Insomnia while on benzos and opiates

[AdOgG0911]

Opiates may add to the insomnia, as mentioned above. Vicodin and Oxycodone actually wire me, as opposed to sedation.

i find the same thing, if you can i'd try to lay off the opiates near bedtime. that may not be possible for you though if you need them for pain

 

[slaugh]

I often suffer from acute insomnia while on my script of Oxys/Percocet/Soma. I usually take a 100mg trazodone or some Restoril (temazepam). Watch out though, Restoril really fucks me up and I always get a hangover from taking it.

what about reladorm or radedorm?

 

[Cap'n Jay]

Trazodone.

 

[nabollocks]

I would seriously start looking at getting off the benzos and onto a sedating antihistamine such as Mirtazapine. (Which was suggested by caizar)

Even 7.5mg will knock you out for a good 8+ hours.

It is far better than a benzo, and at the end you can just stop using it. Few side effects are experienced and it is quite a good antidepressant.

The only real side effect is weight gain.

Mirtazapine is superior to benzodiazepines for sleep.

You will need to speak to your doctor about it, but seeing the drugs you are already prescribed.. this should not be a problem.

You may even find that the antihistamine properties of Mirtazapine actually reduce your pain in combination with your painkillers.

You should think about it at least.

 

[Dankycodone]

what about reladorm or radedorm?

I get radedorm easily at the pharm otc here. I have heard about reladrom never asked the phramacist it's a combo of diazapem and a barbiutrate? Do you know which barbiturate it is? And is is sold just freely like other benzo's or scripted?? Only hypnotic here that is scripted I know of is Ivadal(ambien)

 

[Social Suicide]

The best thing I can think of for insomnia is good old marijuana.

 

[Cerp]

As many have stated, more drugs are not the answer here.

This might sound weird, but if your problem is that when you try to sleep you start thinking of many things it may help. I don't have PTSD, but when my head hits the pillow my mind starts racing and it won't stop.

My suggestion is try listening to a talk radio show (on low volume of course) while you try and sleep. This can help your mind from going crazy and will help you focus on one thought: the radio program. Check your local broadcasts for something that interests you. If you can't find anything good, try going the podcast route. Like I said I know it's weird and may not work for everyone, but it is something to try.

Goodluck

 

[phatass]

i'm in a similar situation, i have diazepam, mephenisine and meprobamate... which should help with sleeping, but i think due to tolerance it just doesn't work anymore... to make things worse i'm w/d off methadone, and can't get under 5 mg's, its just too painfull in my muscles and i can't sleep (i've had insomnia since i was young) the Mdone w/d just exacerbates the symptoms of insomnia

 

[drapedup]

seroquel works the best for me. hands down. the only problem is it sometimes makes me sleep TOO well. i take it at night, and I'm on 100mg daily methadone which often causes horrible insomnia. or very restless sleep.

 

[motiv311]

opiates keep me up fo dayz somttimes

 

[Devonn]

Hi,

When insomnia is caused by certain short term event, the effects might likely go away after the emotional trauma which causes it has dissipated away. Drinking a warm glass of milk has been proven to be effective insomnia solution throughout the years.

 

[Cuprum]

Try reducing the opiates. For me opiates almost cause me insomnia. Im able to sleep on them, but it's a weird sleep. I dream alot, i tend to only dream realistic, mundane everyday-scenarios on opiates, wake up and then fall asleep again, new dream and so forth. Alot of awakenings through the night.
Feels like you get no deep sleep, you sleep in a state of semi-sleep.

That's atleast how i sleep on opi's, could be worth looking into?

 

[drapedup]

Try reducing the opiates. For me opiates almost cause me insomnia. Im able to sleep on them, but it's a weird sleep. I dream alot, i tend to only dream realistic, mundane everyday-scenarios on opiates, wake up and then fall asleep again, new dream and so forth. Alot of awakenings through the night.
Feels like you get no deep sleep, you sleep in a state of semi-sleep.

That's atleast how i sleep on opi's, could be worth looking into?

You're not alone; the exact same thing happens to me on my methadone.

I fall asleep very easily, however I wake up every 30 minutes and have constant realistic dreams about the things that happened the day before, etc.

It's a very restless sleep. I wake up in the morning and feel like I haven't slept at all. What opiates are you on? I used to use hydrocodone and oxycodone in very large amounts, but methadone causes far worse insomnia than I have ever experienced from anything else. Oh - exercise does help, but on high doses of methadone sometimes exercise isn't possible due to side effects, especially later in the day when the immediate pain relieving effects have worn off. The standard OTC simply sleep helps me a little bit, but seroquel is the only thing that keeps me truly knocked out. I just have a very hard time waking up, so I rarely take it.

Insomnia sucks...

 

[Cuprum]

You're not alone; the exact same thing happens to me on my methadone.

I fall asleep very easily, however I wake up every 30 minutes and have constant realistic dreams about the things that happened the day before, etc.

It's a very restless sleep. I wake up in the morning and feel like I haven't slept at all. What opiates are you on? I used to use hydrocodone and oxycodone in very large amounts, but methadone causes far worse insomnia than I have ever experienced from anything else. Oh - exercise does help, but on high doses of methadone sometimes exercise isn't possible due to side effects, especially later in the day when the immediate pain relieving effects have worn off. The standard OTC simply sleep helps me a little bit, but seroquel is the only thing that keeps me truly knocked out. I just have a very hard time waking up, so I rarely take it.

Insomnia sucks...

Oxycodone and tramadol. Never used them at the same time though.
Tramadol is exceptionally bad, because of it's direct stimulant properties (works also as a SNRI) and the long half-life (6 hours).
But oxycodone screws up my sleep similarly to tramadol, except i fall asleep easier on oxy.

 

[Cuprum]

You're not alone; the exact same thing happens to me on my methadone.

I fall asleep very easily, however I wake up every 30 minutes and have constant realistic dreams about the things that happened the day before, etc.

It's a very restless sleep. I wake up in the morning and feel like I haven't slept at all. What opiates are you on? I used to use hydrocodone and oxycodone in very large amounts, but methadone causes far worse insomnia than I have ever experienced from anything else. Oh - exercise does help, but on high doses of methadone sometimes exercise isn't possible due to side effects, especially later in the day when the immediate pain relieving effects have worn off. The standard OTC simply sleep helps me a little bit, but seroquel is the only thing that keeps me truly knocked out. I just have a very hard time waking up, so I rarely take it.

Insomnia sucks...

Oxycodone and tramadol. Never use them together though.
Tramadol is exceptionally bad, because of it's direct stimulant properties (works also as a SNRI) and the long half-life (6 hours).
But oxycodone screws up my sleep similarly to tramadol, except i fall asleep easier on oxy.

 

[hexxx]

For extremely bad insomnia where high dose opiates (fent) and benzos (midazolam,oxazepam,clonazepam,alprazolam) as well as Lyrica were involved, the only thing that worked for me was Trazadone+Seroquel+zopiclone (concurrent). Elavil in place of the trazadone also worked - I stopped the benzos while on this mix. It is a last resort option as I was already so impaired by sleep depr. it didnt matter that I was groggy the next day - better than going for 3-5 nights no sleep in severe pain.

You may find that putting those extra waking hours to use will keep ur mind off the root of the problem, increase your productivity and allow a natural cycle to re-establish (even if its phase delayed its better than accute insomnia)

Normally Id also reccomend some weed but PTSD + weed doesnt sound like a good combo. Good luck (if u havent found relief in the past 3 months after the Op)

 

[Sentience]

Valerian Root at higher doses (1 gram) knocks me out pretty well, but it doesn't sound like too much of a grand idea adding another sedative to your regimen.

Valarian + benzos = bad news. I learned this the hard way when I became over sedated just by 1mg of avitan and 1 squirt of valarian tincture. Its one of those combos were 1+1=12.

 

[Sentience]

Oxycodone and tramadol. Never use them together though.

What happens if you use them together? I have both in my possession.

Is it bad to have the tramadol in your system from the morning then take your oxy in the evening?

 

[Cuprum]

What happens if you use them together? I have both in my possession.

Is it bad to have the tramadol in your system from the morning then take your oxy in the evening?

Oh sorry it's a grammatical error. I was describing that I've never used them together before, i was not recommending that you shouldn't mix them in general.

 

[roadkill barbie]

Two benzodiazepines and two very potent opioids. Jesus almighty, whatever you do, don't abruptly stop your concoction of drugs, for a shotgun blast to the head would surely be more pleasant!

for insomnia:

Melatonin is a good first-line choice. It's an endogenous hormone, i.e. you won't get addicted to it.

Valerian Root at higher doses (1 gram) knocks me out pretty well, but it doesn't sound like too much of a grand idea adding another sedative to your regimen.

More radically, I recommend exercise! It makes your body want rest due to all the physical exertion.

edit: if you want a prescription drug I recommend Lunesta: it can be used near indefinitely if used properly (read this for more info: http://biopsychiatry.com/misc/lunesta.html)

Great advice, OK so this isn't just about meds but I think given what your already taking a few other suggestions aint gonna hurt from a fellow sufferer. Ive always had trouble sleeping usually to do with repeatedly thinking about past events, anyways alongside Valerian root don't eat for a good hour before you wanna go to sleep, and I find chamomile tea works wonders when stacking with other relaxers, Tryptophan being another (its the thing in turkey that makes us all doze off after christmas/thanksgiving lunch). If your anything like me the worst times for insomnia is when all is quiet, just you and your thoughts with no distractions so I have to have something on TV/ the net as a distraction,,, only somethings are bad distractions, like even when your tired you wouldnt want an action/guns movie etc -best thing here is foreign films with subtitles,, you know what they say about reading before bed,,well its like that but you can still follow the voices once u close your eyes without having to concentrate on the exact words, so it nicely melts into your own thoughts. Otherwise try the many hour long talks on youtube by a guy called Ajahm Brahm at BuddhistSocietyWA. You'll have to trust me on this one but seriously I aint a Buddhist myself,, most of his talks are just about learning to let go and love yourself - something I continue having problems with,, but that dudes just got the kinda voice and wisdom that takes a lot of my worries away, without the religious dogma, like I say I dont believe all Buddhism has to offer but those talks do help me relax. I also hear passiflora (passion flower) and Kava work well for some. As for ambient music if you can download some Biosphere LPs you wont be dissapointed. Gotta be honest sometimes if nothing else works bustin a nut helps. I too have an anxiety disorder and though in the UK its hard getting any decent CBT, NLP, even counselling is difficult depending on where you live,but I know theres a PTSD self help group near me cuz theres also an OCD group that helps with me in building a support network of peeps goin thru the same issues. Like I said Im not a buddhist and havent got a clue how to meditate other than through opiates but maybe you'll pick it up better than I can? A bath or shower usually calms me down a bit of a night to. Hope something in there helps bro - I've often wondered about PTSD myself, but even tho Im not diagnosed with it I have a head that just wont shut the f$*k up. Obviously theres the K drugs like klonopin but I've had better results from the herbals and finding the right audio to put my mind at ease.. I cant remember if your on an antidepressant like me but I found comin off ssri's for mirtazapine at night was a good sedator -as are the tricyclics,, well amytriptyline certainly worked for me to. Anyway, take it easy bro,, and check out the 'Insomnia thread' to. All the best mate