Anyone had success coming off sleeping tablets?

[UpsyDaisyDo]

I've been using a combination of Clonazapam and Zolpidem (prescribed for anxiety and sleep problems) for about 2 years now and think its safe to say I'm physically addicted to them. I have an appointment with my consultant psychiatrist tomorrow so will discuss with him but just wondered if anyone has successfully come off their medication and been able to fall asleep by themselves again. I've tried but end up tossing and turning for hours. I'm the kind of person who needs a lot of sleep (I was almost in tears last night at work I was so tired from the previous nights lack of sleep). Before ds (5)was born I never had a problem falling and staying asleep and would do anything to be the same again.

In the past psych has suggested mirtazapine as an alternative but I've heard the side effects of this can be horrendous. I'm in a far better place now mentally than I've been in years and really want to ditch the meds.

Had a long chat with my psychiatrist last night and he has put me on 30mg of Mirtazapine. He said that I can still take 75mg of Venlafaxine in the mornings for a week or so as well (currently on 150mg) as I get dreadful cold sweats at night when I reduce my dose.

I took one last night after ds when to bed and was in bed with the light off 45 minutes later at 8.30pm! I slept right through till about 3am when ds was shouting in his sleep then went back off until 7am. Feel absolutely fine this morning. Took the pill extra early as I was really worried about feeling drowsy today at work.

For those of you who have taken Mirtazapine do you think this will last (ie the wonderful long, refreshing sleeps!) or is it a side effect that will wear off?

Hi upsy glad that you are giving the mirtazapine a try.

Alas I found the lovely long, effortless 10 hour sleeps only last 2 weeks or so...

but in the longer term it helped with my anxiety and so helped with my sleep that way, so it's all good!

Hope it suits you well. As it's one of the newer ADs it seems to have less of the horrible side effects like nausea, dry mouth etc.

I had a long chat with a pharmacist yesterday about the sedating anti-hystamines (nytol, sominex - sold as sleeping aids over the counter, and piriton - sold for allergies).
I was asking her if there are any long term adverse effects of using them and the only one seems to be that they become less effective over time. She said they are not physically addictive. She seemed to think it was far preferable to other sleeping aids, even valerian (which is strong, even though it's herbal).

I asked if you become 'immune' to one type through long term use then are the others still effective? She seemed to think so but I'm not convinced.
Nytol doesn't seem to be working so well for me any more.

Someone on here mentioned using piriton (ExpatinScotland?). The pharmacist said that was a short acting one which is why it isn't licensed to be sold as a sleeping aid. Therefore I imagine it may be good to use to get back to sleep part way through the night but not at the start of the night as it wears off after a few hours unlike sominex and nytol, but you could try using one of the others at the start of the night and see if it works.

Sorry am becoming a sleep medication geek !

Upsy I love the sound of your good sleep, I had a terrible night last night! My doctor is adamant she won't give me mirtazapine ! Am a bit annoyed they don't take me very seriously, am thinking of changing doctors .

I'd thought about the cannabis but won't touch the stuff now because (apart from the fact that it's illegal and I'm a lawyer!) after heavy use in my late teens and early twenties I got really bad panic attacks. Not what I need right now!

Hmm GetDown I knew it was too good to be true! Still I will enjoy the nice sleeps while they last plus my psych said I can stop them whenever I want as there shouldn't be any withdrawl symptoms like there will be with the venlafaxine so at least it will be one less med I'm taking. I can then concentrate on trying to retrain myself slowly to sleep without anything . Great that its helped with your anxiety. Funnily enough he told me last night that it was one of the ad's that was less effective at reducing anxiety and that if I was still having attacks (I'm not thankfully) I should stick with venlafaxine.

arcadia how come your doc won't give you mirtazapine? Are you on AD's anyway? Yes I would definitely stay away from the cannabis I've never liked it myself and especially wouldn't touch it now as I think it would probably do me more harm than good like you say.

Have you tried Phenergan (promethazine)? You can buy that over the counter in 10mg or 25mg tablets. It takes a while to work (its an antihistamine but can be used for sedation) but is quite effective.

Arcadia I can't help smiling at imagining you being a cannabis-smoking lawyer . I lived in Amsterdam for a year as a student - it took a while to get used to cannabis being so accepted there. I actually miss the smell of Amsterdam. I didn't smoke it myself as I hate smoking but did indulge in the odd space cake - didn't really like the effect though. I am such a wuss when it comes to medication. I hate taking parectomol! A glass of wine is about as medicated as I ever get myself these days...

Is this the rival insomnia thread then??? Hello to all the other non-sleepers here!

Hmmm, upsy I'd be careful re. stopping the mirtazapine suddenly. They SAY there are no withdrawal symptoms, but you don't have to look too far to find loads of people who have struggled to get off mirtazapine.

I myself have been withdrawing since may, and I was only on 15mg.

'Therefore I imagine it may be good to use to get back to sleep part way through the night '

See, it works for me because once I go to sleep, I generally don't waken (unless that arsehole speed freak starts cranking his bass up in the small hours like the pathetic tweaker he is).

But I have hella problems getting off to sleep at all.

I hadn't realised there were different types of insomnia until my psychiatrist asked me - do you find yourself unable to fall asleep? are you able to fall asleep, but waken often in the night? are you able to fall asleep, but you waken at 3AM or later and can't get back to sleep?

Hmm, I hadn't thought of all that because for me it's that I can't get off to sleep.

And because I have anxiety issues, just about anything sets it off.

Mine problem is getting off to sleep too expat. If I wake early I can generally drift off again without too much trouble. I know that mine is down to the medication though. I think it was Duritzfan who said earlier that she had to literally retrain herself to fall asleep again. Its reassuring to know that it can be done though.

GetDown thanks for the heads up re withdrawal. Have you found that the depression/anxiety has got worse as you've reduced the dose or are your withdrawal symptons different?

That's wierd expat I have no problems getting off to sleep at bedtime.

You have a different type of insomnia, arcadia. I hadn't realised there were different types until my consultant brought it up.

But I have major problems falling asleep at bedtime. I'm a night owl as it is, and can easily be up till 2 or even 4AM with wretched insomnia.

upsy for me it's always the sleep - if I reduce any drug too quickly the sleep always goes first. I have to do it very very slowly. I think at least part of it is psychological, but regardless, the insomnia still comes!

I was addicted to Zopiclone for over 3 years (thanks to a kind but stupid Gp who kept on dishing out repeat prescriptions).My intake was and I realised I had to get off the damn things before I overdosed.

I went cold turkey over 6 years ago now,it was tough and I sometimes still yearn for a magic pill to knock me out,but I'm so glad I don't rely on them anymore

I do sleep now,but I still have issues with dropping off but I think that is down to my inability to switch my mind off and anxiety issues.

How about trying some deep meditation techniques? Lots of mp3's out there.

poshwellies - you went cold turkey after 3 years on zopiclone

Respect to you, that must have been hell?!?!??!

It was pretty hellish for about 6 weeks Getdown,I think it helped that I was also on AD's though,I was just so determined to come off the damn things,I rode it out.
I was using them to block out all my life at that time munching on them from teatime,so in a pretty, piss poor state of mind.

Even after all these years off them,I can still envoke the 'taste' of bitterness that zopiclone has when it kicks in.

I've taken sleepers since but only for short bursts if needed (1 week max and not daily)but I'd never go back to zops.

poshwellies which ones do you take then if you need to?

I take 10mg of Temazepam,and I only take them if really, really desperate.

They don't knock me out but just relax me,which helps as I find it hard to let sleep get me at night.

Wow poshwellies withdrawal from zopiclone must have been hideous. I had dreadful nightmares when coming off them before I was put on zolpidem.

I've been on mirtazipine since last November and have tried to come off it twice. The first time was in March and my insomnia came back just like that. I think was on 7.5g and stopped gradually but quite quickly. Second time was in July - much more gradual this time but still the insomnia came back. So now I am trying again - I am down to taking 3.75g twice a week (which my doctor says has no clinical effect ...). This time I have the Paul McKenna book (I can make you sleep) which I am finding helpful to read if I wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep and I have been building up my magnesium levels since March by taking a supplement. Fingers crossed I can finally come off it (and start trying for another baby!).

PS Great to see some familiar names on this thread!

Hi katze I am in a very similar position to you... been trying to get off mirtazapine so we can try for another baby.

I was taking 15mg since June 2009. I have been cutting it down very slowly and now take a quarter tablet like you (3.75) every night.

I think it's just a psychological dependence now - thinking I can sleep because I've taken it. Are you going to cut them in 8ths before finally stopping? I am wondering if I can just stop now that I've got down to 3.75?

Hi GetDown
It's been ages since I have been on Mumsnet but now I have happy news that I got pregnant and have had a beautiful baby daughter. I didn't manage to come of mirtazapine and am continuing with a low dose