Insomnia, it sucks

[heep223]

Have you guys tried drugs? Even something that is pretty gentle. Dramamine, or melatonin?

[ricosuave]

[Sainters7]

Melatonin used to work great for me. Unfortunately I took it so much that it stopped working, and actually now gives me worse insomnia than if I didn't take it.

Unfortunately I come from a long line of insomniacs on my mom's side, drugs can't stop it. One of my cousins has it way worse than I do even. I've actually gotten pretty used to it over the years, and can function surprisingly well on only 4hrs or less (as long as it's not too many consecutively). But sometimes it gets the best of me and I feel the need to whine.


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[peter12]

I am an off and on insomniac - mainly to do with stress - but I have never encountered the likes of insomnia that some of you describe in this thread. 7 days on 10 hours? How do you function?

[JiriHrdina]

Bump. Going through a very bad spell right now. Have had three days in under a week with literally zero hours of sleep. I'm a wreck. I went and saw the doc today and got prescribed zopiclone. Any experience with that?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Bump. Going through a very bad spell right now. Have had three days in under a week with literally zero hours of sleep. I'm a wreck. I went and saw the doc today and got prescribed zopiclone. Any experience with that?

Surprised your doc gave you zopiclone. My doc has given me Ativan in the past to help with my sleep troubles. He thought it was a better alternative than what you have been prescribed. It calms your thought processes and overall relaxes you. For the most part it has worked great for me.

[peter12]

Isn't Ativan quite addictive?

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by peter12

Isn't Ativan quite addictive?

It can be, but I take it occasionally without issue. I wouldn't use it daily.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by peter12

Isn't Ativan quite addictive?

Not if it's used for what it was prescribed for. I've used it in the past for sleep problems and any anxiety I have had problems with.

If it's used over a long period of time the body develops a tolernace for it and one would have to increase the dosage to get the same effect.

[Jbo]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Bump. Going through a very bad spell right now. Have had three days in under a week with literally zero hours of sleep. I'm a wreck. I went and saw the doc today and got prescribed zopiclone. Any experience with that?

Be very careful of this stuff Jiri. It will put you out pretty good, many people that take it also wake up with a metallic taste in there mouths. My doc gave me 4 when I was flying to London as I am an anxious flyer.

It is VERY addictive (from what I understand) which is why the doctor only gave me 4 of them. Just google zopiclone addiction.

[Street Pharmacist]

A little bit of misinformation here.

Before we get into addiction, we need to separate "Tolerance", "Dependence", and "Addiction". Tolerance is the term that describes a regulation of receptors so that an increased dose is required for a similar effect as time goes on. Dependence is a term for when a person requires a medication to maintain normal function because lack of it causes negative symptoms (withdrawals for example). Addiction is a mental illness where people do things that affect their life negatively in order to get something they need (alcoholism, etc). One of these phenomenon does not necessarily lead to another.

Zopiclone and Ativan are both potentially addictive, can cause dependence and you build tolerance to then with frequent use. They both essentially work on the same receptors causing the same effects and therefore have similar size effect profiles. Zopiclone's claim to fame when it was first available was that it was non habit forming, yet as effective as Ativan etc for sleep.

It is the number one drug dispensed in my pharmacy and both Alberta and BC are sending doctors to remedial addiction training as both provinces are seeing abuse.

If used as a short term solution to regain regular sleep patterns it's safe and effective. It should not be used for chronic insomnia every night (even though that's almost exclusively how it's used). If your doctor gives you a small supply, I wouldn't worry about addiction

[Fuzz]

I have taken half in the past, works well. A whole one hould knock you out good for 8 hours, so don't have it at 3am, but the effectiveness wears down over time and can be addictive. Don't worry to have it now and then if you need it. Especially now.

[bigtmac19]

I took that regularly for about 8 to 10 months. I did get dependant on it and had a really difficult time getting off of it. I found it a bit creepy how it was more like being unconscious than sleeping. I still have intermittent insomnia issues but I wouldn't take it again. I usually will take a Benadryl if I'm having a bad night. I'm sure going that many nights with no sleep outweighs the few pills you might need to help you over this bad stretch.

[Kerplunk]

I believe zopiclone is what my doc gave me a few years ago when I was having trouble sleeping. Found that even half a tablet put me under well enough to get a good nights sleep, and left less funny metallic taste in the mouth.

[calumniate]

Yeah benadryl can knock a person out pretty good. I take it for allergies lots so it no longer has a sleep effect on me. However if you're not in my position, a tablespoon of liquid benadryl should to the trick and fast. (not a doctor)

[zamler]

Quetiapine aka Seroquel is an effective sleep aid and is not physically addictive. But it should not be used regularly, I'd say at most for 30 days.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

It should not be used for chronic insomnia every night (even though that's almost exclusively how it's used). If your doctor gives you a small supply, I wouldn't worry about addiction

What are the dangers if it is used for chronic insomnia?

[Fuzz]

It stops being effective, and yo just keep taking it and being tired. Or if you have bad ideas you take more and more. That's when having a good doctor recognizing it is not working helps a lot.

[Calgary_81]

i found that Zzzquil has been working better than most things i have tried.

http://www.drugstore.com/zzzquil-nig...caps/qxp400735

what has surprised me the most, i have started juicing a ton of greens about a month ago, everyday. its a drag and tons of cleanup afterwards. but about 3 weeks ago, i noticed i am sleeping(and dreaming) almost every night. i am now waking up completely rested. big change for me. i am (used to be?) one of those insomniacs that gets anxious every night, and wakes up all grouchy from the
rotten (lack of ) sleep the night before, always trying to catch up on sleep on the weekends, to no avail.

the good sleep i am getting is very addicting, and i am only juicing for the quality sleep.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Dion

What are the dangers if it is used for chronic insomnia?

Tolerance, dependence and addiction mostly. The underlying cause isn't resolved, but the dose often escalates