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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Temazepam
Question: Hi there,
I have been taking Temazepam for about 6 months or so, started on 10mg and by now I have been taking 40mg. I have had sleeping problems since the beginning of 2012, I am 22 years old so this shouldn't be happening. I have tried so many different things. When this started, I hadn't slept at all one night, so the doctor gave me Temazepam to take only for 3 days, but after the first night of taking it I became so paranoid that I wouldn't sleep the next night so I continued taking it. So here I am over 2 years later, had so many different medications to try and fix it up (which it obviously hasn't). I started with Temazepam, then went to Aldorm as I found Temazepam wasn't working (of course because of tolerance), then went onto Endep for about 18 months, and now back to Temazepam. (I wasn't taking all of these at once, don't worry). It's the underlying anxiety about not sleeping that keeps me stuck in this vicious cycle. I have been to sleep specialists which have referred me to a sleep psychologist (which seemed to be of no help), my mum's previous partner was a hypnotherapist and so I tried some of that which didn't seem to help, I have tried so many things. Anyway, I came off the Endep cold turkey (I know, I know) and it was awful for about a week and started taking Temazepam again to help. I need to come off Temazepam, but because I have been abusing them (taking more than I should because I'm so paranoid I won't sleep), I am unable to get another script to start tapering. The problem is, the more I have of Temazepam with me, the more at risk I am of taking more and giving in to the tapering. So I just want to eliminate the temptation altogether and just deal with it for however long it takes. I know everyone says it's not safe going off benzo's cold turkey, so I don't want to give myself a seziure or anything, but the more I have of it in my house, the more tempted I am to take it and I never progress. I have made an appointment to see my counselor who I used to see for many years to help with the anxiety. Note: My doctor has said to me in the past that I can just stop taking it (I assume she still thinks I have been taking 10mg - I haven't been able to be honest with her). Do you have any advice? I don't have any Temazepam left anyway so I have to go without and I am so sick of this, I just do not want to be prescribed more because this will just keep happening.
I have been taking Temazepam for about 6 months or so, started on 10mg and by now I have been taking 40mg. I have had sleeping problems since the beginning of 2012, I am 22 years old so this shouldn't be happening. I have tried so many different things. When this started, I hadn't slept at all one night, so the doctor gave me Temazepam to take only for 3 days, but after the first night of taking it I became so paranoid that I wouldn't sleep the next night so I continued taking it. So here I am over 2 years later, had so many different medications to try and fix it up (which it obviously hasn't). I started with Temazepam, then went to Aldorm as I found Temazepam wasn't working (of course because of tolerance), then went onto Endep for about 18 months, and now back to Temazepam. (I wasn't taking all of these at once, don't worry). It's the underlying anxiety about not sleeping that keeps me stuck in this vicious cycle. I have been to sleep specialists which have referred me to a sleep psychologist (which seemed to be of no help), my mum's previous partner was a hypnotherapist and so I tried some of that which didn't seem to help, I have tried so many things. Anyway, I came off the Endep cold turkey (I know, I know) and it was awful for about a week and started taking Temazepam again to help. I need to come off Temazepam, but because I have been abusing them (taking more than I should because I'm so paranoid I won't sleep), I am unable to get another script to start tapering. The problem is, the more I have of Temazepam with me, the more at risk I am of taking more and giving in to the tapering. So I just want to eliminate the temptation altogether and just deal with it for however long it takes. I know everyone says it's not safe going off benzo's cold turkey, so I don't want to give myself a seziure or anything, but the more I have of it in my house, the more tempted I am to take it and I never progress. I have made an appointment to see my counselor who I used to see for many years to help with the anxiety. Note: My doctor has said to me in the past that I can just stop taking it (I assume she still thinks I have been taking 10mg - I haven't been able to be honest with her). Do you have any advice? I don't have any Temazepam left anyway so I have to go without and I am so sick of this, I just do not want to be prescribed more because this will just keep happening.
Brief Answer:
What options do you have
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
Now that you dont have any more temazepam with and you are unlikely to get a refill, then in that case, you are not left out with any other option than to stop the medicine cold turkey. Many of my patients do so at 40 mg and most of them don't have much trouble.
Regarding sleep trouble, it essential to maintain a good sleep hygeine:
1) Have some aerobic workouts during day preferably in the morning.
2) Have a light dinner.
3) Completely avoid coffee/tea/alcohol/energy drinks/coke/smoking.
4) Have a warm water bath before going to sleep.
5) Dont try very hard to go to sleep. If you are not sleepy then sit on a couch or sofa and do some reading and go to the bed only when you are sleepy.
6) Avoid watching tv or working on laptop/computer or bright screens at night.
7) Keep the lighting of your bedroom dim and make your bed every morning after you wake up so that you get a cozy bed to sleep at night.
8) Use your bedroom only for sleeping and resting and do not do any other work there.
9) Avoid afternoon nap for any reason.
Further it seems you have not tried the option of low dose of quetiapine 25mg. In low doses quetiapine is very effective for bringing sleep at the same time there are no issue of tolerance and dependence.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
What options do you have
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
Now that you dont have any more temazepam with and you are unlikely to get a refill, then in that case, you are not left out with any other option than to stop the medicine cold turkey. Many of my patients do so at 40 mg and most of them don't have much trouble.
Regarding sleep trouble, it essential to maintain a good sleep hygeine:
1) Have some aerobic workouts during day preferably in the morning.
2) Have a light dinner.
3) Completely avoid coffee/tea/alcohol/energy drinks/coke/smoking.
4) Have a warm water bath before going to sleep.
5) Dont try very hard to go to sleep. If you are not sleepy then sit on a couch or sofa and do some reading and go to the bed only when you are sleepy.
6) Avoid watching tv or working on laptop/computer or bright screens at night.
7) Keep the lighting of your bedroom dim and make your bed every morning after you wake up so that you get a cozy bed to sleep at night.
8) Use your bedroom only for sleeping and resting and do not do any other work there.
9) Avoid afternoon nap for any reason.
Further it seems you have not tried the option of low dose of quetiapine 25mg. In low doses quetiapine is very effective for bringing sleep at the same time there are no issue of tolerance and dependence.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
That is great, thankyou so much for answering my question. I only experienced previous withdrawal symptoms for about a week when coming off the other medication, do you think it will last about the same time? How long until I should start to see a normal sleep pattern start up again? In other words, what should I expect over the next few days/week?
Brief Answer:
About a week
Detailed Answer:
Hello
You may take about a week to get these withdrawal symptoms settled down. If you start quetiapine and follow regular sleep hygeine steps then things should settle down after around 1 month.
Regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy
About a week
Detailed Answer:
Hello
You may take about a week to get these withdrawal symptoms settled down. If you start quetiapine and follow regular sleep hygeine steps then things should settle down after around 1 month.
Regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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