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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by jms600 on April 27, 2009, at 16:59:24
Can anyone recommend a sleeping drug which can be taken over a period of months and doesn't lead to tolerance or dependence? I'm currently taking Effexor 150mg and it seems to be causing terrible insomnia. I struggle to get to sleep and when I finally do fall asleep I keep waking up.
My doctor has given me some promazine, however it has a terrible hang-over effect. It also makes me very forgetful and the quality of sleep it induces isn't very good.
I looked at Lunesta (eszopiclone) but I think I will struggle to buy that over the net so it's not an option. Can't take benzos either as I have built up a tolerance to them due to using Valium for anxiety.
Along with the Effexor I'm also on 40mg buspirone and 600mg lithium so whatever I take it needs to be safe when taken with these.
Any ideas?
Posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2009, at 17:25:01
In reply to Sleeping meds that don't lead to tolerance?, posted by jms600 on April 27, 2009, at 16:59:24
I've taken lunesta with other benzos same time and worked well for me. Can you temporarily up the benzos? Just a thought. Phillipa
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 27, 2009, at 18:41:58
In reply to Sleeping meds that don't lead to tolerance?, posted by jms600 on April 27, 2009, at 16:59:24
Trazodone is a well know sleep agent. It was an AD, but it's used almost exclusively these days as a sleep agent. After many years, I developed a tolerance. I don't think tolerance normally happens quickly, at all, with Trazodone.
Definitely no dependence.
Posted by raisinb on April 27, 2009, at 20:08:39
In reply to Sleeping meds that don't lead to tolerance?, posted by jms600 on April 27, 2009, at 16:59:24
You might try a very small dose of Remeron. That might lead to tolerance, but it might not.
I wish the patent on Lunesta would run out. I've spent about 1500 bucks on that med over the last few years (and I have insurance). It has worked pretty consistently, unlike Ambien.
Posted by yxibow on April 27, 2009, at 20:09:14
In reply to Sleeping meds that don't lead to tolerance?, posted by jms600 on April 27, 2009, at 16:59:24
> Can anyone recommend a sleeping drug which can be taken over a period of months and doesn't lead to tolerance or dependence? I'm currently taking Effexor 150mg and it seems to be causing terrible insomnia. I struggle to get to sleep and when I finally do fall asleep I keep waking up.
>
> My doctor has given me some promazine, however it has a terrible hang-over effect. It also makes me very forgetful and the quality of sleep it induces isn't very good.
>
> I looked at Lunesta (eszopiclone) but I think I will struggle to buy that over the net so it's not an option. Can't take benzos either as I have built up a tolerance to them due to using Valium for anxiety.
>
> Along with the Effexor I'm also on 40mg buspirone and 600mg lithium so whatever I take it needs to be safe when taken with these.
>
> Any ideas?
Hmm... I'd say both the Effexor and the Lithium could cause insomnia, but the Effexor sounds more likely here...Promazine is sort of an AP, a bit harsh
I don't suppose you have doxylamine succinate (Unisom doxylamine formulation) there ?
It is less harsh than Benadryl and has pretty low habituation other than many antihistamines can eventually lead to transmitter overload which means stopping the agent and starting again.
- Jay
Posted by zana on April 28, 2009, at 9:50:27
In reply to Re: Sleeping meds that don't lead to tolerance? » jms600, posted by yxibow on April 27, 2009, at 20:09:14
I have had really good results with Remeron. I am taking 45mgs but my new pdoc says I could get enough sedation with 15mgs. So after I finish tapering off seroquel, which was supposed to help with sleep but did not, I'm going to try going dodwn on the remeron and see if it really does work at lower doses. But I would ask your doc about it. It binds to histamine receptors and is supposed to be a good anti depressant though I never found it to be good for me in that department.
Zana
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