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Long-term use of sleep meds
11 years ago, my partner of 14 yrs, who is now deceased(2018) who had severe chronic illnesses was 3000 miles away and became deathly ill and could not return. I was devastated and did not sleep for three consecutive entire nights. I felt I was having a breakdown.
My psychiatrist prescribed both .5 mg of Ativan and 25 mg of hydroxyzine Pamoate and it worked like a charm. About five years ago, I must’ve built up a tolerance because it was not working and I wasn’t sleeping well so I took an extra 25 mg of hydroxyzine pamoate, which the doctor allowed, and which worked for a while…a couple years ago I incorporated 5-10 mg of medicinal cannabis gummies(legal in my state)…Fast-forward to today… I take 50 mg of hydroxyzine pamoate, .5 mg of lorazepam, 2 mg of melatonin, along with magnesium and a cannabis, gummy for sleep(5-10mg)….
About a month ago, I traveled to Europe for 16 days and when I returned, I was unable to sleep. I attributed it to the jet lag, but it has been over a month and I’m taking all these meds, but not sleeping thru the night. Sometimes I can’t fall asleep, sometimes the liquid melatonin under the tongue would work, but that stopped as well. When it did work I’d fall asleep but wake up to use the bathroom and I could not fall back asleep. Sometimes I will get 2 to 3 hours sleep then up for a few hours and if I’m lucky fall semi-consciously asleep in the morning., but often I can’t fall asleep again. Many days I have no energy. Prior to my trip I was going to the gym 3 to 4 times a week. I’ve been to the gym only three times since returning because I don’t have the energy. Sometimes I’m just unable to get off the couch or sometimes I don’t feel motivated to get a shower and start my day. I feel as though I am becoming depressed from lack of sleep. I’ve tried to wean myself or taper off of the Ativan but as soon as I reduce it even by a quarter of a milligram, I don’t sleep. My PCP just switched the lorazepam to a liquid form so I only take .25 of the liquid as it’s more concentrated so it helps me to fall asleep but I’m waking up between 12 midnight & 2am and up for 4-5 hrs and can’t fall back asleep.
I’m at a total loss how get off these meds and fall asleep naturally. I was a good sleeper prior to the incident I mentioned earlier. I’m 73 yrs old , and in good health.. but feel it’s declining from lack of sleep. PCP wanted me to take ambien, but that scares me. I need some advice or suggestions to taper off. Thank you for letting me vent and taking the time to read my post.
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It’s an agony to get a full night sleep these days and I know what you’re saying, I’m 74 and my sleep schedule has been poor for years.. I take Ativan 0.5 mg morning and night, I also use RSO also known as Rick Simpson oil which is fairly high in THC and that is my routine, I pray that I don’t become immune to what I take but it definitely isn’t as effective as before, it’s inevitable that we can get used to our meds and then you ask the doctor for help which usually means more meds. I don’t sleep very well but I try very hard not to let it become a problem because I know when it comes to me, I can get very upset and then it gets worse, I’m retired now and lack of sleep affected me more when I was working but now I can rest during the day if I need it. I don’t want to end up with an array of drugs, too many seniors are over medicated and it’s a big problem both mentally and physically especially for an older person. I hope that you can get some help with your sleep, best wishes.
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1 ReactionIn no particular order, and with no judgement, just a desire to offer solid advice to someone I don't know who expresses need:
1. Motivation is first. It comes before every undertaking in life. Without a desire to accomplish anything, anything at all, failure is the most likely outcome. So, motivation must be strong, unwavering, and determined to achieve what the aim is at the outset;
2. Sleep loss is a behavioural disorder. It lies both in endocrinology and in brain and cognitive function...or rather dysfunction. You need the services, with both knowing what the other intends for you, of an endocrinologist and a sleep expert, perhaps a psychotherapist or a psychiatrist.;
3. People live sedentary lives these days, and it isn't good for health. If you are not getting at least 30 minutes most days of fairly demanding aerobic exercise and some weight lifting/core strength building, you are inviting health problems, including poor sleep;
4. Motivation is everything. If you only trifle at, wish for, talk about, demure over, and rationalize away, remedies offered to you, you will not succeed. Motivation comes first, and must be sustained throughout.
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2 ReactionsI will focus more on motivation. When I try to taper, I’m OK for two or three nights but because of not getting sleep I feel I can’t continue doing it. I did go to sleep therapist once but they weren’t much help. They just told me about things I already know, keeping the room, dark, no screen usage before bed, etc. I guess I can expect a rough time when I try to taper. I’m like a zombie when I don’t get sleep. I’m not much good for anything. I will check out therapists that specialize in CBT. Thank you for the response.
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1 Reaction@vsalvitti,
Last 5 years 24x7 headaches/ migraine (with auras) my "new normal". If I try to read or work on computer for more than 30 - 45minutes, strong burning sensation top front of brain, CFS – chronic fatigue syndrome, dizzy, very poor sleep. Been working with Neurologist (CT Scan and blood work) - learned taking Tylenol to long causes rebound headaches.
Neurologist refer me to Immunologist (Allergy/Immunology). I had a very productive 1st appointment. I keep notes on Symptoms, Current and Previous medications, previous health issues - no sleep history from smart watch, Family history, etc. She requested Lab work (Blood test) for some new things I had not heard before. She mentioned that she would need to refer me to another Immunologist for deeper insight.
I have started drinking Chamomile tea at 8:30pm, after night medications. I also take Ashwagandha 300mg at Noon and with night medications. “Ashwagandha may help reduce stress, anxiety, and cortisol levels, with clinical trials showing benefits in improving sleep quality, reducing fatigue, and enhancing psychological well-being. Been around for 2500 years.” What I have learned, having higher cortisol levels messes up sleep. My light sleep has been improving, my deep sleep still needs work. I have a sleep study coming up.
Recommend checking at https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements for any drug interactions, side effects, even the drugs you currently take. Sometimes better than the Doctor’s Drugs check database.
Also, It has helped me to bring research papers to the appointments, like the following, to get the point across I'm serious.
Immune markers of post-vaccination syndrome indicate future research directions (See graphics below)
https://news.yale.edu/2025/02/19/immune-markers-post-vaccination-syndrome-indicate-future-research-directions
A small number of people report chronic symptoms after receiving COVID-19 shots. A new study provides clues for further research.
Feb 19, 2025
5 min read
By Mallory Locklear
COVID-19 vaccines have been instrumental in reducing the impact of the pandemic, preventing severe illness and death, and they appear to protect against long COVID. However, some individuals have reported chronic symptoms that developed soon after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. This little-understood, persistent condition, referred to as post-vaccination syndrome (PVS), remains unrecognized by medical authorities, and little is known about its biological underpinnings.
In a new study, Yale researchers have taken initial steps to characterize this condition, uncovering potential immunological patterns that differentiate those with PVS from others. The findings are early and require further confirmation but may eventually guide strategies to help affected individuals.
“This work is still in its early stages, and we need to validate these findings,” said Akiko Iwasaki, Sterling Professor of Immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and co-senior author of the study published Feb. 19 as a preprint on medRxiv. “But this is giving us some hope that there may be something that we can use for diagnosis and treatment of PVS down the road.”
Some of the most common chronic symptoms of PVS include exercise intolerance, excessive fatigue, brain fog, insomnia, and dizziness. They develop shortly after vaccination, within a day or two, can become more severe in the days that follow, and persist over time. More studies are needed to understand the prevalence of PVS.
“It’s clear that some individuals are experiencing significant challenges after vaccination. Our responsibility as scientists and clinicians is to listen to their experiences, rigorously investigate the underlying causes, and seek ways to help,” said Harlan Krumholz, the Harold H. Hines, Jr. Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at YSM and co-senior author of the study.
Data for the study came from Yale’s Listen to Immune, Symptom, and Treatment Experiences Now (LISTEN) Study, through which researchers aim to better understand long COVID and PVS. For the new study, researchers included data from 42 LISTEN participants who reported symptoms of PVS and 22 individuals who did not report any PVS symptoms after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.
It’s a journey, Best Wishes for Your Journey!
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1 ReactionI am one of those who sleep very little. Usually waking up every 90 min. Using medication has enabled me to some nights go back to sleep. I’ve seen sleep specialists, been on various meds but it makes little difference other than mostly being able to go back to sleep. Currently on 150 mg of trazadone but don’t like the side affects. I’ve been this way most of my adult life (78 years) and don’t expect it to change.
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4 ReactionsI don’t think I’ve slept well since my 20’s and I’m in my 70’s now, I tried a few sleep meds many years ago but eventually I just learned to live with it. I truly envy people who sleep soundly for 7-8 hours especially if it’s natural sleep, not drug induced because eventually they wear off in effectiveness and then you have to find another medication, in all seriousness I’m phobic about meds and it can be very difficult for me when I have a problem, unfortunately the only medication I took over 20 years ago was Ativan and now we know all about that drug and others like it, I truly don’t want to go through this anymore if I can help it, however I do use cannabis gummies or RSO and they help me get sleep but it’s not perfect, I still wake up several times a night.
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1 ReactionAmbien worked very well for me for 15 years and then it stopped being effective. Now taking .5 mg to 1 mg and lorazepam and don’t sleep as well as I did with the Ambien. I would go back to taking it in a heartbeat if it worked; Many posters on this site say that once it quit working for them, it never did again.
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1 Reaction@roxiesmom13
I have just started taking Trazadone so am wondering what side effects
are you experiencing?? K
Hello, I'm so sorry... it is hell to not get proper sleep. And when you don't get proper sleep, it makes your whole life hell. I wish doctors weren't so against prescribing benzodiazepines for sleep because I'd suggest upping the Lorazepam to 1-1.5 mg per night, or switching the Lorazepam (Ativan) to Flurazepam. Flurazepam is THE BEST sleep medication ever. It would work if you could convince your doctor to let you try it. I used it and took 15mg some nights and 30mg other nights. If your doctor won't up your Ativan or let you try Flurazepam, then you should try Ambien. It works great for many people. But for someone like you having extreme difficulty getting sleep, and your doctor isn't willing to prescribe something that will most likely work very well for you, Flurazepam,..... SHAME ON HIM OR HER! You are obviously suffering severely because of this problem and a doctor who isn't willing to let you try a medication that might help you, is in my mind a bad doctor. I also take Amitriptyline 30mg. along with the Lorazepam. Adding Amitriptyline may help you, but if I were you, I'd push to get the Flurazepam. Good luck to you. 🙏❤
@frouke any medication that helps someone get proper sleep is worth taking in my opinion. Because sleep is extremely important for a person's overall health. Fact.
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