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Suggest Treatment For Insomnia While On Xanax

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Posted on Sat, 27 May 2017
Question: doctor . i have been taking sleeping pills xanax for mare than 18 years . dosage at this moment .25 mg some time increased due to difficult sleeping up to .40 mg . now my age is 58 yrs . how to minimice the dosage .
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (13 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Please give me some more info

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking in HCM

I can understand your concern

I need some more information about this for example:

Why are you taking for so long sleeping pills,which means is it the doctor that has prescribe it to you or you have taken them by your own?

Do you have any other known diseases or do you take any other medications?

The most important clue in your case for me is to know the main reason or the correct diagnosis and than to discuss about reducing the dose of xanax

Take care and feel free to ask me again

Dr.Jolanda
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Jolanda (3 hours later)
At first time I take sleeping pills due to have stomach/maag problem GERD doctor prescrib xantac and ativan .
Ten yrs ago I visit psychiatri and the psy give me antidepresan . I take for one year but can not reduce the dosage . After that I consult to gastro doctor and the doctor give me xanax and med for GERD ( PPI ) . And now in my age 58 even taking the same
dosage of xanax still can not sleep.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Avoid coffee,coca cola ,the energetic drinks

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

As you explain you suffer from GERD too.

We suppose that your insomnia is due to stomach problems (GERD)

As a result the first step is to treat well GERD

For treating GERD despite the treatment you should be careful with the foods ,no spicy,no smoking,no alchohol, to lose some weight (if you are overweight),try to eat the dinner earlier,sleeping with your head in 45 grade upright position.

Avoid daytime naps. Do physical activity too

Than you will see if there will be changes in your sleep cycle.

I strongly recommend you to reduce gradually the dose of xanax (which means half of the tab for some days than a quarter of the tab for some other days and so on)

Avoid coffee,coca cola ,the energetic drinks. You can drink chamomile tea before sleeping

Usually we do not recommend sleeping pills in absence of a real causes (disease)

So please think about the above .

I know it is really hard but you can do it.

Regards

Dr.Jolanda


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Jolanda

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 2902 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Insomnia While On Xanax

Brief Answer: Please give me some more info Detailed Answer: Hello and thank you for asking in HCM I can understand your concern I need some more information about this for example: Why are you taking for so long sleeping pills,which means is it the doctor that has prescribe it to you or you have taken them by your own? Do you have any other known diseases or do you take any other medications? The most important clue in your case for me is to know the main reason or the correct diagnosis and than to discuss about reducing the dose of xanax Take care and feel free to ask me again Dr.Jolanda