Long-term use of sleep meds

Posted by vsalvitti @vsalvitti, Nov 19, 2025

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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Profile picture for berekann @berekann

@granddame I sure wish I had an answer for you. When I started on Ambien, just a quarter or a half of a 5 mg tablet would put me to sleep. This summer I underwent a course of Flagyl & Cipro, which gave me a lot of anxiety & no alcohol.. So I was taking a half tablet of Ambien and then another quarter and another quarter but I kept waking up and felt miserable; even after I stopped those other drugs, it didn’t work. Right now I’m on lorazepam which works erratically. My doctor is switching me to trazodone; But I’m a bit leery because I tried it once and it took 2 1/2 hours to get to sleep. Will do it differently this time and hope it works. One of my friends takes Amtriptyline and says it’s the best sleep med he’s ever taken. Mirtazpine has also been recommended, but I’m concerned about some of the Side effects. 1.5 mg of Melatonin does help me, but after about three or four days, not as much. I’ve tried THC Gummies and CBD/CBN Gummies and neither one did much for me. Might try again in a larger dose.
Good luck & let me know if you find something that works for you

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@berekann thanks for your response.

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Profile picture for kayraymat @kayraymat

@granddame
What does your doctor recommend?

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@kayraymat I am going to talk to her about it soon.

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I have a friend who says when she wakes up in the middle of the night
& can't go back to sleep, she just considers it a gift of time to read.
Sometimes that works for me.
I would take anything the doctor recommends if it puts me to sleep,
as I agree that without sleep I have little motivation to do anything.
Maybe you can at least take a walk during the day rather than going to
the gym until you are in a better place. Good luck.
( try the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman 🙂

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I’ve posted twice on this forum and have read many posts regarding sleeplessness despite taking medications. After years of taking .5 Ativan, 59mg of Hydroxyzine Pamoate(Vistaril), some melatonin under the tongue and then having to add sleep gummies(cannabis) … all to no avail… I have come across a supplement that has me sleeping from 9:30/10:00 pm to 8;00/9:00am. I’m stunned by this. My therapist suggested a product by Qualia called ‘Night’ .
You take it earlier in evening as it’s not meant to make you drowsy. Along with this, I’ve discovered a supplement that contains 5-HTP( a form of
L-tryptophan, 250 mg of valerian root and 250mg of lemon balm. I also bought lemon balm tincture for under the tongue. The 5-HTP helps boost your bodies production of serotonin and ability to make natural melatonin while the valerian root quiets an active mind and lemon balm helps calm your body and not work to calm the nervous system.
I’ve taken it the last 3 nights and I sleep like I did 11 years ago. Getting up only to use the bathroom and falling right back asleep. What a difference it makes in my disposition and attitude toward the day.
I wanted to share my experience as I’m dumbfounded that something simple as a few natural supplements in right combination work. They work! I feel like my battle is over. AND no hungover feeling. I wake rested. It has always taken me a little while to really wake up and this is no different but it absolutely glorious to sleep through consecutive night.

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Ambien (Zolpidem) is a wonderful drug. It stops working after a while but all you have to do is take an Ambien Holiday for a day or so to reset your tolerance. I usually have to do this every 2 or 3 months.

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