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How Long Can Rivotril Be Taken?
Question: I have been taking rivotril .5 mg for over 5 years. I am 41 years old male diabetic with hypertension. Both are controlled well. I am unable to sleep without rivotril. Is it OK to continue rivotril for long duration? What should I do further?
Brief Answer:
It is not advisable to continue
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for your query. Welcome to HCM.
Causes of insomnia can be so many. We have to address the cause of insomnia because at this age there should not be this much sleep problem. There are other factors also.
Are you taking any substances like alcohol, tobacco (smoking)? Or other street drugs?
Are you suffering from depression or anxiety disorder?
Who prescribed you rivotril?
Do you follow the sleep hygiene? If not then read from the internet and follow the steps. It can cure your insomnia. If the insomnia is due to other reasons then it can be treted by correcting underlying cause.
Answer the questions. It will help me in answering your query in better way.
Long term use of benzodiazepines beyond 4 to 6 weeks is not advisable; because they are habit forming. If it is only insomnia without any other reason then you must change the drug. I would give my patients zolpidem or zopiclone. These drugs are approved for treatment of insomnia.
I have tried answering your query. Revert back with answers. Wish you good health.
It is not advisable to continue
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for your query. Welcome to HCM.
Causes of insomnia can be so many. We have to address the cause of insomnia because at this age there should not be this much sleep problem. There are other factors also.
Are you taking any substances like alcohol, tobacco (smoking)? Or other street drugs?
Are you suffering from depression or anxiety disorder?
Who prescribed you rivotril?
Do you follow the sleep hygiene? If not then read from the internet and follow the steps. It can cure your insomnia. If the insomnia is due to other reasons then it can be treted by correcting underlying cause.
Answer the questions. It will help me in answering your query in better way.
Long term use of benzodiazepines beyond 4 to 6 weeks is not advisable; because they are habit forming. If it is only insomnia without any other reason then you must change the drug. I would give my patients zolpidem or zopiclone. These drugs are approved for treatment of insomnia.
I have tried answering your query. Revert back with answers. Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
The doctor at spandana clinic in rajaji XXXXXXX XXXXXXX I am a teetotaler. I had problems or rather exaggerated feelings about my health. At that time they took me out of anxit and put me on rivotril .5 mg. I am OK to change to zolpidem but worried about withdrawal symptoms of rivotril. Sleeping habits is normal for me except when on some odd stressed out situationsThe current medicines are
Pan 40 trivolib1 before breakfast amtas 5 concor2.5 after breakfast. Night before meal trivolib 1 and before sleep rivotril.5 and nexito 5. Looking to replace rivotril and nexito as suggested with zolpidem.
Pan 40 trivolib1 before breakfast amtas 5 concor2.5 after breakfast. Night before meal trivolib 1 and before sleep rivotril.5 and nexito 5. Looking to replace rivotril and nexito as suggested with zolpidem.
Brief Answer:
Tapering rivotril over 1 month would help
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
If you were my patient then I would have suggested you to continue nexito and to taper rivotril to 0.25 mg over a period of 1 week and then to withdraw completely within next 4 weeks, initially taking it daily and then alternate day or further decreasing the dose would help.
At the same time I would have started Zolpidem 5 mg initially to see the effects.
You have to go for regular check up for other parameters for diabetes and hypertension regularly. Medication for these should be taken without interruption.
Nexito must be stopped after 2 to 3 months.
Discuss these suggestions with your treating doctor or psychiatrist and follow his advice.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Tapering rivotril over 1 month would help
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
If you were my patient then I would have suggested you to continue nexito and to taper rivotril to 0.25 mg over a period of 1 week and then to withdraw completely within next 4 weeks, initially taking it daily and then alternate day or further decreasing the dose would help.
At the same time I would have started Zolpidem 5 mg initially to see the effects.
You have to go for regular check up for other parameters for diabetes and hypertension regularly. Medication for these should be taken without interruption.
Nexito must be stopped after 2 to 3 months.
Discuss these suggestions with your treating doctor or psychiatrist and follow his advice.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Answered by
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