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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Simus on April 18, 2005, at 23:08:15
How easy would it be to switch from Xanax to Ristoril?
I am currently taking 0.75mg Xanax. I started taking it 10 years ago, when I was first given an SSRI and I had trouble sleeping. The Xanax worked quite well for maybe a couple of years, and then the effectiveness seemed to dwindle. About a year ago I went off SSRIs completely and started taking Wellbutrin. I stayed on the Xanax, however. I have tried to decrease, but even though I am on a very low dose, it is quite difficult. Perhaps the Wellbutrin is making it more difficult to reduce the Xanax--don't know...
I have read the study posted here recently (by Larry) about people not as likely to develop a tolerance to Ristoril (temazepam) as they would to other benzos. And Ristoril may be more beneficial for insomnia than other benzos. So I was considering asking my doctor about switching. Does anyone know how difficult the switch would be, if difficult at all?
Posted by Spriggy on April 19, 2005, at 13:19:58
In reply to Xanax to Ristoril?, posted by Simus on April 18, 2005, at 23:08:15
I take Restoril for sleep ( 30 mg's). I've been on it for 2 months now and it still puts me to sleep. I like it becuase it doesn't feel "forced"... it's a relaxed more natural feeling sleep.I don't know much about how to switch the two.. someone else probably has more info on that.
But it really does help me sleep. I fall asleep and don't wake up at all until daylight.
Posted by Simus on April 19, 2005, at 17:10:49
In reply to Re: Xanax to Ristoril?, posted by Spriggy on April 19, 2005, at 13:19:58
> I take Restoril for sleep ( 30 mg's). I've been on it for 2 months now and it still puts me to sleep. I like it becuase it doesn't feel "forced"... it's a relaxed more natural feeling sleep.
>
> I don't know much about how to switch the two.. someone else probably has more info on that.
>
> But it really does help me sleep. I fall asleep and don't wake up at all until daylight.Wow. The most sleep I would get before the Xanax wore off was 5-6 hours. But Xanax has a very short half-life. I would love to have a whole night of restful sleep again and wake up feeling good! =)
How are you doing overall on your meds now, if you don't mind my asking?
Posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2005, at 18:17:54
In reply to Re: Xanax to Ristoril? » Spriggy, posted by Simus on April 19, 2005, at 17:10:49
If you're just taking the xanax to sleep i think you could just switch over. I don't know how willing your pdoc would be to Rx restoril. It's notorious today for addiction. Unless you have a liberal nonbenzo phobic pdoc. At least he's Rx'd xanax. I too, would love to sleep for 8 hours and have been watching the Threads on Lunesta. Right now I'm taking l0mg of valium, but I still wake-up. It's better than the xanax was though. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Simus on April 19, 2005, at 23:28:19
In reply to Re: Xanax to Ristoril? » Simus, posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2005, at 18:17:54
> If you're just taking the xanax to sleep i think you could just switch over. I don't know how willing your pdoc would be to Rx restoril. It's notorious today for addiction. Unless you have a liberal nonbenzo phobic pdoc. At least he's Rx'd xanax. I too, would love to sleep for 8 hours and have been watching the Threads on Lunesta. Right now I'm taking l0mg of valium, but I still wake-up. It's better than the xanax was though. Fondly, Phillipa
I have been curious about the Lunesta too. But since my pdoc won't give me Ambien because I am on Xanax, I don't know if he would give me Lunesta either.
It sounds like you switched from Xanax to Ristoril. Did you have any problems with it?
Just wondering... Just before you wake up, do you have vivid nightmares? And do you feel shaky and ill when you do wake up? Or do you feel fine but just stop sleeping?
Thanks for your help.
Posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2005, at 0:59:57
In reply to Re: Xanax to Ristoril? » Phillipa, posted by Simus on April 19, 2005, at 23:28:19
No, I switched to l0mg of valium. And my life has been very stressful, a lot of decisions to make, so the last two nights I've had horrible nightmares. But until then none,and no side effects in the am. Hope they go away tonight. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Simus on April 20, 2005, at 1:06:36
In reply to Re: Xanax to Ristoril? » Simus, posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2005, at 0:59:57
Posted by ed_uk on April 21, 2005, at 10:33:15
In reply to Xanax to Ristoril?, posted by Simus on April 18, 2005, at 23:08:15
Hi Simus,
I'm not sure what country you live in. If you live in a country where zopiclone is available, you could try taking 7.5mg zopiclone. Once you were on the zopiclone you might find it easier to taper off the Xanax.
If you live in the US you could consider trying Lunesta. Although Lunesta has only recently been made available, it is very similar to zopiclone- a drug which has been used in many countries since the 1980s. Lunesta has a longer duration of action than Ambien, it may be more effective at keeping you asleep. I expect you would need 3mg.
Since you have developed tolerance to Xanax, I doubt that Restoril would be particularly effective.
Certain antidepressants are also often prescribed as 'sleep aids'- have you tried this approach???
Kind regards,
Ed.
Posted by Simus on April 21, 2005, at 11:11:33
In reply to Re: Xanax to Ristoril? » Simus, posted by ed_uk on April 21, 2005, at 10:33:15
> I'm not sure what country you live in.
I'm in the United States.
> If you live in a country where zopiclone is available, you could try taking 7.5mg zopiclone. Once you were on the zopiclone you might find it easier to taper off the Xanax.> If you live in the US you could consider trying Lunesta. Although Lunesta has only recently been made available, it is very similar to zopiclone- a drug which has been used in many countries since the 1980s. Lunesta has a longer duration of action than Ambien, it may be more effective at keeping you asleep. I expect you would need 3mg.
My pdoc didn't want to prescribe Ambien because of the Xanax--probably concerned about being dependant on two drugs instead of one. Do you know if Lunesta is in the same class of drugs as Ambien?
> Since you have developed tolerance to Xanax, I doubt that Restoril would be particularly effective.
Good point.
> Certain antidepressants are also often prescribed as 'sleep aids'- have you tried this approach???
Sadly, yes. 10 years worth of ADs. I would rather have the insomnia. LOL I do eventually get sleep now, even if it is in 2-3 short sleep sessions throughout the day. I can survive like this, but I want to be one of the "normal" sleepers again...Thanks for your ideas. The Lunesta sounds like a definite option.
Simus
Posted by Mr.Scott on April 21, 2005, at 20:45:04
In reply to Xanax to Ristoril?, posted by Simus on April 18, 2005, at 23:08:15
I would try clonazepam. It will keep you asleep for the whole night and have less rebound than the xanax. It's recommended frequently for fibromyalgia and other disorders where deep long sleep is the goal.
Or try another class of meds and get off the benzos since you can pretty much anticipate any of them eventually failing you.
Scott
Posted by ed_uk on April 22, 2005, at 10:23:12
In reply to Re: Xanax to Ristoril? » ed_uk, posted by Simus on April 21, 2005, at 11:11:33
Hi Simus,
It would probably be necessary for you to take Lunesta and Xanax together while you are tapering the Xanax. Although your doctor might not want to prescribe Lunesta and Xanax together because they are both sedatives, I can't really see any other option. AFAIK, there is no known interaction between Lunesta and Xanax- you could check the Lunesta website if you are worried. If the Lunesta was effective, you could start reducing the Xanax straight away. Ideally, you would be able to come off the Xanax completely.
Regards,
Ed.
This is the end of the thread.
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