Sleeping pills & dependency -- is it really bad?

[Lily04]

Hi everyone,

 

As I posted a while ago, I have pretty severe insomnia. So I went to the doctor's a week ago, and he prescribed me some medication. I just started using it yesterday and it worked really well -- my aunt told me to only take .05 mg (she's a nurse) but the doctor prescribed 1.0 mg, and I took it and it worked really well -- within half an hr. I was out.

 

I was really satisfied with that, and now want to take it every night... I can't get to bed otherwise. I can cut the pill in half to be 0.5 in the future. But I'm scared about becoming dependent on it...I took another tonight & it's only 15 mins. in and i'm starting to feel drowsy... I want to take it every night, but is it really bad if you become dependent on pills? After all, lots of seniors take them every night... I just can't get to bed otherwise. It's been going on for more than a year, and I can't typically get to bed before 4:00-5:00 a.m...

[registered]

You are not incapable of sleeping without the need of pills. It may feel that way, and doctors will be more than happy to get the money out of you, but you don't actually need them.

 

You should be dealing with the issues that prevent you from sleeping instead of resorting to pills. You probably have identified the issues, probably even worked at resolving them, but I don't think you should just rely on pills without working harder to resolve those issues.

 

Only take what you need... if 0.5mg works than just take that.

 

You shouldn't want to take it everynight - you should want to deal with the issues that prevent you from sleeping. It IS possible to resolve the issues too.

[Lily04]

Hi registered,

 

I did work hard at resolving the "issues." I've tried changing my diet, exercising earlier and consistency (at one time 5-6 days/week), and understanding whatever else might be causing it. It doesn't work. My brain is too active at night, regardless of how much sleep I got. I've tried changing things, addressing 'problems', whatever, and this insomnia has lasted more than a year now. I only got 4 hrs. sleep today, and its' 5:00 a.m., I took a sleeping pill and can still type..

 

I also have an OCD and OCD-like personality (at times) which may make sleeping more difficult, if it's true that there is a chemical imbalance or something (researchers don't yet know the cause of it.) BUT I'd rather take sleeping pills than prozac or whatever else experimental pills they giev for that (prozac is one of them I think.) And the pills work really well, it produces a really nice calming effect and I feel sleepy... maybe I could get something less strong but that I could take almost daily.

 

edit: also, can you respond to my pm? thanks. =)

[RayKay]

Yup, it's bad too take them every night, and especially at your age.

 

It does create a dependency on them, but not only that, such frequent use of drugs is harmful to your body.

 

Drugs require your body to process them, but in processing them it can be very damanging - I know one poster was talking of taking 6 Tylenol PM's at night to sleep, which is absolutely horrendous for your liver!

 

I do know that sometimes you CAN take them once a week to get that good long sleep, but too frequent use will just make things worse.

 

It's great you have tried to solve the issues, but remember it's not going to happen overnight, and you may have to look at other alternatives too. I would actually recommend you try hypnotherapy or acupuncture or something like that, I know people whom have used either for issues if insomnia, fatigue, stress, illness' and had great results.

[Hope75]

What did your doctor advise you?

 

How about your aunt? What did she think?

 

Are you constantly tired and dozing off during the day?

 

Keep in mind that not every needs the staple '8 hrs' of sleep at night.

 

Some bodies only require 4-5 hours and get by just fine. Anything less then 4 may be a worry since your mind and body need some time to repare themselves. Maybe 4 hours is normal for you.

 

Are you suffering mental judgement lapses during the day and find yourself snoozing off?

 

What's your day like?

[BellaDonna]

I am a true believer in not taking drugs unless it is absolutely necessary. Drugs are harmful to your body, especially the liver.

 

However, this situation is a double-edged sword, because not getting enough sleep can also be very harmful to your body too. See:

 

If you live a healthy lifestyle otherwise with diet and exercise (sounds like you do) then the sleeping pills will not be your total ruination.

 

My sister has been experiencing insomnia for months now- and tried just about everything natural to combat it. Pills were the only thing that has helped her. I can see a difference in her too- she's less cranky- has more energy- and has a clearer look in her eye since she's been sleeping.

 

Each person is different- and you need to do what is best for you.

 

 

BellaDonna

[Lily04]

What did your doctor advise you?

 

How about your aunt? What did she think?

 

Are you constantly tired and dozing off during the day?

 

Keep in mind that not every needs the staple '8 hrs' of sleep at night.

 

Some bodies only require 4-5 hours and get by just fine. Anything less then 4 may be a worry since your mind and body need some time to repare themselves. Maybe 4 hours is normal for you.

 

Are you suffering mental judgement lapses during the day and find yourself snoozing off?

 

What's your day like?

 

Hi,

 

The doctor I went to wasn't my family doctor, and I didn't find him all that helpful. He explained the reasons why people have difficulty falling asleep, explaining the different sleep cycles, and general things you can do to help yourself fall asleep (i.e. exercising in the afternoon, not evening, eating regularly and healthy foods, reading something boring before you go to sleep, not going on the internet before you go to sleep.) As I said I've had this for more than a year, have tried all of these techniques and they didn't work very well. I typically get to sleep in the early hours of the morning, and if I have an early class will have to take naps during the day because I can't live on less than 5 hrs. sleep. Even having 5 hrs. sleep, I'm sorta in a half-waking state. Luckily all of my classes this year are in the afternoon/evening, but it's sometimes still a struggle to get up before noon for my 12:00 pm class, and I would *really* like to get up before 11:00 a.m., I hate how my day passes by so quickly.

 

I think medicine is my only option. My parents both subscribe to naturopathic medicine, and my dad doesn't approve of me taking sleepign pills, but my mom knows how bad it is, and says it's fine if i need it. I've just come to the conclusion that I will take pills, but maybe only 3x/week, on an as-needed basis. Last night I took it and I think it was good because I feel more awake during the day, and might get me back on a regular sleep cycle now.

[BellaDonna]

I've just come to the conclusion that I will take pills, but maybe only 3x/week,

 

One important thing to realize is that if you are given a prescription medication- you need to take it according to the instructions. Some medications require that you take them regularly so they can build up in your system, or else they won't work as effectively. If you don't take prescription pills as directed, it is possbile that you're only wasting your time because the drug will not work as well. If you do that you'll still be putting drugs in your body, but not getting the results, which is counterproductive. Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacisit the recommended dosage, time of day, and frequency that you should be taking them.

 

BellaDonna

[Lily04]

Hi Belladonna,

 

Thanks. Well it says on the bottle to "take only as needed." I asked my doctor and he said the same, but he said I can take it maybe 3 times/week. I might contact my pharmacy to make sure. They printed off some information sheet about the medication since it was my first time using it, but I think I left it at my parent's house over the holidays, because I can't find it.

 

Thanks again,

 

Lily

[hosswhispra]

Is this xanax, Lily04?

 

hosswhispra

[Lily04]

I assume you're asking about the medication? The doctor gave me lorazepam.

[hosswhispra]

Lorazepam (brand name Ativan) is a longer-acting sleep agent than xanax (alprazolam)--however, they are in the same group of sleep agents---the benzodiazepines. They are very good for people who have trouble falling asleep. If you use it on an prn "or as needed basis" as opposed to every night, you won't get as tolerant to it. In other words, if you take one every night, the lorazepam will start to lose it's effect and not work as well (you body becomes accustomed to it).....this is true for every sleep agent, too.

[Lily04]

Thanks horsswispra. That's how I plan to use it (on an as-needed basis.)