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Suggest Treatment For Long Term Insomnia
Question: Hello, I have a long term insomnia ( 8 years), I was taking AmbienCR for the long time, but stopped taking in this summer. Now I 'm suffering with a luck of sleep and as result: headaches and fatigue . I'm falling a sleep at 2:30-3 AM, although I go to bed at 11-11:30 PM. I'm using some supplement from the drug store, but no results so far. What you can recommend ? Thanks, XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Medicines like Trazodon along with good sleep hygiene can help you
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I can understand your concern. You have long term insomnia since last 8 years. Ambien is Zolpidem and though considered as safe drug but still it is known to cause tolerance and dependence. I appreciate your efforts to stop taking the drug. Now you have problems of falling asleep.
As you have severe insomnia so I would advise you to consult a sleep specialist or psychiatrist for help. Medicines like Trazodon, Mirtazapine, Doxepine can be used in your case. These medicines don't produce tolerance and have no abuse potential. These are safe to use and are free of serious side effects if taken with proper prescription. You can consult a doctor for prescription of these drugs. If possible try to avoid ambien or any other benzodiazepine drug.
I would also advise you to improve your sleep hygiene. Following measures should be done along with medicines to get good sleep-
- Fix your time to go to sleep and if you fails to get asleep with in 10-15 minutes then get up from bed and try to divert your attention from sleep. Don't think about not getting sleep again and again on bed.
- Use your bed only for sleeping. Go to the bed when you want to sleep. Don't use bed for reading something or watching TV.
- Avoid tea, coffee or carbonated drinks in evening. Even avoid chocolates in evening.
- Light exercise in evening will help you in getting good sleep.
- Bathing in evening with warm water help in good sleep.
- Start taking Omega-3-Fatty acids supplements. These supplements will help in improving your symptoms like headache, fatigue.
Try to follow these simple measures and you will definitely see good results. Thanks, hope this helps you. Please ask again in follow up question for more doubts.
Medicines like Trazodon along with good sleep hygiene can help you
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I can understand your concern. You have long term insomnia since last 8 years. Ambien is Zolpidem and though considered as safe drug but still it is known to cause tolerance and dependence. I appreciate your efforts to stop taking the drug. Now you have problems of falling asleep.
As you have severe insomnia so I would advise you to consult a sleep specialist or psychiatrist for help. Medicines like Trazodon, Mirtazapine, Doxepine can be used in your case. These medicines don't produce tolerance and have no abuse potential. These are safe to use and are free of serious side effects if taken with proper prescription. You can consult a doctor for prescription of these drugs. If possible try to avoid ambien or any other benzodiazepine drug.
I would also advise you to improve your sleep hygiene. Following measures should be done along with medicines to get good sleep-
- Fix your time to go to sleep and if you fails to get asleep with in 10-15 minutes then get up from bed and try to divert your attention from sleep. Don't think about not getting sleep again and again on bed.
- Use your bed only for sleeping. Go to the bed when you want to sleep. Don't use bed for reading something or watching TV.
- Avoid tea, coffee or carbonated drinks in evening. Even avoid chocolates in evening.
- Light exercise in evening will help you in getting good sleep.
- Bathing in evening with warm water help in good sleep.
- Start taking Omega-3-Fatty acids supplements. These supplements will help in improving your symptoms like headache, fatigue.
Try to follow these simple measures and you will definitely see good results. Thanks, hope this helps you. Please ask again in follow up question for more doubts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you very much, Dr.Bishnoi,
What do you think about medication like Sonata? Trazodon doesn't help me to fall asleep at all. There other medications being advertised as well.
Do you mean that I have to see a specialist to do a test for sleep apnea? Why psychiatrist? I don't see any problem on this side.
Thanks,
XXXXXXX
What do you think about medication like Sonata? Trazodon doesn't help me to fall asleep at all. There other medications being advertised as well.
Do you mean that I have to see a specialist to do a test for sleep apnea? Why psychiatrist? I don't see any problem on this side.
Thanks,
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Zaleplon (Sonata) is similar to Ambient (Zolpidem)
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking again
Sonata is Zaleplon and the drug belongs to Z-drugs and this is similar to Zolpidem or Ambien. As per my opinion this will may provide momentarily benefit but this would not be useful on regular basis. It is not advisable to take this drug on regular basis because of fear of dependence and development of tolerance.
No I don't think you have any problem of sleep apnea. The problems of chronic insomnia are usually seen by a Psychiatrist or Sleep Specialist. This is the reason I advised you to take opinion from a sleep specialist or psychiatrist.
You have chronic insomnia and proper attention for this is needed and should be treated with medicines that don't cause any dependence and can prove useful even on regular basis.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please ask again if you have more doubts left.
Zaleplon (Sonata) is similar to Ambient (Zolpidem)
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking again
Sonata is Zaleplon and the drug belongs to Z-drugs and this is similar to Zolpidem or Ambien. As per my opinion this will may provide momentarily benefit but this would not be useful on regular basis. It is not advisable to take this drug on regular basis because of fear of dependence and development of tolerance.
No I don't think you have any problem of sleep apnea. The problems of chronic insomnia are usually seen by a Psychiatrist or Sleep Specialist. This is the reason I advised you to take opinion from a sleep specialist or psychiatrist.
You have chronic insomnia and proper attention for this is needed and should be treated with medicines that don't cause any dependence and can prove useful even on regular basis.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please ask again if you have more doubts left.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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