Getting Less and Less Sleep... Sleeping Pills?

O.k, I have a serious issue. I am getting less and less sleep as time goes on and my symptoms get worse...Has anyone used sleeping pills? Or is that a big mistake? Last night I awoke at 1:30 and went back to sleep at 9am! I am so revved up and anxious. Doctor wants me on anti depressants...not sure what to do.

 

I'm not really big on sleeping pills and anti-depressant. I know that they do work wonders and I have used them before (ambien). They can be addictive if overused. You may want to try Tylenol pm first and see if you can get some sleep with it. Do you try to sleep at the same time every night? Do you sleep just whenever you are sleepy? Do you take naps? Do you watch tv or play with your computer, iphone, iPad before going to bed. When you aren't able to sleep, do you get up and do one or more of those things mentioned above? Do you drink caffeinated soda or other drinks that contain caffeine? Sleeping pills should be last resort. If you are not sleeping at all, you may need some to get your body and sleeping pattern back into cycle.

 

Considering your lack of sleep is probably due to the anxiety about hyperacusis, or whatever you have, a low dose anti-depressant for anxiety might help. Also maybe something specific for sleep that isn't a straight up sleeping pill like trazodone or mirtazapine might help you sleep.

Google sleep hygiene and try to follow all those tips.

I would not recommend things like tylenol pm because they mess up how you sleep especially if you continually have to take them.

 

My dad's gf gave me some natural remedies for sleeping which worked wonders, I'm not much for pills and I think you should try out the smaller natural steps before going all synthetic. What ever works is good!

 

Dont take ambien. I am going through withdrawal with some crazy anxiety and other negative symptoms.

 

Hey guys,thanks, forgot about this thread ..lol..anyways my doc prescribed zopiclone..works GREAT! gets you to sleep in no time, however I don't stay asleep that long..but she only gave me 10 pills and now I am starting an antidepressant..remeron,,supposed to work well with sleep too..thanks for the suggestions and @TomT I know, I am currently tapering off clonazepam..and yes my anxiety is up and I have some other symptoms too..though it's hard to differentiate between withdrawl symptoms and anxiety symptoms..

 

Try practise sport, endorfins are good.

 

Lynn
I took Ibuprofen PM (about every third day) for the last year; it got me over the hump (when I really needed something to knock me out). However, I never intended to stay on them; recently (3 weeks ago) I stopped taking them (don't need them anymore) and now I'm sleeping much better (longer, deeper). Someone told me that sleeping aids put you in a false sleep; I think that is true because I would wake up (for no reason) after 3-4 hours (and thought I'd been asleep for twelve). Now I sleep a good 6-7 hours no problem (but it took time and work to get there)

I just used them as I needed; but the 'big win' for me was to simply learn to sleep through my T (no sleeping aids, just my white noise generators); that being said, there's no substitute for a glass of milk and a warm bath before bed time (snooooze).

Mark

 

Just thought I'd drop in and point out that the Zopiclone may interfere with your Clonazepam taper. Zopiclone works on GABA receptors in a very similar fashion that benzodiazepines like Clonazepam does. I'm far from an expert though and if you just plan on using it short term it probably won't be a problem, but just something to keep in mind. Good luck!

If you haven't tried it yet, I would suggest giving melatonin a go. It's a very effective and natural sleeping aid that may have neuroprotective properties - good stuff! Other supplements that are good for rest are magnesium (chelated, orotate and glycinate are supposedly the better absorbed forms) and L-Tyrptophan/5-HTP work well (avoid these two if you are going on the ADs though).

 

I agree Mark. The only good thing about the 'Z' is that it puts me to sleep..but I wake up after only sleeping about 4 hrs..so that false sleep thing makes sense.. The remeron is because the doc wants to rule out my depression as a cause of Hyperacusis...I personally believe it's caused from my TMJ. Still haven't started the remeron, though my mood is quite poor..pretty up and down..pills, pills and more pills..starting to feel rather icky.

 

Thanks @yonkapin for the info..I am working hard at this taper and don't want to mess it up! Sadly though, the Clonaz does work well for the TTS and I wonder whether to discontinue tapering or not..but then I think if I get this H dealt with, the TTS will go...it only set in with the H so I don't know..I do take lots of supplements already (incl magnesium) and brought up 5HTP to my doc who said it doesn't work?..she does have my best interest in mind, I know that..she's pretty good, but I don't know how much she knows about 5htp lol.. I wonder if I should try that first anyways...argh, stupid ears!

 

Oh you also have TTTS, and hyperacusis - you might be similar to me, don't know much about your background so I might have to go through a few of your other posts, but I definitely feel for you! The tinnitus/TTTS/hyperacusis combo is frustrating!

I can definitely vouch for 5-HTP working when it comes to mood, it's helped me out of a few jams and it's supposed to promote healthier sleep. I guess it depends on whether or not you think you might benefit from using an anti-depressant, but yeah, definitely do not take the 5-HTP or L-Tyrptophan if you do start to use an anti-depressant because it may lead to serotonin syndrome.

Re: Clonazepam, I would try to continue with your taper. Long term benzodiazepine use leads to nothing but trouble in my opinion. I'm a little biased though because I've struggled with zolpidem dependency and think it may have made my tinnitus/ttts/hyperacusis worse, I'm still not sure though. So *really* it's up to you, maybe try the taper see and see how you go, then if you really need it you can always go back on it.

 

There is a tea for sleeping , called "sleepy time tea" and Camomeal tea....also listening to soft music with ear buds , can take the anxiety down over loud tinnitus thinking....

 

Where do you get sleepy time Tea, is it something you buy on-line ? Huge sleep issues here, and was on sleeping tablets for years before chronic T and H came. Frightened to just stop the zopiclone even though it doesn't really work anymore (one hours sleep last night )but would like to add in something natural

 

You can get it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Sea...qid=1437480172&sr=8-1&keywords=sleepytime+tea

It helped when my T & H were at a severe level, last year. Read some of the customer reviews. The majority of them are favorable.

Additionally, I took 3mg of Melatonin about an hour before I wanted to go to sleep.

 

Thanks we can't get melatonin in the UK unless we buy it online I suppose

 

Yes. Concentrating on natural things like this works.

 

I noticed when taking melitonin that I got some real bad dreams. The Remona works but I noticed my driving was getting a little erratic. Oh what to do? Never tried sound at night maybe that might help? I have zen hearing aids and they work wonderfully for me but cannot wear them at night. Might start a new thread here about an idea I came up with! Something as small as my hearing aids but could be hooked up to small radio or my lap top to play different sounds at night.

 

I would avoid medicine and pills like the plague!!!

you can't sleep because you're anxious and anxiety makes you even more sensitive to tinnitus!

1. Try not to lay down during the day
2. Go to bed at 11 pm and STAY THERE, no computer nothing and FORCE yourself to fall asleep, even if you can't, then stay in bed! At 6am get up and start your day!
3. If you didn't sleep crap, still get up at 6am and stay awake during the day and try it again at night go back to bed at 11pm and do it again and again until your body gives up and you're so tired you fall asleep
4. if you manage to sleep, wake up at 6am and be as active as you can and then at 11pm go back to bed!

Always go to bed at 11pm and get up at 6am during this phase!

That is how people with sleep disturbances cure them! (This worked for my spouse who was insomniac and it was sent by her therapist)

 

zopiclona the problem is half life is very short , so ... you fall a sleep quiclky you wake up quickly . you must use some extended release tablets , that makes the trick of sleeping more hours . Problem of hypnotics is you loose memory in like 2 weeks of use . But if you stop using them memory comes back . If needed try to use them like 2 weeks and stop . Sometimes melatonine 3mg or 6mg can make the trick also on a more natural way , but if used like 3 weeks you will fill tired and many people complain about strange dreams . so its difficult managing insmonia , best thing for long term is make excersice and arrive very tired . zopiclona can give anxiety too , very difficult to watch this side effect .

 

I'm in the uk, I wanted melatonin and GP would not help. So when my daughter was in Majorca I sent her to a chemist to buy it for me. I only need 0.50mg a quarter of a low dose pill. It works great. Now I get anybody who is going to Europe to buy it for me until I can manage without.

 

Benzos are tricky, before going down that potentially dark route I would try every herbal option you can. Have you heard of Dreamquick? IMO the best supplement out there to improve sleep. Don't expect a miracle, but it has some very potent herbs and Melatonin in there and really helps me a lot.
I just have Xanax 0.5mg ready for peace of mind but very very rarely ever use it.