Drugs for sleep

[Earthworm]

[I take Risperdal for sleep] And now I'm wondering if there is a better drug/safer drug out there that I can take instead. Any ideas to what I could switch to?

 

I am on 26mg Celexa atm... been here for over a year or more I think. I've been taking Risperdal 1mg every night for the past 5.5 years in order to sleep. Things like magnesium, Benadryl, breathing exercises, all don't work even a little bit. Without Risperdal I simply don't sleep. As a side effect it makes me sleep... or maybe it is not a side effect, but it simply corrects something in my brain temporarily which blocks me from sleeping... who knows. It does not knock me out, It takes an hour or 2 for me to start to feel sleepy. My sleep is not very deep, but it is restful, and that's what matters.

 

I don't know if it is the Celexa that keeps me from sleeping. At one point in my former tapers, I was down to 3.6mg Celexa, and sleep did not improve, so I'm thinking it might not be the Celexa, but some brain damage from my original discontinuation (which started my WD).

 

If there are also supplements that can make me sleep, I'd be interested to find out. Although melatonin does not work.

Edited October 23, 2021 by Altostrata
merged similar topics

[Abella]

I hear you on the sleep thing. Sleep is my big challenge, so I'm a little nervous about trying to taper off doxepin again. I do find that melatonin seems to help, although on the other hand, I also went back up on the doxepin shortly after I started the melatonin and because my sleep improved again I was hesitant to change anything. I've tried Mg but can't tell if it does anything. I take 9mg of melatonin at night but am trying to cut back to 6mg in case I need to increase it to help with sleep when I start cutting back on doxepin. Not sure if that's the best route, but my psychiatrist doesn't deal with melatonin or anything outside prescription meds.

 

Another thing I take is called Babuna. It's a chamomile homeopathic, but it's supposed to be more potent. I forget why. I've also tried Moon Drops, a homeopathic. Not sure it's done much for me, but I know people who love it. A friend of mine recommended vetivers, an essential oil that you can put on your sheets or in a diffuser. I want to try it for my daughter--haven't yet. I was just reading about leptin resistance and cold therapy, and I haven't delved into it much yet, but I can post the links. I have tried so many things to help with sleep, lots of meds, and doxepin is the only thing that's bearable. Anyway, not sure if that helps, but this is the focus of my search right now, so if I uncover anything that seems promising I can post about it.

 

wellnessmama/4936/how-to-improve-sleep-naturally/   Lots of basic stuff here, but other things I hadn't read before also, like cold water therapy.

www.jackkruse.com/my-leptin-prescription/    Have not read this yet, just skimmed.

 

[alexjuice]

Find a less dangerous sleep aid.

 

Risperdal at a sleep dosage isn't near as bad as at the level used for psyhcosis but remains an extremely toxic drug. Seriously!

 

Try l-ornithine start w/ a small dose and make sure you tolerate and then keep increasing up to a few grams and see if you can sleep. Keep a food log. Exercise in the outside for 20-30 minutes 2x a day, once in the morning once in the late afternoon; walking is good. In bed by 9pm. No eating after dark. No TV after dark (i'm on internet right now and its 10:47)

 

good luck

[Altostrata]

Risperdal is a horrible drug but at 1mg I would think the risks are minimal.

[GiaK]

and DON'T come off Risperdal quickly...

 

1mg isn't all that low really, just in that it's a very potent drug...it's true that it's prescribed at much higher doses, but 1 mg is still a significant dose... so a slow taper of 10% at a time...just like with the celexa or any other psych med is warranted.

[alexjuice]

I agree w/ Gia. 1mg risperdal is significant. Dr Caring thinks it ridiculous that I took 5mg and risperdal is prescribed even higher than that. So it's not a heinous dose but it's almost surely terribly and unnecessarily destrctive at that level.

 

I would be very concerned taking 1mg of risperidone every day for anything.

[tezza]

Risperdal is a very potent drug and I agree with Gia and Alex, 1mg is a 'significant' dose. That was my original dose and I tried to stop taking it at .5 mg and was very sick for two years. I'm still not over leaving it off for only two weeks before reinstating.

 

Its considered a major tranquilizer, that's why it helps you sleep. It helped me sleep too and it's what I have the most trouble stopping. I'm scared to go too fast with tapering it. I was on it three months when I started taking half of it. I didn't realize it until later but I had some WDs when I halved the pill.

 

It's a horrible drug in many ways!

 

Hugs!

[Nikki]

I checked [trazodone] out at crazymeds.  Can anyone here tell me more about it.  I don't take it.

 

Does it cause dopiness, chronic tiredness, etc?  I thought it was meant for nighttime use...

 

Nikki

Edited October 31, 2018 by Altostrata
added clarification

[compsports]

All I know about it is it is commonly prescribed as a med for insomnia. My first sleep doctor wanted me to take but I declined since it caused horrific side effect previously including one time, causing me to fall from dizziness due to getting up too quickly. Fortunately, I wasn't seriously hurt.

 

It also causes nasal congestion and with my sinus issues, that is the last thing I needed.

[Nikki]

Thank you for getting back to me.  My daughter is taking it.  And something is seriously wrong.  I am hoping it is the medicine and that she is not on drugs, or having  walking nervous breakdown.

 

I am very worried and when I try to address it, she gets ugly/mad.

 

She seems very sedated.  Like there is a glaze over her face/eyes.  She is waking up looking hung over and always tired.  "She" the person I know is not  there.  I have never seen this before.  She is very morose, negative, doesn't laugh or smile anymore.  There doesn't seem to be a filter between her head and mouth.  She looks high but in a sedated way.

 

The doctor she is seeing is not good at prescribing.  My daughter has bad anxiety and she initially gave her Wellbutrin.  Disastrous.  Now it Trazadone.  She has anxiety and depression.

 

She had her first panic attack at about 12-13.  I was newly divorced and her father in one of his rages because her cell phone bill was high told her "he doesn't want her in his life."  She got off the phone and collapsed in my arms.  I took her for a long ride along the beach to talk.

 

From that point on she has had bad anxiety and then the ensuing depression.

 

I cannot talk to her without being yelled at.  I can't get through to discuss the medication issue if that is what it is.  The Psychiatrist she sees has her younger patients take a drug test every three months right before their appointment.

 

When she was taking pain meds (prescribed) she would nod out.  This is different.  She is not nodding out.

 

I am ready to jump off the Jupiter Lighthouse.  How can you help them, or try to talk to them.  I keep hitting a wall.

[compsports]

Obviously, I am not a medical professional but it sure looks like your daughter is being adversely effected by the med.

 

The situation with your daughter reminds me when my mother tried to warn me about the psych meds I was on several years ago. Unfortunately, I was too spellbound to listen and blew her off. I cringe when I think of that.

 

I think what I am saying is you are in a tough position and I have no good advice to give you.  Hopefully, someone will chime in who can help.

[Nikki]

There really isn't any advise anyone could give. This kid is going to send me to a psych ward.  It never ends.

 

My bff said yesterday it sounds like the trazadone.  I've seen her on benzos and pain meds and this is different.  My understanding is that trazadone is not prescribed as an AD but as a sleep aid.  Ellen mentioned in her post that there is a metabolite in trazadone that can cause daytime anxiety.

 

This doctor is really off the mark here. 

 

I guess I would like to know from people who have actually taken it, if this sounds like a side effect of too much.

 

Honest to God, if I had the money I would move to another state, just to be free from the ongoing drama and stress.  It's endless.

Next week it will be something else.

 

This may be a situation where I am powerless.  Accepting that and moving on is tough, but sometimes there isn't anything we could do, especially if they don't want to hear it.  Hard to watch.

[Altostrata]

Please use Google to find out more about trazodone.

 

Use search on this site to see discussions about it.

[Ellen042]

Nikki, of course you know my experience with trazodone, but let me assure you again.  EVERYTHING you described about your daughter on trazodone I've also experienced and lived through.  I seriously doubt she's on illicit drugs.  I firmly believe the trazodone is the cause of all you've described- even her refusal to talk about it.  Yes, it causes dopiness, chronic tiredness, nervous breakdowns, irritability, yelling, impulsive speech, ect. That's just from my own personal experience in taking it.  Her doctor has her taking it in the daytime?!?  I can't imagine how horrible that must be.  At least mine has the nighttime to wear off a little before daybreak.  I don't know if she's taking too much of it, as I believe any amount of trazodone is too much.  Have you talked to her doctor about weaning off it, even if he wants to put her on something else?  I'm so sorry she was put on this stuff.  I feel for you.  Please take heart though in knowing that your daughter hasn't changed; she's just having an adverse reaction to it.  And I'm going to tell you something that I NEVER intended to post on this site, as it goes against the 10% per month rule.  I don't want you to be afraid of her not being able to get off the drug.  I found a dose reduction that works ME.  Both a 5% and a 50% reduction failed for me, but now I'm on a 25% reduction (sorry guys), and I'm not getting the rebound migraines, irritability, anxiety, or insomnia.  This is still week one of my dose reduction, so WD symptoms could pop up later, but I'm planning to stay on this dose for at least a month to stabalize for good.  Only then will I give a thought to dropping further.  Everyone's body is different, so you may need to adjust what the doctor recommends for weening.  I sure had too!!!  She had me coming off it WAY to fast.  Just know that the drug can and does do all the awful things you described your daughter going through.  You'll get her back, but I personally don't think you'll get her back while she's still on this drug.  I'm so very opposed to it that I would have started weaning off it even against my doctor's advice.  I'm sure many on this board have had to do that as well.  Take heart!  She WILL get better!  It will just take some time and patience on your part.  I know your patience is zapped right now, but when you start seeing your daughter waking up to her normal self, your patience will come back.  I just prayed for her recovery.  so sorry you're dealing with this right now. 

[Altostrata]

In terms of tapering, whatever works, works. We recommend 10% per month as a fairly safe starting point --  you have to start somewhere, right?

[Songbird]

As suggested by Alto, I am posting my experience with zopiclone here.

 

I've used zopiclone a number of times in my life and found it very helpful, but I've tried to limit the period of use to about six weeks.  As it is a z-drug, which are similar to benzos, it can be addictive.  I've found lack of sleep can really keep the nervous system sensitised and careful use of a sleep med can help to break that cycle, allowing things to calm down somewhat. 

 

My approach is to always use the minimum effective dose and adjust the dose as needed.  The usual advice here is to keep a daily consistent dose of whatever med, but I think for short term use of a sleep med it's best to take the minimum you need, aiming to taper off as soon as you can to avoid withdrawal issues. 

 

Here is how it worked for me:  In the beginning I might need a whole pill to get to sleep, but after a few days my sleep would stabilise and I would start chipping down the pill a little, trying, say, three-quarters and if it worked, stay there for a few days until sleep stabilised.  By sleep stabilising I mean good quality sleep.  After each drop, sleep quality might be not quite as good for a few days, but I would still sleep okay, then my body would adjust to the lower dose and sleep better.  Eventually I was able to use melatonin and valerian for sleep instead of meds. 

 

Of course, this approach may not work if your sleep does not stabilise due to ongoing severe w/d.  I found it helpful during the period after updosing when I was waiting for the updose to work and restabilise.

[dalsaan]

The usual advice here is to keep a daily consistent dose of whatever med, but I think for short term use of a sleep med it's best to take the minimum you need, aiming to taper off as soon as you can to avoid withdrawal issues. 

This is usually in reference to the AD people are withdrawing and it relates to stabilising. Basically, we don't want to stabilise on a Z drug because that is likely to mean addition!  I can see the rationale in your approach.

 

I think the reason we tend to discourage taking meds to address sleep issues is because they risk addiction, risk further rebound insomnia and reinforce the idea that a pill will provide the magic answer.  From my perspective, the last of these, leads to the first one and then the second.  The mindset people bring usually sets off the alarm bells for me.

 

The way you have used z drugs appears consciously framed to avoid all of those things.

 

I have used sleeping drugs when I have been desperate, not when I was in total withdrawal because they didn't help, but when I wasn't functioning well, was heading towards stabilisation and needed a break.

[Songbird]

I agree that the "pop a pill" mindset is not good, and on my previous forum, taking any meds to help tended to be seen as a very bad thing.  But I've found that sometimes all the sleep hygiene and relaxation exercises in the world are not enough.  The lack of sleep can sensitise the nervous system even more becoming a vicious cycle.  Some good sleep can be enough to break the cycle by calming things down.  I think this can be helpful to get through a bad patch, or when waiting to restabilise after an RI or updose.  If someone is in severe long-term withdrawal and the sleep med works but tapering down the dose doesn't, that could lead to long-term use and potentially addiction, so the use of meds does need to be carefully considered.  

 

From what I've read, many people just take exactly what is on their prescription, so if the doc put "take one pill every night" that is what they do without really thinking about it, even though half a pill might be enough.  Then when they want to stop they just stop completely with no taper and try to sleep without anything.

 

I choose my treatment based on severity of the problem.  For mild sleep problems a little bit of valerian tincture usually helps.  If not I'll add in some melatonin (usually 0.5mg).  I only resort to zopiclone when nothing else works, and usually that is in a really bad patch of feeling very unstable.  My aim is to gradually get off it and back onto the melatonin and valerian, and then gradually off those.  It is similar to the slow tapering idea we use for ADs, but over a shorter time frame.  I'm not trying to encourage people to take sleep meds, just sharing my experience to show that it is an option that can work for some people.

[compsports]

Hi Songbird,

 

It sounds like we have a very similar philosophy regarding sleep meds.  I have taken Tempazepam and Ambien CR on a PRN basis when I have had a horrible period of sleep to the point where my physical and mental health has severely deteriorated.   The only difference is I have decided that OTC stuff is horrible in getting me back to sleep so I just stick with the prescription stuff for now.

 

By the way, Ambien CR is going to be ditched as it has a very uneven record of providing benefits which means I will have to be very cautious with the Temazepam since even my sleep doctor has concerns about it even though she prescribed it for me since it is the only med that seems to help for my purpose.   Because it has less side effects, I had hoped it would be my number one option but after only giving me an additional hour of sleep the other night, it is history.

 

Anyway, last night, I started rereading a book on sleep which I will mention in the thread on sleep solutions which I hope will enable me to finally sleep without taking anything.

[Chipper]

Dalsaan, I found your first reply imperesting and agree 100% about your "mindset" and "pill popping" theory. This is why I want to be drug ( Lexapro) free when I land in New Zealand. I feel that a dramatic change in life style can sometimes eliminate issues that may have been caused due to our chosen surroundings. USUALLY if I have any issues sleeping ( which is a rare thing ) I'll do some extreme physical labor during the day so my body and mind will naturally pass out when I hit my bed however, due to these nasty withdrawal symptoms I'm not going to think twice about popping that pill.

[Lilu]

I agree that the "pop a pill" mindset is not good, and on my previous forum, taking any meds to help tended to be seen as a very bad thing.  But I've found that sometimes all the sleep hygiene and relaxation exercises in the world are not enough.  The lack of sleep can sensitise the nervous system even more becoming a vicious cycle.  Some good sleep can be enough to break the cycle by calming things down.  I think this can be helpful to get through a bad patch, or when waiting to restabilise after an RI or updose.  If someone is in severe long-term withdrawal and the sleep med works but tapering down the dose doesn't, that could lead to long-term use and potentially addiction, so the use of meds does need to be carefully considered.  

 

From what I've read, many people just take exactly what is on their prescription, so if the doc put "take one pill every night" that is what they do without really thinking about it, even though half a pill might be enough.  Then when they want to stop they just stop completely with no taper and try to sleep without anything.

 

I choose my treatment based on severity of the problem.  For mild sleep problems a little bit of valerian tincture usually helps.  If not I'll add in some melatonin (usually 0.5mg).  I only resort to zopiclone when nothing else works, and usually that is in a really bad patch of feeling very unstable.  My aim is to gradually get off it and back onto the melatonin and valerian, and then gradually off those.  It is similar to the slow tapering idea we use for ADs, but over a shorter time frame.  I'm not trying to encourage people to take sleep meds, just sharing my experience to show that it is an option that can work for some people.

 

This sounds like a very reasonable approach to me. After 2 months of nightly insomnia, very little sleep, and barely making it through each day (at home), I need to stabilize my nervous system and get some rest. I'm at the point where even a triple dose of Lunesta (9 mg) only gives me 6 hrs of sleep. Maybe I can do what you're doing with Tamezepam, just to stabiize for a few weeks?

[Lilu]

Hi Songbird,

 

It sounds like we have a very similar philosophy regarding sleep meds.  I have taken Tempazepam and Ambien CR on a PRN basis when I have had a horrible period of sleep to the point where my physical and mental health has severely deteriorated.   The only difference is I have decided that OTC stuff is horrible in getting me back to sleep so I just stick with the prescription stuff for now.

 

By the way, Ambien CR is going to be ditched as it has a very uneven record of providing benefits which means I will have to be very cautious with the Temazepam since even my sleep doctor has concerns about it even though she prescribed it for me since it is the only med that seems to help for my purpose.   Because it has less side effects, I had hoped it would be my number one option but after only giving me an additional hour of sleep the other night, it is history.

 

Anyway, last night, I started rereading a book on sleep which I will mention in the thread on sleep solutions which I hope will enable me to finally sleep without taking anything.

If I take Temazepam (Restoril) every night for two weeks, in order to catch up on sleep and calm my nervous system down, will I develop a tolerance to it?  Will I have to taper it slowly to avoid withdrawal?  What has your experience been with it?

[compsports]

Hi Lilu.

 

I have never even taken Temazepam two days in a row.   A few times, I took it every other day but recently, I haven't taken one for about 2 weeks.

 

I think I read that 3 weeks is about the time it takes for many people to develop a tolerance but of course, your mileage will vary.   I would be very careful if you chose to take it.   When a sleep doctor has concerns about a sleep med, that is a big time sign to be careful.

 

CS

[Rhiannon]

I use zolpidem (Ambien) when I travel, because I have to be able to go to sleep at times much different than my usual times. I use the smallest amount that works (I get an effect usually with a third to a half of a 5 mg tablet) and taper down over a few days when I get home. So far this has not been a problem for me.

 

But be cautious, I've seen a few people (rare, but it does happen) get into real trouble with Z drugs and have a hard time getting off them, just like benzos.

[cymbaltawithdrawal5600]

Somehow, the thought of taking it "every night for two weeks, in order to catch up on sleep and calm my nervous system down" would be great except the type of sleep and rest you will be getting won't be optimum. And not likely to heal your 'sleep architecture'. But what do I know, absolutely nothing. I make do with broken sleep.

 

When you try it, Lilu, please post in your topic and let us know how it works.

[brassmonkey]

I have read other places on line that you shouldn't break or crush the pills, yet people here are talking about taking quarter and half doses.  Does breaking the pill in half cause any problem?

[Rhiannon]

Oh, oops, I never asked anybody, just did it (the cutting). I don't know if it causes a problem, I can't remember the last time I took a whole one so I have nothing to compare it to. My PA seems to be okay with it, but that doesn't mean much, she's kind of clueless.

 

I should add that when I take Ambien, it does help me fall asleep earlier than I am ready to (which is when I take it, when I have to change my sleep schedule, usually due to travel). But I Feel Like Cr*p the next day. Cranky, unhappy, fearful, etc. Lasts till about noon.

 

I guess there's always a price. We folks on this forum should know, right?

[ang]

Such an interesting thread.  Pills can be cut if they are not slow release.  So wish I had done the chop the tablet in half and try it thing before in my life, instead of just doing as the box says....live and learn.

 

Two years ago my doc was puzzled as to why I chopped up pills, I think he probably knows now... Psychiatry had this thing of a high dose is what we need, cause everyones brain is different...well if so, why not try a low dose?  Great marketing there.

 

I was on temazepam once, needed it, addicted of course.  The chemist decided to give me slow release temazepam, it was useless.  Temazepam "kicks you off to sleep"..... so what is the point of a slow release?  Anyway, dont think you will find slow release temazepam anymore (a failure .)  

 

Anyway back on topic.   I PERSONALLY DO NOT RECOMMEND anyone take a new medication, not taken before, if they are on this website.  A new drug, might just send you off the planet.  Dont risk it.  If you try it, has to be done with a doctor.

 

I however, have that absolute terror, that happens after being on AD, that I will not sleep. And the fear builds up, the terror begins. One night not sleeping Ok, next night, not OK. I would regard 4 hours as OK. If I wasnt going thru WD, yes I would exercise, do all the hot baths and yoga, but it just doesnt work in WD, and I dont have that energy level to try these things.  I am housebound at present..

 

So for my tuppence worth?  if you take a benzo type thing, dont use it every day. And remember every up you get, ends with the down.  Might make you feel worse during the day. (Unless already addicted of course).  But other drugs are not so forgiving with the upping and downing of amounts.

 

However, my drug dependence included Seroquol previously.  that is my sleep med. The medical sheets dont always say this, but at low dose is only a sedative, not an antipsychotic.   I do not take it one night, and not the next, I keep it pretty stable.  But now i am considering halving the dose.  If that works for two days, I will give it up.  We all need a backup..........  Not sleeping sends us crazy, and when already suffering, knowing I will fall asleep, even just to wake up in the new morning of misery, does help me.   

[ang]

I also tried OTC sleep meds, before any AD use.  They actually sent me crazy.  I was running, couldnt sit still, heart pounding.  It was horrific.  So dont trust OTC drugs either.

[Songbird]

I'm at the point where even a triple dose of Lunesta (9 mg) only gives me 6 hrs of sleep. Maybe I can do what you're doing with Tamezepam, just to stabiize for a few weeks?

 

If you are already using Lunesta, I wouldn't add another med into the mix.  Also in my experience temazepam doesn't give good quality sleep.  I believe zopiclone (which is similar to Lunesta) is less disturbing to natural sleep architecture.  6 hours of sleep actually isn't bad.  If you are getting 6 hours a night of reasonably quality sleep, it might be time to consider a tiny dose reduction.

[compsports]

The one time I took Temazepam before going to bed vs. getting back to sleep was at my bipap titration sleep study.   I slept about 6 hours with about 1.5 hours of REM sleep which is a good thing.   When I got home, I was able to run errands I hadn't been able to do in months.  So obviously with meds, your mileage will vary.

 

Still, I stand by my previous comments to be very careful using this med because of the addiction potential.   And even it provides one great night of sleep doesn't mean it will do it on a consistent basis.

 

Anyway, I haven't used the med for about 3 weeks.   I am finding that if after waking up prematurely, if I can at least get to the point where I am can at least lay back down with the mask on with the goal of simply listen to a podcast, that gets me back to sleep and works almost as well as a med.   Still working on getting a consistent block of sleep that is restorative but that is another post.

[vetdoc]

Doxepin may be subscribed by your P Doc as a sleep aid for those with severe insomnia, from drug withdrawal.

 

If it is going to be used as a sleep aid rather then anti depressant, then low dose doxepin is what has shown to work best.   The recommended dose is  3-6 mg with  10mg as a maximum dose.  I'm not certain why but it's paradoxical,  the lower doses on doxepin is much more effective then higher doses for sleep with minimal side effects.

 

If you are going to try  doxepin, as a sleep aid make certain your P Doc is familiar with low dose doxepin. The name brand is Silenor which is doxepin marketed as strictly a sleep aid, and comes in 3 and 6 mg tablets.  It is very expensive, unless you can get   insurance to cover some of the cost.   However it does comes in liquid 10mg/ml generic form which is quite inexpensive.  The liquid will allow  you to titrate a smaller dose easily rather then the trying to use generic capsules. 

 

The generic form of doxepin may make you a bit hung over feeling  the next day for a few hours in the morning.  Try to start low and find the smallest dose that will work for you.  The brand name Silenor has a shorter peak level and blood levels taper off quicker the the generic and will make you less groggy in the morning.

 

 I would start at 3mg  and see how it works for you.  Then titrate up if necessary with the maximum dose  for sleep being. 10mg.  I was on 6-7 mg doxepin and it helped my sleep  tremendously during my valium taper.

[ikam]

I have been on Doxepin 75mg for a migraine prevention. It helps me to sleep, I also think/hope that it helps me with WD. Unfortunately, it had an adverse effect when I was on 10mg of escitalopram (something to do with serotonin).

I think I will need to tapper it at some point...

[Meimeiquest]

But Vet Doc, this has to be tempered with trying real sleep support like Alto has given you first. Doxepin is not necessarily a benign drug for everyone, you don't even know if it is contributing to your current problems.

[Altostrata]

A lot of people have a heck of a time going off doxepin.

[vetdoc]

But Vet Doc, this has to be tempered with trying real sleep support

Meime

 

Yes it does and I'm not advocating anyone being put on any sleep med and I hope my above post doesn't imply that.    All sleep meds have side effects and all will need to be tapered at some time.   There is no doubt that establishing proper sleep hygiene and managing the meds you are on, without adding new ones is the best way to establish a normal sleep pattern.

 

However with that said, we will continually  hear of so many people who have  been put on Doxepin for sleep by their PDoc (myself included) and dosed at 50-75 mg.  These are ridiculously high doses and produce major side effects.    If those people are in such dire straights for sleep and are going to be prescribed doxepin by thier Doc, at least have it dosed properly as a sleep med. This is all I was trying to imply in my post.

 

Since it is well known now that low dose 3-6mg doxepin works for sleep, no one should ever be prescribed or take  doses higher then this.   The lower doses produce less side effects and tapering from 6mg will be a lot easier then tapering from 50 or 75mg.

 

Once again I am not advocating anyone who can't sleep to go ahead and start taking any sleep aid.  After all we are all trying to get off these poison meds, not add more that  will have to be tapered  at some point.

 

Meime I see you started taking metformin.  When were you diagnosed with diabetes.  I was just diagnosed with Type II diabetes and I am on Metformin also.  Do you get gastric side effects from taking it.  It gives me severe indigestion and stomach pains.