I sometimes get insomnia. When I do, the only thing that works is sleeping tablets. CBT, sleep hygiene, anti-depressants, anti-histamine a…I’ve tried them all and they just don’t work for me. Unfortunately, tolerance to sleeping tablets build quickly. My question is: Is it possible to delay tolerance by only taking the pills once every two or three nights? If so, how long can I delay it for (roughly)? Thanks.
P.S. Apologies for typos - posting from phone.
PPS - The sleeping tablet I normally take is called zopiclone. Not sure if that makes a difference. I’ve heard temazepam is supposed to be quite sedating so I might ask for that next time.
P.P.P.S. - I don’t drink, and Weed gives me panic attacks so I can’t use them either.
IANAD. What works for me is Trazadone. It’s an old anti-anxiety medicine that isn’t used much for that because it makes most people sleepy. I’ve been taking the same dose for decades. Ask your doctor.
Yes, you can delay and even reverse tolerance to OTC sleeping pills. Just don’t take them every night.
Temazepam is related to Valium and drugs like it. One does build a tolerance to it, and it can be addictive. If taken for an extended period, then stopped, withdrawal is likely.
There are some good natural sleeping pills that one can purchase at health food stores. I have heard that melatonin is not good, (even though it does help with insomnia) because it interferes with serotonin levels in the brain, which in turn can cause depression. I am not sure if it is OK to take prescription sleeping pills intermittently. Unfortunately, you may go through a withdrawal period while not taking them.
IANAD, but Zopiclone can cause insomnia when discontinued after prolonged use. Its is certainly best to use them sparingly - I don’t recall continuous use being recommended for more then two weeks.
If you have that big meeting tomorrow -take a pill. If tomorrow is Sunday - make popcorn and watch a Modern family marathon or read a book. Works for me, even if Im still up when sun rises.
I’ve just been prescribed Zopiclone again, and like previous times I’ve been told it works best when taken intermittently.
Ultimately, sleeping tablets are only a temporary solution, which can allow you to get some sleep whilst dealing with the underlying problems that are causing insomnia.
Another one for Trazadone. I took it many years ago when I was married, then didn’t take it for a long time, then got back on it about 2 years ago.
I’m a light sleeper, and when I’m stressed, I go into what I call ‘the Spin Cycle’. Wake up every 3-10 minutes (depending on how bad), roll over, go back to sleep. Rinse and repeat all night. In the worst stressed out days, it is something I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemies. I once dislocated my shoulder thrashing around violently in my sleep. Woke up face down with my right shoulder beneath me.
Trazadone stops that cold. I only wake in the middle of the night to pee, or maybe from some odd dream or my cat waking me up.
I am aware that it doesn’t work well for some people, or they have unpleasant side effects. The most common is feeling tired or dragged out all day.
It’s also cheap. $4 for 30 days or $10 for 90 days from Walmart - of the 50mg tablets, and most people only take 1/2 per night.
You can build up a tolerance to any sleeping aid, and I would expect that taking it more intermittently would indeed reduce that. Quitting it can also cause rebound insomnia.
Depending on your level of sensitivity, you may found that the rebound can kick in after a very short time (when I had a stash of Ambien around, even a single night did that to me but I was an outlier).