Posted by Minnie-Haha on March 25, 2005, at 11:43:45
In reply to Why don't benzos help me get to sleep?, posted by jerrympls on March 24, 2005, at 19:52:28
> I suppose it's because of tolerance over the years - but I don't ever feel sedated from benzodiazapines. I'm having a horrific time with insomnia - and have for many years. I've been on 50-150mg of Seroquel for the past few years for sleep. The problem is that it works too well - I sleep through my alarms and sometimes sleep away the weekend. Ambien used to work beautifully too- but I guess I've grown tolerant to it too over the years.
>
> The problem now is that I'm in danger of losing my job because of my problems getting to work on time and because I miss many days because I'm so hung over from the Seroquel. Yes, I've tried lower dosages - taken earlier in the evening, etc. The problem is that it's really hard to GET to sleep.
>
> Anyway, so I saw my doc today and said "Listen, I'm in danger of being fired and I want to be off of the Seroquel." He didn't seem too concerned and said "Well, I don't know what to try." I've been on Trazadone - but it compares to Seroquel for me.
>
> Long story short - he said - "Well, if this is an emergency then I can give you a 2 week Rx for 2-3mg of Ativan to take at bedtime." I finally just said OK. It's weird because he knows benzos don't put me to sleep and he knows I've had 13 years of chronic insomnia.
>
> I guess I'm off topic with all of this - but am I doomed because I'm tolerant to benzos? I have a friend who falls asleep with 1mg of Xanax. I really DO NOT want to be dependant on meds to get to sleep - but I've tried everything.
>
> I'm so frustrated.....
>
> Jerry
>I had severe insomnia for 15 months. Could fall asleep OK, but woke up every night between 1 and 4 a.m. and then could not get back to sleep. Benzos did very little to help. I found out my cortisol was high and figured out I must have pseudo-Cushing's, which can result from un- or under-treated depression. Started on an antidepressant (in my case, Cymbalta) and was sleeping well within 2-3 weeks.
Are you taking an antidepressant?
poster:Minnie-Haha
thread:475165
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050322/msgs/475395.html