13 replies to this topic

[magenta]

"The Case for Sleep Medicine," an opinion piece that ran in the New York Times.

Edited by Blue Heron, 30 March 2012 - 11:58 AM.
embedded the link

[Simba Cub]

In my opinion, sleep medications (or "Z drugs" such as Zopiclone) should be used sparingly. Strictly speaking they should NOT be taken for more than a week as their efficiency wanes and habituation increases dramatically. If you really need more than a week of sleeping blitz, you'd probably have to switch meds half way through.

Respect these meds.



Rich::

[Claire]

I am Rx'd either Zopiclone or Tamazepam then a night off as a cycle. I've been taking it for nearly a year now with no increase in dosages or wane in efficacy. I am trying to have two nights off per cycle for the last two months as I have been frequently told here that they are for short term use and I'll suffer dreadfully coming off them - indeed my pdoc wants me off them as soon as I am stable. I don't see why - honestly. I don't abuse them, I just get 6-7 hours of sleep which goes a long way to making me as stable as possible. Surely this is a better option than using copious amounts of antihistamines or nytol etc?

[notfred]

I have 5 years under my belt with taking 6 mg Lunesta every night. It still works as well as it did when I started. I find it easy to get off of, I have had to do this a few times due to insurance problems.

[VAL]

Notfred,

I've always wondered why you're not fred but putting that aside, does Lunesta have the same reputation as Ambien for the sleep walking, eating, driving, etc.? I'm considering it as a possibility as I'll probably be coming off Saphris soon
and I don't know if going back on trazodone is going to do it for me and I'll definitely need something. Ambien made me quite depressed very rapidly after starting it and I was wondering if Lunesta is likely to do the same thing or if it's different enough to give it a try if the Traz doesn't work out.

[notfred]

does Lunesta have the same reputation as Ambien for the sleep walking, eating, driving, etc.?

Yes, some people have that reaction. I think it is common to all the Z meds. Still it is different enough that it is worth a try. Unlike most of the Z meds Lunesta is longer acting and is more effective for those who can't stay asleep or wake up too early. The main drawback is that insurance generally does not cover it and it is hideously expensive at retail. It is also relatively weak, I would not worry with the 1mg and 2 mg tablets.

I have severe complex sleep apnea which causes numerous awakenings per hour. Conventional treatments have failed so sleep meds have become reasonable treatments. I have especially no stage 3 sleep due to the apnea, just stage 1,2 and REM sleep. Still I wake up feeling rested with no hangover from the Lunesta.

[VAL]

There are no free meds available but there is a patient assistance program with reasonable prices $20-40 for 90 days. I can also get a free 7 day prescription if I decide to try it. Thanks for replying.

[notfred]

I have insurance that covers it with a pre-auth. It can be a fight as I take twice the max dosage. I always win, though.

[facelessbelief]

I'm one of those that has problems sleeping no matter what cycle i am in. Up, Down, or Squirrelly I can never sleep well. I also have sleep apnea. Trazodone never did anything for me sleep wise. Even at 200mg. So now my pdoc has prescribed Ambien. Even with that wonderous sleep apnea machine. It is incredibly difficult for me to fall asleep. Hence the sleep meds. I will have to talk to my pdoc about what to do with the long-term of ambien.

[brainworms]

People who espouse the "sleeping medications should be used sparingly" school of thought never seem to have a concrete plan for what those of us who live with chronic, severe insomnia (and deal with the resulting damage to our mental and physical health) are supposed to actually do. Good sleep hygiene and herbal supplements don't even touch the side for most hardcore insomniacs. I agree with you that long term use of prescription sleeping medication isn't an ideal situation, but sleep is actually a vital need for humans to function. If the only way you can get it is to take a carcinogenic drug of dependance... well, sometimes the best option is actually a pretty cruddy one.

[notfred]

People who espouse the "sleeping medications should be used sparingly" school of thought never seem to have a concrete plan for what those of us who live with chronic, severe insomnia (and deal with the resulting damage to our mental and physical health) are supposed to actually do. Good sleep hygiene and herbal supplements don't even touch the side for most hardcore insomniacs. I agree with you that long term use of prescription sleeping medication isn't an ideal situation, but sleep is actually a vital need for humans to function. If the only way you can get it is to take a carcinogenic drug of dependance... well, sometimes the best option is actually a pretty cruddy one.

I agree. Despite a lot of people here who take them regularly without loosing efficiency people repeat the same stuff. It totally ignores people real experiences and reason for needing long term sleeping meds.

[sircuit]

Sleep is everything in the world if bipolarity. If you can`t sleep naturally, you must take something to knock you out. Plain and simple.
I have the luxury of taking Seroquel as a mood stablizer but it has a side benefit of knocking me out . I really have no choice. For me, no sleep brings on Mother Mania and that simply fucks up my life, big time. So you be the judge. Just how badly do you need to sleep ??

[alittleunwell]

Good sleep hygiene and herbal supplements don't even touch the side for most hardcore insomniacs.

Tell me about it! Sometimes I feel like it must be my fault, like I should be able to go to sleep if I do everything they tell us to. I've been reading a lot lately about all the damage not getting enough sleep can cause. Not only making mental illnesses worse (or even causing depression), but causing weight gain and disrupting hormones. And once one hormone is out of whack, it affects others. This can lead to all sorts of illnesses. So now I'm trying to make a serious effort at getting enough sleep most nights, even if it means taking drugs. In past I've always used them as sparingly as I could, often going without sleep rather than take them, but sleep is way too important.

[Velthir]

Tell me about it! Sometimes I feel like it must be my fault, like I should be able to go to sleep if I do everything they tell us to. I've been reading a lot lately about all the damage not getting enough sleep can cause. Not only making mental illnesses worse (or even causing depression), but causing weight gain and disrupting hormones. And once one hormone is out of whack, it affects others. This can lead to all sorts of illnesses. So now I'm trying to make a serious effort at getting enough sleep most nights, even if it means taking drugs. In past I've always used them as sparingly as I could, often going without sleep rather than take them, but sleep is way too important.

Yeah, speaking as someone who hasn't slept at all properly for months it's causing all sorts of physical issues. IBS type stuff + nausea in the mornings, pretty sure it's causing weight gain, when I get incredibly bad sleep for days I tend to develop a temporary cough until I start sleeping more. Probably some other weird shit I can't remember/don't notice anymore