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Treated For Anxiety And Insomnia. Taking Restoril, Halcion, And Xanax. Cannot Sleep. Alternate Medicine For This?
Question: I have been treated for anxiety and corresponding chronic insomnia for the past ten years. I've tried every medicine out there and they are not working....like tonight. I need to change so I can sleep!!!
For example: 90 minutes ago I took 40 mg of Restoril, 1mg of Halcion, and 4 mg of Xanax. I'm still wide awake. My main issue is my brain never stops.
I have been through two years of CBT w/ no improvement. I have also participated in an overnight sleep study which showed unusually high brain activity, even while sedated. My problem is I can't find a medication that can shut my brain off at night so I can sleep, resulting in an average of 3-5 hours a night at best, which brings on the anxiety and depression because I can't function at my job. I'm a high level exec at a major bank with a 60-70 hr work week. What can put me to sleep? That is the root cause.
I have also practiced good sleep hygiene for the past 10 years with no luck unfortunately. Help!!
For example: 90 minutes ago I took 40 mg of Restoril, 1mg of Halcion, and 4 mg of Xanax. I'm still wide awake. My main issue is my brain never stops.
I have been through two years of CBT w/ no improvement. I have also participated in an overnight sleep study which showed unusually high brain activity, even while sedated. My problem is I can't find a medication that can shut my brain off at night so I can sleep, resulting in an average of 3-5 hours a night at best, which brings on the anxiety and depression because I can't function at my job. I'm a high level exec at a major bank with a 60-70 hr work week. What can put me to sleep? That is the root cause.
I have also practiced good sleep hygiene for the past 10 years with no luck unfortunately. Help!!
Hello
Welcome to XXXXXXX
You are a 38 year old male and suffering from severe insomnia, anxiety disorder and pain. You are currently on Temazepam 40, Triazolam 1 mg and Alprazolam 4 mg. You have a lot of work about 10 hours per day and you have been through CBT sessions also for 2 years. You have also tried sleep hygiene but no improvement.
I have understand your problem to some extent. There may be either of two problems in you-
You have problem of primary insomnia and the long term insomnia has precipitated anxiety and somatic symptoms.
Second possibility is anxiety disorder. You have some form of anxiety disorder and also excessive work related stress which has precipitated secondary insomnia.
As per my opinion anxiety has precipitated insomnia in you. Some times due to stress or anxiety we are not able to sleep properly and this results in excessive worry about getting sleep. Our mind got compelled to think about sleep again and again, which further worsen insomnia. Ultimately a vicious cycle of "worry-anxiety-insomnia-worry" is formed. We have to break this cycle.
One modality of treatment is cognitive restructuring by CBT. You have already attended CBT sessions with no improvement. Still I would like to advise you for Behavior Therapy. Try relaxation method like Jacobson's Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Breathing Exercises, Yoga, Meditation etc methods. Try to keep yourself relaxed.
Follow sleep hygiene methods. Never take alcohol, coffee, tea in evening. Don't read or watch TV from bed.
Now coming to medicines. You are taking Benzodiazepines in high doses and these are not benefitting you. I am afraid that you have become tolerant to these drug. Try to decrease the dose of drugs and start taking one drug only as all three are of same group. Don't stop taking abruptly instead decrease dose gradually.
I would like to advise you to take Mirtazepine in doses of 7.5-15 mg. It is a good antidepressant and anti anxiety medicine and also used in insomnia. It has different mechanism of action than benzodiazepine. I hope this drug will help you in sleeping and will also improve your anxiety. Along with mirtazepine you can take xanex 2-4 mg till you stop it completely.
You have problem of early insomnia and intermittent awakening so you can take Zolpidem Extended release tablet 12.5 also. The drug has slightly different action than Benzodiazepines and also don't cause dependence.
For detailed evaluation visit a Psychiatrist.
And last advise, try to go on holidays and decrease the work stress a little bit. Work is important but health is also equally important.
Hope it helps you, if you have more queries you can ask again.
Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD
Welcome to XXXXXXX
You are a 38 year old male and suffering from severe insomnia, anxiety disorder and pain. You are currently on Temazepam 40, Triazolam 1 mg and Alprazolam 4 mg. You have a lot of work about 10 hours per day and you have been through CBT sessions also for 2 years. You have also tried sleep hygiene but no improvement.
I have understand your problem to some extent. There may be either of two problems in you-
You have problem of primary insomnia and the long term insomnia has precipitated anxiety and somatic symptoms.
Second possibility is anxiety disorder. You have some form of anxiety disorder and also excessive work related stress which has precipitated secondary insomnia.
As per my opinion anxiety has precipitated insomnia in you. Some times due to stress or anxiety we are not able to sleep properly and this results in excessive worry about getting sleep. Our mind got compelled to think about sleep again and again, which further worsen insomnia. Ultimately a vicious cycle of "worry-anxiety-insomnia-worry" is formed. We have to break this cycle.
One modality of treatment is cognitive restructuring by CBT. You have already attended CBT sessions with no improvement. Still I would like to advise you for Behavior Therapy. Try relaxation method like Jacobson's Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Breathing Exercises, Yoga, Meditation etc methods. Try to keep yourself relaxed.
Follow sleep hygiene methods. Never take alcohol, coffee, tea in evening. Don't read or watch TV from bed.
Now coming to medicines. You are taking Benzodiazepines in high doses and these are not benefitting you. I am afraid that you have become tolerant to these drug. Try to decrease the dose of drugs and start taking one drug only as all three are of same group. Don't stop taking abruptly instead decrease dose gradually.
I would like to advise you to take Mirtazepine in doses of 7.5-15 mg. It is a good antidepressant and anti anxiety medicine and also used in insomnia. It has different mechanism of action than benzodiazepine. I hope this drug will help you in sleeping and will also improve your anxiety. Along with mirtazepine you can take xanex 2-4 mg till you stop it completely.
You have problem of early insomnia and intermittent awakening so you can take Zolpidem Extended release tablet 12.5 also. The drug has slightly different action than Benzodiazepines and also don't cause dependence.
For detailed evaluation visit a Psychiatrist.
And last advise, try to go on holidays and decrease the work stress a little bit. Work is important but health is also equally important.
Hope it helps you, if you have more queries you can ask again.
Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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