Sleep is screwed

WiredBastard

Greenlighter
Joined
Apr 30, 2011
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3
Been taking Benzos for a LONG time, first for anxiety, then to help me sleep. I was on 2mg Ativan as required for quite a while, then started to use for sleep at 4mg for a couple of years. This worked pretty well, but got very addictive. I switched to Klonipin, which worked for a while but now is not very effective. Most recent choice is Zopiclone, but it only keeps me out for a few hours, then I have to take another. After about three days the effect of the Z starts to wear off. Although the Z has given me the better sleep than the Benzos. I was looking for something to do me for the days between the Z, so I tried Phenibut. It worked the first couple of times, but now it just leaves me buzzed and awake all night.

Apart from cold turkey, any ideas on a mix that will do me between the Z cycles? I've tried Melatonin and all the other crap, but it has ZERO effect on me.
 
I don't have any ideas for you but be careful with those gaba drugs because after awhile they will all stop working altogether and that is when the fun really starts
 
Is there something in particular that keeps you awake? Anxiety perhaps? I go through periods of terrible sleep because I'll start thinking nonstop once I lay down, even though I'm tired my brain keeps going. Then the later it gets the more agitated I get which makes it worse. So the better I'm able to manage my stress the better sleep I get.

Coffee/nicotine also can cause problems...

Meditate before sleep? Calms the mind/body.
 
Is there something in particular that keeps you awake? Anxiety perhaps? I go through periods of terrible sleep because I'll start thinking nonstop once I lay down, even though I'm tired my brain keeps going. Then the later it gets the more agitated I get which makes it worse. So the better I'm able to manage my stress the better sleep I get.

Coffee/nicotine also can cause problems...

Meditate before sleep? Calms the mind/body.

Don't smoke or do Coffee, salt or sugar. I have Tea on the weekends, but always in the early AM. I imagine there's some depression in the mix, but Amitryipline just makes me groggy and grumpy; does nothing for my sleep. I think the biggest problem is the dependency. Work is not an issue, too dull if anything.

I had a sleep study a few years back and they said I had mild apnea, but I got so little REM sleep (Ativan) that they could not diagnose me. I have sleep onset, sleep duration and sleep quality issues, so I doubt it's just apnea.
 
I don't have any ideas for you but be careful with those gaba drugs because after awhile they will all stop working altogether and that is when the fun really starts

Thanks, I'm almost there now. I was hoping that cycling my choices would help, by I assume they are all cross tolerant.
 
Alright well good luck man. Sleep is a complicated thing there can be so many things affecting it. It can be very frustrating and disruptive when there is no energy the day after from lack of sleep. Wish I had an answer :S
 
There are a few antidepressants that are more used as sleep aids than as ADs. Trazadone and mirtazapine are the two most common ones in my area. You might ask your doctor about those.

One friend got over sleep problems by if he missed his proper sleep period he'd stay up 24 hrs til the next proper sleep period but that approach has its own hazards and tends to result in a pretty nonfunctional day here and there.
 
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