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Sleep meds & not sleeping; I think I'm headed for trouble

Posted by scottbeammeup @scottbeammeup, May 5, 2025

During prostate cancer treatment, the medication I had to take caused bad insomnia as a side effect. I'd go to bed at 11, not fall asleep until 1-2 AM and wake up at 4 AM.

I was prescribed Ambien by my oncology team. It worked--for about two months. So I figured I'd boost it a bit by taking 10 mg of Melatonin with it. That worked, again, for about two months.

So I added 300 mg of Gabapentin that my brother-in-law gave me because he pretty much has an unlimited prescription and doesn't take it. This worked for a couple months. So I doubled the Gabapentin to 600 mg.

Then, a couple months later, I added hydroxyzine a psych nurse practitioner prescribed me for anxiety and half an Ativan from my GP also for anxiety, which became a whole Ativan and now I'm taking five different meds to sleep and, while they work, I wake up feeling like I've been run over by a bus.

I've kind of dug myself into a hole and am not sure how to get out of it. I don't want to be taking so many drugs to sleep and I know they're not good for me in the long term. I know that most of them, other than Ativan, are not addictive but it sure feels like they are.

Anyone have any ideas on how to stop taking them AND be able to sleep? I'm afraid to even tell my GP I'm taking all of them especially the Gabapentin because I'm obtaining it in an unauthorized way.

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Profile picture for Beejenigma
Beejenigma | @beejenigma | Feb 14 10:42am
In reply to @diverdown1 "Gabapentin can be an issue. I take it as well for pain management, but it is..." + (show)
Profile picture for diverdown1 @diverdown1

Gabapentin can be an issue. I take it as well for pain management, but it is not something that can just be stopped. I tried and found it to cause extreme agitation. I have been taking 100 mg of Trazadone for years. I was first introduced to it in treatment years ago. It is an old antidepressant but it used a lot for sleep issues and insomnia. Perhaps ask your doctor about it. It is prescribed because it is not addictive and does not cause mood altering feelings. I hope this helps. Your honesty is refreshing!!

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@diverdown1 I have also heard other stories about my response to traz. I go into a panic, I have to sit up and keep my eyes open because it makes me feel like I am in a dark room and the walls are slowing making the black box I am in smaller and smaller and smaller. I had to stay up until daylight the night I tried it once. Nope.

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Beejenigma | @beejenigma | Feb 14 10:43am
In reply to @scottbeammeup "| ... what non-medication related sleep hygiene routines or practices have you tried? | I bought..." + (show)
Profile picture for scottbeammeup @scottbeammeup

| ... what non-medication related sleep hygiene routines or practices have you tried? |

I bought blackout shades, use a white noise machine, keep my bedroom at 66 degrees, tried a weighted blanket, read physical books in bed instead of using screens, no eating after 7 PM, and no exercise after 4 PM

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@scottbeammeup And I am going to order nighttime reading bulbs that do not have the blue spectrum! Cannot wait to try it!

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diverdown1 | @diverdown1 | Feb 16 9:40am
In reply to @beejenigma "@diverdown1 I have also heard other stories about my response to traz. I go into a..." + (show)
Profile picture for Beejenigma @beejenigma

@diverdown1 I have also heard other stories about my response to traz. I go into a panic, I have to sit up and keep my eyes open because it makes me feel like I am in a dark room and the walls are slowing making the black box I am in smaller and smaller and smaller. I had to stay up until daylight the night I tried it once. Nope.

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@beejenigma Yikes! I have never had that experience. It is an old antidepressant and does not work for everyone. That sounds like an awful experience. I am sorry that happened.

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Beejenigma | @beejenigma | Feb 16 1:00pm
In reply to @diverdown1 "@beejenigma Yikes! I have never had that experience. It is an old antidepressant and does not..." + (show)
Profile picture for diverdown1 @diverdown1

@beejenigma Yikes! I have never had that experience. It is an old antidepressant and does not work for everyone. That sounds like an awful experience. I am sorry that happened.

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@diverdown1
It also happened with Qviviq

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stevej940 | @stevej940 | Feb 17 6:33pm

There is a medical group online called”Taperclinic”. They specialise in tapering people off of drugs. I highly recommend them. It is not cheap but they are good.

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scottbeammeup | @scottbeammeup | Feb 18 8:39am
In reply to @stevej940 "There is a medical group online called”Taperclinic”. They specialise in tapering people off of drugs. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for stevej940 @stevej940

There is a medical group online called”Taperclinic”. They specialise in tapering people off of drugs. I highly recommend them. It is not cheap but they are good.

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@stevej940 Thanks. Since my original post I've tapered off everything (kind of). Because of my prostate cancer treatment, I take three drugs daily that have the side effect of lowering my blood pressure--Metoprolol (off label for anxiety), Cialis, and Flowmax. I've found if I take them all at night I fall to sleep fairly easily. Did I just replace one set of drugs for another? Hard to say.

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roey4 | @roey4 | Mar 21 12:56pm
In reply to @diverdown1 "Gabapentin can be an issue. I take it as well for pain management, but it is..." + (show)
Profile picture for diverdown1 @diverdown1

Gabapentin can be an issue. I take it as well for pain management, but it is not something that can just be stopped. I tried and found it to cause extreme agitation. I have been taking 100 mg of Trazadone for years. I was first introduced to it in treatment years ago. It is an old antidepressant but it used a lot for sleep issues and insomnia. Perhaps ask your doctor about it. It is prescribed because it is not addictive and does not cause mood altering feelings. I hope this helps. Your honesty is refreshing!!

Jump to this post

@diverdown1 could you please tell me when you you take the trazodone. At bedtime or earlier.

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diverdown1 | @diverdown1 | Mar 22 8:01am

Hi, I take Trazadone about an hour before I am ready to go to bed.

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