sleeping pills

When I get anxious, at night, I often have trouble sleeping -- and of course that only exacerbates the problem.  (The only thing worse than anxious is "anxious and sleep deprived.")  Xanax does the trick for me, but I am EXTREMELY cautious about this.  I will only take .25mg and even then not more than a few times a year.  I'm thinking about trying a sleeping pill, on occasion, as an alternative.  It won't cure my anxiety, but at least it will let me get some sleep.  Anyone try this?  Maybe Lunesta? 

Hi Medved,

I'm on Ambien, 10 mg a night. I've been taking one a night for a couple of years now. Probably not a good idea. I occasionally try to wean to 7.5 mg, though end up going back to 10 mg (I should try to get off it). For the SHORT TERM, it might be something to explore.

For me at least, I started off slowly by taking half a pill (5 mg). That was enough. It is strong for the body, at least until your body gets used to it. Careful with higher doses of this stuff: you can do a lot of nighttime snacking and not remembering much of it. I never get Ambien hangovers in the morning though. For me, I feel completely fine in the morning (unlike some other stuff like Benadryl--I feel so drowsy in the morning if I take that).

Yeah, definitely use sparingly. Explore your options with your doctor. Good luck!

Ruhr

Medved,

Ambien and Lunesta are both non-benzodiazipines so called "Z-drugs", though I couldn't tell you the subtle differences between the two as I'm no doctor (my doctor was OK with prescribing Ambien though not Lunesta--go figure). Perhaps one of them might give you short term relief.

Since Benadryl gives you no side effects, have you tried those Unisom sleep tabs (in America, doxylamine 25 mg)? They're both antihistamines. Those should be OTC. You can try it out in a bind. I do sometimes, though like Benadryl that Unisom knocks me out in the morning.

Which drug gives you a metallic taste, Medved? None of these do that for me and I'm curious which one has that side effect for you.

Ruhr

My reference to metallic taste was for Lunesta. Some report that as a side effect.

Regarding Xanax, I am very cautious about that. It does work, for me, but I would prefer a different option.

I am fortunate, I suppose, in that my doctors will probably prescribe whatever I ask them for -- within reason. I may have to pay for it, if it is not insured, but that is OK. Money is less important to me than feeling well.

Can you take the Trazodone prn or is it prescribed for daily use? I don't want a med i need to take every day; just on occasion when needed.