Can anyone name for me a sleeping pill that would have been commonly prescribed to persons undergoing stress-caused insomnia in the mid-to-late 80s? Particularly one with addictive properties? Any related info – brand name vs. generic name, common side effects, etc. – would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
IIRC, in the late 80’s Dalmane (flurazepam) was still the most popular prescription sleeping pill. It’s addictive. Google for other info.
Halcion was very popular back then, but there were many others.
And effects of Halcion? Amnesia. Lots and lots of it - both short term and long term.
In the short term, you could do things (especially right after waking) and have no recollection of them - such as you’d be at work and realize that you had no idea how you got there and have to look in the parking lot to see if you drove in or if you might have taken the bus.
Long term effects? New memories just don’t happen. I’ve got a several-month long black hole in my memory thanks to it - If a friend hadn’t taken pictures, I’d never believe that I’d been to Yosemite that summer. I’ve been there again more recently, and it’s not the kind of place you’d think you’d be able to forget.
I was on Halcion for a while for intractable insomnia. I loved it. Never had any side effects.
The stuff was amazing. Take a pill, lay down, maybe turn on the TV to watch the Tonight Show monologue, the alarm clock goes off, it’s morning now, and the TV is still on.
I wouldn’t even feel it coming on. It was like instant lights out. Woke up fresh as a daisy–never any kind of drugged hangover. Cured my insomnia for a long time, too.
YMMV, I guess.
Quaalude. Aka Sopor.
Meprobamate, aka Miltown.
Also a wide range of barbiturates like Seconal, tuinal, and others.
Just to name a few.
Oops. I was thinking late 70’s! I think Quaaludes were off the market by then. And the barbiturates were pretty uncommon then too.
As already mentioned, dalmane and restoril were commonly used, Halcion was new and being pushed hard by the drug companies about that time, and benadryl was also touted frequently for the purpose of sleep.
Alas, I yearn for those halcyon days of yore, nay, halcion.