Hi all...Not sure if you remember me but I left a topic a month or so back. I was going through Morph withdrawals something fierce and needed support. Anyway, I made it through that with only one minor slipup (popped a vike on day 7) and have been completely clean since. My question for all with experiance is when does normal sleep return, if ever?

I used to be able to sleep 10 hours a night if I wanted. Now I can go for 4 days without a single hour. I finally went to the doc and he prescribed ambian. I've taken that for 2 days and thought life was good again. I decided to look it up online and read that it is addicting as hell. So i'm thinking....do i tough it out? Drop the ambian? will normal sleep ever return? chef? you out there brother? I need some advice....

You are amazing to go through that withdrawal with basically NOTHING! I'm amazed and VERY proud of you! You obviously are going to beat this illness come heck or high water and that is AWESOME! I cannot believe the sleep issue is so extreme. I hear it being an issue all of time with withdrawals but my goodness.... 4 days with out sleep at all is torture. How do you feel? Do you feel tired and sleepy and just can't sleep or do you just feel o.k. and not tired. What a freaking nightmare. Anyway, yes, Ambien is addicting but maybe you can just take it once every three days or so until you sleep comes back. I don't know... I'm just the wrong person to ask. I would be so desperate for sleep that I know I would break down but you've been through alot worse so if you can tough it out a little longer, maybe it will come back soon? I know 'Kinda' went through a LONG period without sleep coming off of benzos but I know it was slowly returning as well recently so it WILL come back... just may be a couple of more weeks. Try and hang in there. Again, maybe just use the Ambien only if you are just about to die from no sleep...??? I don't have to tell you to stay strong, as I know you will no matter what! I will say what an inspiration you are to many here with what you've done. You are living proof that anyone can do anything, if they put their mind to it! Don't be a stanger. You could help alot of people here so please keep posting and let us know how you are!!!

Hey,,

Congratulations on your success! Wow!

About the Ambien, I saw a sleep specialist after my second child was born, because I could not sleep (not that you get much anyway with a newborn) to save my life. You would think I would pass out every chance I got, but I COULD NOT SLEEP. I am definitaley not going against what others have said, but this particular sleep specialist told me Ambien was not physically addictive and he had no problem with me taking it every night.

Personally, I believe one can become pshycholigally dependant on them and for that reason alone I do not take one every night, but if I have gone two or three nights without a good nights sleep, I will take one (actually, I half mine) and they do WONDERS for me. I feel great the next morning!

Maybe get a second opinion and do some research on the internet to satisfy your own curiousity!

Good luck and take care,
michelle

Michelle - I believe you on that. My doc gave me ambien once,.... gave me 14 10 mgs with two refills. I took them so that was about 6 weeks worth and I didn't have any wds from them. However, I have heard differently so who the heck knows...

Yeah Banker,

I think with the Ambien, it is more in your head, "Oh, I can't sleep because I haven't had my meds..." (atleast that is how it has been for me).

Doctors just believe differently on certain things- this SLEEP SPECIALIST said they were fine, not addictive, yada-yada-yada, and gave me 30 ten mg tablest with five refills! My OB feels the same way, but my best friends OB said he believes they are addictive and should be used for a short period of time! Who knows who to believe now-a-days???????

I know for me, they work great, but I don't take them but a couple of times a week just for my own reasons!

Hope your week is starting off good- it is raining and yucky here in MS- what about there? Seems like it has rained FOREVER- ready for some sunshine!
Chat with you later,
michelle

...about that 4 day no sleep thing....i've done that twice in the last month. You feel completely wired on the first 2 days...a little slower on day 2. Day three is bad and by four you're an emotional and physical wreck. That's when I hit some valium I had stashed. The second bout I went to the doc and got the ambian. We'll see. I'll break one in half tomorrow and try that. And go without my next couple days off and see. Thanks for the reply's all.

Yeah, I definately stick with the Ambien versus the Valium. And, try halfing it, works for me. After several days of no sleep, I see nothing wrong with taking an Ambien here and there- just be careful. Even in detox, they give you something to help you sleep and you have been through ALOT!

Stay strong and keep us posted,
michelle

I used Ambien the first couple of days during my w/d's to help me sleep through some of the discomfort.I am 7 weeks clean and I still have issues with sleep but when I do I either use Benadryl or Melatonin and they usually do the trick.I can see Ambien being a problem if you start depending on it every night to help you sleep.

Ken

4 days w/o sleep is being lucky....my record is 11 days without even a 15min.nap,it stunk....ive gone 9 days,8.5,10.....over the years but would always fall back/relaps because of sleep and diahrea...if i could handle those two i would be able to conquer the disease....use the ambien but for not more than 7 days at a pop......chef

thanks champ. and thank all of the rest of you. i'll be back in a week or so.