throat, my entire skin! AND get this....my lungs and stomach are numb as well. I can't even tell if food is in my stomach, because I cannot feel it. I cannot feel air in my lungs. I was totally freaked out at this, and knew this was not peri menopause and/ or hypothyroid. I began wondering if I'd had a stroke. I started totally wigging out...I had itches under my skin and when scratching, I can't feel a thing. I then these details with my boyfriend and tell him I may need to get to the hospital. Then it dawned on me that I had just suddenly stopped my "sleeping medications" and maybe I should look into it. So I did, and buddy was I SHOCKED! I could not believe all of the information on "benzo" withdrawal. I had not even heard of that word until then...."benzo." I am flabbergasted and overwhelmed at all of the terrible things I am reading....AND experiencing. I am a 48 year old woman, I have never had an addiction to drugs and I have no idea how I am going to get better....my whole body has been numb for going on 48 hours. Do NOT take this class of drugs if you can avoid it OMG!!
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Hi, @tooncinator, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I've moved your message to our Sleep Health group so that others who have had insomnia and may have experience with medications for it might provide some input.
Thought you might also like to take a look at some of these previous discussions:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/protracted-benzo-withdrawal/bookmark/?ajax_hook=action&_wpnonce=bbd8fb4d52
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/insomnia-29e169/bookmark/?ajax_hook=action&_wpnonce=bbd8fb4d52
Also thought you might like to meet some others who have discussed challenges with sleep, like @saltis, @johnhans, @lacey, @anniegk , @travelgirl ,@shoregal45, @sandytoes14, @jimhd and @kdubois . They may have some insights for you.
You mentioned your doctor who prescribed the Alprazolam was out having surgery. Wondering if you've been able to connect with another doctor or your doctor's office staff about the symptoms you've experienced?
Good afternoon. Thank you for sharing the post to the sleep disorder area. I look forward to reading the threads you have shared with me. I am at work and yes, I did call my doctor office. She is still out until Thursday but I told a nurse that I trust to pass the info to her when she calls in. I don't know what can be done to ease the entire body numbness; from what I've read, absolutely nothing can be done and you pray for time to heal. Had I really done my homework on this stuff, I NEVER would have started on it.
Thank you for checking in on me.
Cheryl
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1 Reaction@tooncinator Cheryl, this drug is in the same class as lorazapam (ativan) which I have taken. The doctors I have had have all been very cautious about prescribing it, informing me of how habit forming it can be. I take one occasionally when I am tense -- I know I will want one the night before we fly away for vacation. I got a prescription from my doctor two years ago -- he gave me an Rx for 10! Last week I asked him if he would prescribe again. Once again he gave me 10. That's fine, most of the time I am fine without them, I just take one on occasional nights. The other time I take one is when I have had two or three sleepless nights, which I am better with now. But after a few nights of little sleep I would take one because I needed to get some sleep.
They are not bad but should never be used regularly. I'm surprised your doctor prescribed enough for you to do that.
JK
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2 ReactionsI am now shocked that she did as well! Let me be clear as a blue sky here....I have NOT abused my medication whatsoever. I went from taking, as prescribed, 1mg up to the 3mg I am currently at, obviously after building a tolerance to it. I'm shocked that my doctor and I have never had this conversation. I don't EVER remember being told one single negative side effect. I also cannot believe she upped my dose when I told her that 1mg and 2mg were no longer working well. I am shocked that wasn't a huge red flag to her. I am seriously taken aback at the moment, and pray to God this numbness and insomnia go away at some point. I hope she calls me today yet. Thank you for sharing.
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4 Reactions@tooncinator
Hi, Cheryl. I have sleep apnea, and used a CPAP machine for over 15 years, and just recently changed to a BIPAP. In 2006, after I had attempted suicide several times, I started seeing a psychiatrist, who diagnosed me with, among other things, anxiety disorder, and prescribed Clonazepam (Klonopin). I thought a couple of years ago about tapering off it - it's another benzodiazapine - and I think I cut the pill into quarters. I went down from 1mg to .75mg. Not a big deal, I thought. I couldn't sleep, even going down by only 25%. I had to get back up to the 1mg. I've taken it for almost 12 years now, and I really don't think I suffer any ill effects. A side effect that makes my wife happy is that I don't act out my dreams. As in kicking and punching, etc.
All that to say the obvious: never stop a medication without first talking with your doctor or pharmacist! I think you've probably figured that one out by now. I hope you've been able to get a refill, even just a 3 day emergency refill.
Now, I'm going to turn off my phone and go to bed, where I'll be able to sleep soundly until I'm rudely awakened by an alarm, and I'll be able to do that because I will have taken my Klonopin. Among other things. Sleep well tonight, Cheryl.
Jim
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1 ReactionDearest @tooncinator I hope by now you feel much better! Please don't cut back or stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor. Discuss your worries about this medication with her thorougly, see if there is something which suits you better. I know how difficult it is to have a good night sleep. So many of us take the sleep for granted but comes one night that sleeping becomes a fantasy or dream, nothing to take place in reality. I usually have a very very boring scientific or economy book with my bedside. The first pages are aged but I have never made it past page 20. Another recommendation is to try meditation. I have many friends who have tried meditation in order to be able to sleep @ everybody swear for it's benefits. Even researchers have published many positive papers about meditation.
Wish you all the best,
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2 Reactions@tooncinator I have heard stories such as yours before about the horrible withdrawals from this class of drug. I'm so sorry that you are going through this. I read those pamphlets that accompany a Rx and keep the first one to refer back to if I feel "off" with a drug. I used to take Klonopin and there is nothing in there about how you will feel coming off the drug. My doctor never told me either.
tooncinator, are you still experiencing the withdrawal symptoms? Now that you are off Alpralozam, what are you doing to try to sleep better?
Jen
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2 ReactionsHi, @tooncinator -- just thinking of you and the symptoms you were experiencing when you ran out of prescription Alpralozam and stopped taking it. Curious what your doctor said about your physical reaction and what you decided to do regarding that medication? How is your insomnia recently?
After 26 years on this drug I can agree DO NOT start with it period, went off it cold turkey and glad I am still here !! It is a mind altering drug and removes your perception on life. DO NOT TAKE !!
Hello! I didn't even know these responses were here until today so please forgive me for being so terribly late in replying. I didn't tell you all of the story with me running out quote on quote. I had seen my doctor 3 weeks before she was to go out on surgery and she knew that I was going to need a prescription refill. She told me no problem she'd make a note in the chart that when I called in it could be refilled. Needless to say she never made that note, and that is what resulted in me running out on a Sunday.