So I'm on day 5 off of opioids. I think I've stabilized and found a good point with my sub dosage, although I'm tapering down rather quickly since I appear to be over the ceiling effect.
Anyway, my opioid use was due to severe back pain. About 2 hours before bed I'd take 20mg of valium and then I was also taking either 700mg of Soma or 20mg of baclofen at night for pain relief/sleep. I'd alternate (found they worked most effectively if I didn't take them two nights in a row). I also took 3mg of melatonin and some valerian root.
I'm still doing the same now that I'm on the subs. I used to crash PRETTY hard, falling asleep in bed with my phone in my hand, head down...wife walking in telling me to put my phone/magazine away and go to sleep etc... That's not happening now, but I am getting very sleepy/drowsy...certainly enough that I can close my eyes and be asleep in less than 3 minutes.
So two questions:
1. I'd like to taper down all of the night time pills. I'm thinking of dropping 1 of the 4 for a few days, then 2 etc..., something like that. But sleepless nights and/or not being able to fall asleep are not something I'm really excited about.
2. I find myself frequently waking up sometime between 4-7 (I like to wake up at 8). If it's between 4-5 I'll take 1/2 melatonin and fall back asleep but wake up pretty tired. Outside of that, once I'm up I can't seem to fall back to sleep. Is this commong when switching to subs (even though I'm takings SO MUCH meds at night)? If so will it go away?
Any help is, as always, appreciated.
Anyway, my opioid use was due to severe back pain. About 2 hours before bed I'd take 20mg of valium and then I was also taking either 700mg of Soma or 20mg of baclofen at night for pain relief/sleep. I'd alternate (found they worked most effectively if I didn't take them two nights in a row). I also took 3mg of melatonin and some valerian root.
I'm still doing the same now that I'm on the subs. I used to crash PRETTY hard, falling asleep in bed with my phone in my hand, head down...wife walking in telling me to put my phone/magazine away and go to sleep etc... That's not happening now, but I am getting very sleepy/drowsy...certainly enough that I can close my eyes and be asleep in less than 3 minutes.
So two questions:
1. I'd like to taper down all of the night time pills. I'm thinking of dropping 1 of the 4 for a few days, then 2 etc..., something like that. But sleepless nights and/or not being able to fall asleep are not something I'm really excited about.
2. I find myself frequently waking up sometime between 4-7 (I like to wake up at 8). If it's between 4-5 I'll take 1/2 melatonin and fall back asleep but wake up pretty tired. Outside of that, once I'm up I can't seem to fall back to sleep. Is this commong when switching to subs (even though I'm takings SO MUCH meds at night)? If so will it go away?
Any help is, as always, appreciated.
