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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rainbowlight on May 29, 2004, at 0:40:56
Pdoc switched me from Restoril, 15 mgs. which I have been on for 3 years to Halcion for sleep. The Restoril didn't seem to be working after I stopped taking the Remeron with it. She didn't have me wean, just made the switch. I feel horrible, agitated, depressed and weepy. Is there withdrawel effects such as these when making the switch? Will I get any day time anxiety relief with the Halcion like I did with the Restoril? This is my first time on Halcion. It is putting me to sleep, but I am waking early and not able to get back to sleep.
Posted by Sad Panda on May 29, 2004, at 23:31:39
In reply to Problems with stopping Restoril, posted by rainbowlight on May 29, 2004, at 0:40:56
> Pdoc switched me from Restoril, 15 mgs. which I have been on for 3 years to Halcion for sleep. The Restoril didn't seem to be working after I stopped taking the Remeron with it. She didn't have me wean, just made the switch. I feel horrible, agitated, depressed and weepy. Is there withdrawel effects such as these when making the switch? Will I get any day time anxiety relief with the Halcion like I did with the Restoril? This is my first time on Halcion. It is putting me to sleep, but I am waking early and not able to get back to sleep.
>
>Hi Rainbowlight,
Restoril & Halcion are both Benzos for sleep, but they have different half lives. Restoril will keep you asleep most of the night & be mildy anxiolytic in the morning while Halcion is ultra short acting & only lasts you for a few hours, hence your early waking & other problems. I would go back to Restoril & think about an alternative drug to Remeron. Can I ask why you gave up Remeron? Remeron can be used long term as a sleep aid while the Benzos should only be used for short periods for sleep.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by rainbowlight on May 30, 2004, at 1:09:02
In reply to Re: Problems with stopping Restoril » rainbowlight, posted by Sad Panda on May 29, 2004, at 23:31:39
I had to give up the Remeron due to severe weight gain and water retention. It was causing alot of health issues for me. I tried to diet, exercise, etc. but I just kept packing on the weight. I loved that med, I slept so well on it, I hated to give it up. Last Friday the pdoc gave me Halcion to take in place of the Restoril which is no longer working for me. It won't put me to sleep at all anymore even if I double the dose. I have been really agitated and depressed since making the switch. I am thinking I need to wean off the Restoril. What is your opinion? Is there a benzo that is longer acting than the Halcion that I could try? I am not that familiar with sleep meds.
Posted by Sad Panda on May 30, 2004, at 2:15:14
In reply to Re: Problems with stopping Restoril, posted by rainbowlight on May 30, 2004, at 1:09:02
> I had to give up the Remeron due to severe weight gain and water retention. It was causing alot of health issues for me. I tried to diet, exercise, etc. but I just kept packing on the weight. I loved that med, I slept so well on it, I hated to give it up. Last Friday the pdoc gave me Halcion to take in place of the Restoril which is no longer working for me. It won't put me to sleep at all anymore even if I double the dose. I have been really agitated and depressed since making the switch. I am thinking I need to wean off the Restoril. What is your opinion? Is there a benzo that is longer acting than the Halcion that I could try? I am not that familiar with sleep meds.
>
>Benzos are OK for anxiety but not for sleep, most people build tolerance rapidly to the sedating effect, but not antianxiety effect. Remeron is great except people tend to gain weight on it. If you need benzos for anxiety, I would take a long acting one like Ativan or Klonopin, either one would cure your Restoril withdrawl problem. Are you taking any other drugs for depression or anxiety? I would be inclined to try other sedating AD's if sleep is your main problem.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by rainbowlight on May 30, 2004, at 22:13:58
In reply to Re: Problems with stopping Restoril » rainbowlight, posted by Sad Panda on May 30, 2004, at 2:15:14
I take Lamictal and Zoloft (I'm Bipolar II). The Zoloft works well for the anxiety, but if I raise it I get severe nausea. I can't sleep on my own while on Lamictal so since I have been on it I have to use a sleep med unfortunately.
Posted by King Vultan on June 1, 2004, at 17:08:06
In reply to Problems with stopping Restoril, posted by rainbowlight on May 29, 2004, at 0:40:56
> Pdoc switched me from Restoril, 15 mgs. which I have been on for 3 years to Halcion for sleep. The Restoril didn't seem to be working after I stopped taking the Remeron with it. She didn't have me wean, just made the switch. I feel horrible, agitated, depressed and weepy. Is there withdrawel effects such as these when making the switch? Will I get any day time anxiety relief with the Halcion like I did with the Restoril? This is my first time on Halcion. It is putting me to sleep, but I am waking early and not able to get back to sleep.
Trazodone is probably worth trying if you haven't already. It is a sedating AD and is much less apt to cause weight gain than Remeron. As far as Halcion vs. Restoril, Halcion has a very short half life, similar to the widely prescribed Ambien, and as Panda points out, you will have more of a tendency to wake early. However, my pdoc feels that Ambien can be used every night because it is sitting on the receptor for such a short period of time that tolerance is unlikely to develop; perhaps the same is also true of Halcion. I am going to ask him about it when I see him Friday, as I am still suffering from relatively bad MAOI insomnia. I am waking up about every hour and a half throughout the night, and even five hours straight of sleep sounds pretty good compared to that.Todd
Posted by Sad Panda on June 2, 2004, at 7:03:45
In reply to Re: Problems with stopping Restoril » rainbowlight, posted by King Vultan on June 1, 2004, at 17:08:06
> > Pdoc switched me from Restoril, 15 mgs. which I have been on for 3 years to Halcion for sleep. The Restoril didn't seem to be working after I stopped taking the Remeron with it. She didn't have me wean, just made the switch. I feel horrible, agitated, depressed and weepy. Is there withdrawel effects such as these when making the switch? Will I get any day time anxiety relief with the Halcion like I did with the Restoril? This is my first time on Halcion. It is putting me to sleep, but I am waking early and not able to get back to sleep.
>
>
> Trazodone is probably worth trying if you haven't already. It is a sedating AD and is much less apt to cause weight gain than Remeron. As far as Halcion vs. Restoril, Halcion has a very short half life, similar to the widely prescribed Ambien, and as Panda points out, you will have more of a tendency to wake early. However, my pdoc feels that Ambien can be used every night because it is sitting on the receptor for such a short period of time that tolerance is unlikely to develop; perhaps the same is also true of Halcion. I am going to ask him about it when I see him Friday, as I am still suffering from relatively bad MAOI insomnia. I am waking up about every hour and a half throughout the night, and even five hours straight of sleep sounds pretty good compared to that.
>
> Todd
>Trazodone would be good, Serzone & Nortriptyline would also be worthy, they are all 5-HT2A blockers which increase deep sleep & keep you asleep while doing it. Other TCA's such as Trimipramine or Doxepin might be worth trying too, carb cravings & weight gain with one sedating AD doesn't mean that is the case for all AD's. Seroquel & Zyprexa are AP's that I would only try in desperation. Here in Australia Serzone has been removed from the PBS, so it joins Trazodone as a drug I can't try. :/
Cheers,
Panda.
This is the end of the thread.
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