• 💊 OTHER DRUGS 💊 Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules
    Notable Threads 1 Notable Threads 2
    Dangerous Combos Addiction Support
    Emergency Services Benzo Guide v.1
    Addiction Stories Scary Case Studies
    Biology, Pharmacology & Drugs 101
  • Select Your Topic Then Scroll Down
    Alcohol Bupe Benzos
    Cocaine Heroin Opioids
    RCs Stimulants Misc
    Harm Reduction All Topics Gabapentinoids
    Tired of your habit? Struggling to cope?
    Want to regain control or get sober?
    Visit our Recovery Support Forums

Benzos I really need some advice asap. I am having BAD insomnia...

B

BASEjumper

Bluelighter
Joined
Oct 1, 2008
Messages
86
I know that there is another thread about sleeping issues on this page, but I have a different question that I really need an answer too, as I will be talking with my doctor tonight and I need suggestions to maybe help him help me because we cannot seem to find a solution between the two of us (I called him and left a message because I really need some help - It is kind of an emergency).

Over the past two years I have been prescribed the following Benzos:

1. Xanax XR (which I am currently taking 1.5 mgs @ PM)
2. Klonopin (1.5 mgs @ PM)
3. Ativan (can't remember the dosage)
4. Valium (5-10 mgs @ PM)

Xanax makes me SLIGHTLY sleepy. Ever so slightly. Klonopin seems to leave me in some kind of a very mildly happy trance but I don't feel tired from it, so I switched to Xanax XR recently.

I have known my Doctor for about 4 years now and I have also been prescribed up to 200 mgs of Seroquel @ PM. This was in 2006 and I stopped taking it because I felt devoid of any kind of emotion which was absolute hell. I despise that drug. I am currently also taking 2-3 mgs of Fluphenazine @ PM with the Xanax XR. It still does not make me tired. I have tried Ambien and I felt nothing whatsoever. I took four of them and still it did nothing. I know Ambien has a cross tolerance with Benzos so that is probably why I do not feel it at all.

Is there a stronger Benzodiazepine that I have not heard of which would just zonk me out until I am asleep? I just want to wake up and feel rested. I am having mild hallucinations out of the corners of my eyes I am so tired. I just cannot sleep it is awful...
 
if benzos aren't working for you, more/stronger benzos might not be the best idea, considering it would be just a matter of time before the next benzo you try loses it's effectiveness.

The best sleep aid I've found is exercise. Also go to sleep at the same time every night, remove media devices from your bedroom (so subconsciously the bedroom= sleep/sex and nothing else, no distractions).

I'm sure someone else can give you a list of stronger benzos/sleep aids but IMO/IME the healthy alternatives are well uhhh healthier than more drugs. After my dad died, and I had trouble sleeping, I used a cocktail of melotonin, benadryl and sleepy time tea which worked good for me. Soma might also be a drug of interest for you.

but overall exercise FTW.
 
dankstersauce said:
if benzos aren't working for you, more/stronger benzos might not be the best idea, considering it would be just a matter of time before the next benzo you try loses it's effectiveness.

The best sleep aid I've found is exercise. Also go to sleep at the same time every night, remove media devices from your bedroom (so subconsciously the bedroom= sleep/sex and nothing else, no distractions).

I'm sure someone else can give you a list of stronger benzos/sleep aids but IMO/IME the healthy alternatives are well uhhh healthier than more drugs. After my dad died, and I had trouble sleeping, I used a cocktail of melotonin, benadryl and sleepy time tea which worked good for me. Soma might also be a drug of interest for you.

but overall exercise FTW.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Those are some excellent suggestions. I will start exercising more often and hopefully it will help. I have thought about the stronger benzo deal and I know my tolerance will just go up and it will not be as effective just like all the other benzos... You have found Soma to help? I forgot to mention that I have also been taking 3mgs of chewable, fast absorbing Melatonin at night, along with the 1.5 mgs of Xanax XR and 2-3 mgs of Fluphenazine.
 
I don't know if soma helps me sleep (by itself) but it definately relaxes me and calms my nerves. Between being a full time student, having a part time job and just life in general, I don't have much trouble sleeping, unless I've been using uppers, or if i'm really high on hydrocodone/oxycodone/suboxone.

heres what addicts think is the strongest benzo:
http://forum.opiophile.org/showthread.php?t=1122

oh yeah, another one that definately helps me sleep is gabapentin. (i should add that gabapentin didn't have too many nasty side effects IME) trazadone is ok, but IME the hangover (similar to seroquel) wasn't worth it. But if you haven't tried it benadryl aka Diphenhydramine worked great for me. IME it had the least side effects and provided the best sleep (at least in regards to non-prescribed meds).
 
Is gabapetin OTC or prescription? I've never heard of it. I will wikipedia it real quick.
 
Doxylamine Succinate is OTC and it really puts me out, unlike any other antihistamine ive had. Perhaps try it?
 
I haven't heard of it but I am open to anything right now. I just want to sleep. I can't function well right now at all. Thank you for the suggestion, I will check that one out!
 
Temazepam 30 mg's at night is what I take and it gives me a GREAT nights sleep. It's a rather strong benzo that falls into the category of Hypnotic Benzos for it's heaviness. Its a Hypnotic Benzo strictly for sleeping. I love it. I was also on 4 mg's of Klonopin during the daytime as it did nothing for me in terns of sleep so that should give you an idea that its not like other benzos. It really is unique to itself. 30mg's at night and within 30 min im asleep and I sleep the whole night through. Temazepam is the generic name and the brand name is "Restoril"
 
Doxy Succinate is good stuff.

They put it in your standard red nyquil. Doesnt mess with your head like benadryl either. I find you fall asleep more mellow.

I use Zolpidem (Ambien) for some of my sleep issues, but its a little wacky if you take more than you should.
 
TheDankaholic said:
Temazepam 30 mg's at night is what I take and it gives me a GREAT nights sleep. It's a rather strong benzo that falls into the category of Hypnotic Benzos for it's heaviness. Its a Hypnotic Benzo strictly for sleeping. I love it. I was also on 4 mg's of Klonopin during the daytime as it did nothing for me in terns of sleep so that should give you an idea that its not like other benzos. It really is unique to itself. 30mg's at night and within 30 min im asleep and I sleep the whole night through. Temazepam is the generic name and the brand name is "Restoril"
Click to expand...

Dankaholic - It was difficult for me to get even 1.5 mgs of Xanax XR a day. My doctor didn't even want to give me that much. I was taking 1.5 mgs of Klonopin a day at the maximum dosage. How are you prescribed 4 mgs + 30 mgs of Temazepam?
 
i take nitrazepam 5mg and find it works a treat. Temaz's don't do it for me. The best tip i can give you is only take them when you really need them as tolerance builds real fast. I've been taking them for years and they still work for me as a don't take them every night.
 
^ 5mg of nitrazepam is a small dose IMHO. 15mg is an alright knock-out dose for someone without much of a benzo tolerance. If 5mg works for you, that's awesome.

I agree that if the 4 benzos you're taking now aren't working, trying more benzos isn't the best idea. If I were you I'd consider taking something else (melatonin, anti-histamines, etc)., or you could try to make physical behavior changes like exercising for a few hours during the day so you will be more tired at the end of the day. You also want to follow all the standard rules to help you sleep. For example, only use your bedroom for sleeping and nothing else. Don't watch TV past a certain point. Read a book to make your eyes tired. There are tons of little things you can do that can help.

What do you think might be the cause of your insomnia? Drugs can knock you out, but they obviously aren't going to fix the underlying problem. All that will happen is that you'll become dependent on sleep aids. I've been there for years. It may be that you're already dependent on sleeping meds but he current pills you're taking are no longer helping you pass out.
 
yeah 5mg does the trick for me whereas i can take loads of temazepam and it won't make me sleep. I've tried all sorts as well. I wonder why this one-nitrazepam- works so well for me?
 
sonic said:
What do you think might be the cause of your insomnia? Drugs can knock you out, but they obviously aren't going to fix the underlying problem. All that will happen is that you'll become dependent on sleep aids. I've been there for years. It may be that you're already dependent on sleeping meds but he current pills you're taking are no longer helping you pass out.
Click to expand...

I am almost positive that it is the massive amount of stress on me over the past few weeks. I have a disorder that causes medium to severe mood swings (starts with a "B") and stress has a drastic effect on me. I talked with my doctor tonight and we discussed what was going on, and came to the conclusion that I was having a hypomanic episode brought on by stress. He called in some Ativan for me, which I took about 45 minutes ago. It hit me within 5 minutes and now I am headed to bed to pass out. I can't wait.
 
Do some research on Kava Kava. It's what I did and just decided to order some yesterday.

Good luck!
 
all the benzos you've tried are anxiolytics... made to prevent anxiety... what you need is a hypnotic (temazepam, lormetazepam, loprazolam, flunitrazepam) are amongst the strongest which will get you to sleep and keep you asleep for a night.... but these are only meaant to be short term solutions... insomnia is often caused by an underlying psychological condition.. are you in therapy... you should think about it... otherwise anti-histamines like doxylamine, diphenhydramine are more safe than benzos not as addictive... by far... try these before you jump into a hypnotic benzo addiction...
 
Besides Ativan, NONE of the benzo's you listed are used for sleep. Who's your doctor? Clearly they have no idea what they are doing. Maybe you should try something thats NOT a benzo for once?
'
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top