Alternative to Benzos for Sleep

[Anon54]

I can take as many benzos as I like. but I still dont get any help with sleeping.
it's good being calm & all but i dont think even temazepam is any good for sleeping.

What other alternatives sleep prescription sleep meds are good for treatig insomnia?

I think Phenergan (prometazine) otc is way more sedating than temazepam

as for the antipsychotics... Ive tried Seroquel 150mg. These tablets can come in an insane 300mg dosage & i had to stagger myself straight to bed.
A small dose of olanzepine, another antipyschotic, 5mg (they actuyally can come in 20mg) gets me to sleep way more than temazepam. yet it hs a mild hangover. But atleast ya dont build a tolerance

just wated to let ppl no that benzos arnt really practical for insomnia with the exception of temazepam in insane amounts imo when theres so many other scripts ya can get with repeats.
valium can make me mildly drowsy but generally gives me more energy to do stuff. As for Xanax. I used to exercise after taking & often could run further. Being calm helps me stay on task.

what other meds do u think are good for getting ya to sleep & not just making ya mildly calmer.

 

[purple_cloud]

OP, I'm going to change the title of the thread so it is more specific for what you are asking about.


But, to answer your question, have you tried the z-drugs? I don't get along with them well (zolpidem is ambien, zopiclone is the other one) but a lot of people say they are very helpful for sleep, and that's what they are marketed for if you are looking for something prescription.

I've heard positive things about doxylamine which is OTC (here in the US anyway) and find diphenhydramine to be helpful, which is also OTC here.

There are also natural routes, but if you are interested in those, I will send this thread to Healthy Living since it would belong more there.


EDIT: As wooger pointed out below, I forgot about trazodone, that seemed to help. So did risperidal last night, and flexeril has in the past, but an antipsychotic and a muscle relaxer are probably not prescriptions you should rely on for sleeping.

 

[wooger]

I know what you mean about benzos being poor for sleep. It's just the people gain tolerence to the hypnotic effects pretty quickly so they are no good after a couple weeks max.

I think mirtazapine and trazodone are both pretty sedating

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

I would stick with promethezine and z-drugs. Preferably in combination. It works wonders for me.

 

[Anon54]

I just find it strange how ppl seek benzos for sleep. if they have a real insomna problem. not anxiety. they've probably be better off getting some doxlamine, diphenhydramine or promethazine. (I personally didnt find doxylamine very sedating.
.. just trying to help out the ppl who think the only cure to insomna is taken mas about of benzos. (dont hafve to worrt about addiction) I mean i actually prefer to take benzos in the morning.

I know what you mean about benzos being poor for sleep. It's just the people gain tolerence to the hypnotic effects pretty quickly so they are no good after a couple weeks max.

I think mirtazapine and trazodone are both pretty sedating

mirtazepine did not make me sedated. yet to try trazodone. an other TCA I guess. More sedating than mirtazepine? (mirtazepine made me feel weird & wasnt as sedating as the otc stuff)

first time i took phenergam, box said 25-75mg. took 75 & couldnt keep my eyes open
if i new about promethaze a long time ago it would have saved me alot of sleeples nights. i think i read somewhere that its actually about equivelent mg to mg to Seroquel with sedation
btw if anyone didnt know phenergan is actually a weak antipychotic.

 

[psychedelic muffin]

Weed and a little alcohol work for most people but loses effectivness after a while. I used to use a vitamin store cocktail of valerian, melatonin, and kava plus some weed mixed with jwh-250. IME, anti-histamines make sleeping harder. Z-drugs would probably be best if you can get them from your doctor. And if your really desperate, you can try some gbl.

 

[BanginMyLifeAway]

personally benzos work good for me for sleeping..actuallys likes one of the few things that actually work

but u should try ambien or lunesta i know people who use both for sleep and they seem to work

 

[halfoz]

i asked my doc for a new insomnia solution cause lunesta was kinda hit or miss, and i can't have ambien or benzos around without bingeing.

so he put me on zanaflex. tonight is night #2 on it. its got me a little drowsy right now. last night i remember having some pretty freaky visuals once i closed my eyes. my overall impression isn't super favorable.

i'd love to try something that totally knocked me on my ass, and its sounding like Seroquel is the only real option, other than high dose zolpidem or benzos.

one time in my life, despite many attempts, i got an effect from kava (from a fricken jamba juice kava smoothie) and that one time i just quietly drifted off to sleep. was nice.

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

Benzodiazepines are not enough for me to get to sleep either. I need like 150mg of temazepam or 2mg of triazolam to get to sleep. Basically they just relax me, feel comfortable laying in bed but I won't pass out. I need anti-psychotics to get myself some good nights sleep. 4mg Risperidone/150mg Seroquel but the following day sucks so don't always think like its worth it.

 

[purple_cloud]

Benzodiazepines are not enough for me to get to sleep either. I need like 150mg of temazepam or 2mg of triazolam to get to sleep. Basically they just relax me, feel comfortable laying in bed but I won't pass out. I need anti-psychotics to get myself some good nights sleep. 4mg Risperidone/150mg Seroquel but the following day sucks so don't always think like its worth it.

Don't mean to derail, but I had a horrendous "lay in bed lethargic unable to move but not able to actually sleep just restless" reaction to 50mg XR the only time I took it, but last night I took .5mg Risperidone for the first time and I must say, I didn't feel any hangover effects and I thought it was pretty effective for sleep (also taken with low dose of benzo, and some diphenhydramine several hours previous). Maybe such a low dose is effective for sleep without poor side effects?

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

Don't mean to derail, but I had a horrendous "lay in bed lethargic unable to move but not able to actually sleep just restless" reaction to 50mg XR the only time I took it, but last night I took .5mg Risperidone for the first time and I must say, I didn't feel any hangover effects and I thought it was pretty effective for sleep (also taken with low dose of benzo, and some diphenhydramine several hours previous). Maybe such a low dose is effective for sleep without poor side effects?

The XR Seroquel absolutely blow for getting to sleep, you need the instant release and those work at doses around 100mg.

I need high doses of Risperidone because I have been on it forever for sleep.

 

[Anon54]

K'd out. i seen a chart stating sedating levels of antipychotics.
risperedone scored only one star
seroquel & Zyprexa scored 2 stars
& clozapine scored a massive 4 stars. (clozapine isnt recommended because it has to be closely monitored by drs)
zyprexa lasts alot longer than seroquel which is anoying because i only want it to last 8 hrs.
& seroquel is just plain weird. it can actually give mild visuals. it actually gets ya pretty wasted before ya get to bed. i dunno what to compare it too. just really dizzy like ya have a few cones while drunk.

but anyways i know what ya talking about K'd out. benzos barely do shit too me. i can take a handful of any of em & it actually gets me up & about doing house work.

do u have a favourite antipychotic? i take zyprexa. but it certainly has its side effects. but my sleep pattern is regular now & the hangover is mild. nothing like alcohol which fucks me right up.

 

[laCster]

lyrica...

"Usually physicians will start the patient on a low dose of pregabalin and increase it gradually, depending on the patient's evaluation. Its therapeutic effect appears after 1 week of use and is similar in effectiveness to lorazepam, alprazolam and venlafaxine but pregabalin has demonstrated superiority by producing more consistent therapeutic effects for psychic and somatic anxiety symptoms. Long-term trials have shown continued effectiveness without the development of tolerance and additionally unlike benzodiazepines it does not disrupt sleep architecture and produces less severe cognitive and psychomotor impairment; it also has a low potential for abuse and dependence and may be preferred over the benzodiazepines for these reasons.[13][14]"

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyrica

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

K'd out. i seen a chart stating sedating levels of antipychotics.
risperedone scored only one star
seroquel & Zyprexa scored too
& clozapine scored a massive 4 stars. (clozapine isnt recommended because it has to be closely monitored by drs)
zyprexa lasts alot longer than seroquel which is anoying because i only want it to last 8 hrs.
& seroquel is just plain weird. it can actually give mild visuals. it actually gets ya pretty wasted before ya get to bed. i dunno what to compare it too. just really dizzy like ya have a few cones while drunk.

but anyways i know what ya talking about K'd out. benzos barely do shit too me. i can take a handful of any of em & it actually gets me up & about doing house work.

do u have a favourite antipychotic? i take zyprexa. but it certainly has its side effects. but my sleep pattern is regular now & the hangover is mild. nothing like alcohol which fucks me right up.

I don't have a favorite anti-psychotic because I hate them all. I wish I didn't have to take them but they are the only thing that gets me to sleep. Respiridone is what I'm prescribed. My doctor just changed tried me on Seroquel XR and it was horrible, I got terrible uncontrollable muscle problems, twitches, spasms. So I went back on Respiridone. I was able to get to sleep with the regular Seroquel at only 100mg awhile a go. I think the smaller doses are better for sleep than the higher doses. I've tried Zyprexa and it didn't really work, also I had problems with weight gain. I gained so much weight in such a short period. I don't have problems sleeping with the Respiridone combined with Lyrica.

 

[Anon54]

^^i hate antipychotics too. but like u said they the only thing that gets me to sleep.
just wondering which one u hate the least. lol
im taking 5mg zyprexa & according to wiki it lasts the longest compared to the other.
seroquel doesnt last as long but its effects are weird. makes me dizzy & stagger around.
promethazein which is otc hasnt got as many side effects but isnt as strong.

I might look into Pregabalin (lyrica) thx to the advice of laCster. sounds promising. (i little to good to be true)

quoted from wikipedia

Its therapeutic effect appears after 1 week of use and is similar in effectiveness to lorazepam, alprazolam and venlafaxine but pregabalin has demonstrated superiority by producing more consistent therapeutic effects for psychic and somatic anxiety symptoms. Long-term trials have shown continued effectiveness without the development of tolerance and additionally unlike benzodiazepines it does not disrupt sleep architecture and produces less severe cognitive and psychomotor impairment; it also has a low potential for abuse and dependence and may be preferred over the benzodiazepines for these reasons

anyone have any experience with this stuff. how does it compare with benzos?
if it compars with benzos it must be recreational somewhat. even though im not looking for recreational use. but the amounts of benzos i need just to feel a little bit more normal most peopl would consiter to be recreational

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

^^i hate antipychotics too. but like u said they the only thing that gets me to sleep.
just wondering which one u hate the least. lol
im taking 5mg zyprexa & according to wiki it lasts the longest compared to the other.
seroquel doesnt last as long but its effects are weird. makes me dizzy & stagger around.
promethazein which is otc hasnt got as many side effects but isnt as strong.

I might look into Pregabalin (lyrica) thx to the advice of laCster. sounds promising. (i little to good to be true)

quoted from wikipedia


anyone have any experience with this stuff. how does it compare with benzos?
if it compars with benzos it must be recreational somewhat. even though im not looking for recreational use. but the amounts of benzos i need just to feel a little bit more normal most peopl would consiter to be recreational

Yes I have much experience with Lyrica, in fact I'm prescribed 600mg. However, I've become tolerant so don't get most of the effects anymore. It is incredible for anxiety and still is. It also works for depression and helps with sleep when you start off on it. Once you reach the right dose, mine was 450mg, the effects are favorable to benzodiazepines. Its quite euphoric, colors become brighter, incredible mood lift, potential hallucinations, overwhelming empathy, release of inhibitions, feeling like you want to socialize, slightly drunk. These are all possible effects. In fact one of the side effects listed in ads is "feeling high". You need to find the right dose which can be different for many. Of course you do become tolerant to these effects and tolerance can increase quickly. Benzodiazepines are slightly more sedating.

 

[Anon54]

Does Pregabalin have any recreational value?

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

Does Pregabalin have any recreational value?

As I JUST mentioned above, yes. Unless you don't think the things I listed are fun.

 

[Anon54]

and its stronger than gabapentin?
im gunna ask my dr about it.

 

[Anon54]

dont worry i got my answer. quoted from wiki

Parke-Davis developed a drug called pregabalin to be a successor of gabapentin,[1] which was brought to market by Pfizer as Lyrica after they acquired Warner-Lambert. Pregabalin is related in structure to gabapentin and is approved for treatment of epilepsy, neuropathic pain associated with diabetes, fibromyalgia, post-herpetic neuralgia, and generalized anxiety disorder. Compared to gabapentin, pregabalin is more potent, absorbs faster and has greater bioavailability. Higher potency means that less of the medication is required for the same effect. This does not necessarily result in fewer side effects.