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Re: Restoril and Ambien

Posted by Mike on May 25, 2001 at 12:25:30:

In Reply to: Restoril and Ambien posted by Joan on May 25, 2001 at 05:47:45:

Whew I haven't been here in a long time!
Just saw this post and YEP...SOUNDS LIKE ME! About a year ago. First, worrying about all these drugs...will they work, side effects... addiction...dependency, etc. will give a perfect sleeper enough anxiety to go sleepless. I'm no doc but I'll offer my own experience and opinion.
15 mg Restoril is the lowest thats normally effective - most people need 30 mg. Being a benzodiazapine many docs try to use it short term.
When I used it I thought it sucked. Put me asleep for 3 hours with nightmares so severe that my screaming and thrashing was heard outside my house.

But if the 30 mg is working for you -- cool. Take your mind off it and let your doc worry about addiction. By the way, addiction is not the correct term with benzo, rather dependency may occur but chill out, you have a legitimate medical problem, your'e not a street user.

As for the 10 day stuff... nothing happens at day 10 as opposed to day 9 or 11. Its just a disclaimer by the manufacturer that after 10 days the prescriber should re-evaluate the patient.
Ambien has the same warning, and I once had a 60 day script with 4 refills! And my doc was no bozo. I have tinnitus induced insomnia. I needed it. (sometimes still use it) Period. I never used all the scripts as I slowly learned to live without the meds - but the comfort of having it there, really reduced my anxiety - without worrying if I'd be cut off of my meds.

Also my experience with Ambien is that it only worked for about 3 to 4 hrs. Ambien is preferable to most other meds because it is not a benzo and it is designed for one use: Sleep. Include the drug Sonata too. I never took Sonata so I don't have much to comment about. However, I did notice that after 2 months of Ambien use, there were times that it didn't work. Sure. A week off or better 2 weeks would probably help. Though Ive read posts from people who've been on Ambien for over a year. Sonata is supposed to excel in not causing dependence or tolerance. Not so with your benzodiazapines: Restoril, Valium, Xanax, and my favorite Klonopin.

One good thing about the benzos is that they also help you relax (anti-anxiety) and let sleep come to you. Where I've experienced that if your all wound up and tense the Ambien won't work as well.

Joan, I see you've done all the behavioral stuff, great. Read the book, "The Promise of Sleep" by Dr. Dement. He finds no fault in a patient needing sleep meds (even long term).

Peace be with you.

Mike

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