sleep meds...how long is too long? - Sleep Disorders Message Board

locca · 11-03-2005, 07:27 PM

Hi there...

I have had trouble sleeping for about 3 years now. And for those 3 years I have constantly been taking over the counter sleeping pills (mainly Melatonin, and also generic Unisom and things of that nature...) I can never get to sleep unless I take something, and I'm not sure if it's safe or not?

Generally my mind races and I can't get to sleep.....or I'll have dreams about work and wake up suddenly thinking I need to be working....or occasionally I have really REALLY scary and and disturbing dreams. I think the bad dreams started from a past relationship (I had recurrent dreams that he was cheating....and he was) and ever since I haven't been the same. And about the same time is when I started taking sleeping pills.

I haven't been into a doc for a sleep study...I've mentioned to doctors before that I take sleeping pills every night and don't sleep well, but they never seemed concerned with it.

So I guess my question is....is it possible that I may have a sleep disorder? And is it safe that I've been taking sleeping pills everynight for 3 years(with increased doses because I get immune to it?) Does a prescription drug like Ambien correct a problem without constant use?

Thanks for any help.

Hypo2004 · 11-03-2005, 09:47 PM

I feel for you... I haven't been able to sleep for about 3 weeks, I am almost out of Ambien and Sonata. I tried Melatonin and it made me drowsy but wears off after a couple of hours, leaving you wide awake in the middle of the night. Same thing with Nyquil (getting over a cold). I am so stressed out that my mind never "clears" enough for me to relax and genuinely "fall" asleep without medication.

I would suggest a sleep study and I am not a doctor, but it seems that we both have sleep troubles.

hry33 · 11-04-2005, 10:43 AM

melatonin doesnt cause any problems but benzo or antihistamine sleeping pills eventually lose their effectiveness although probably give a placebo effect the danger comes if you keep upping the dose

sleep studies are generally for disorders such as sleep apnea which effects but doesnt usually stop sleep, heavy snoring is a sign of sleep apnea

TonyaM · 11-10-2005, 08:02 PM

As long as you need them and as long as they are helping and your doc says it ok, I don't think there is a too long.

TonyaM

Jennita · 11-11-2005, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by locca

Hi there...

I have had trouble sleeping for about 3 years now. And for those 3 years I have constantly been taking over the counter sleeping pills (mainly Melatonin, and also generic Unisom and things of that nature...) I can never get to sleep unless I take something, and I'm not sure if it's safe or not?

Generally my mind races and I can't get to sleep.....or I'll have dreams about work and wake up suddenly thinking I need to be working....or occasionally I have really REALLY scary and and disturbing dreams. I think the bad dreams started from a past relationship (I had recurrent dreams that he was cheating....and he was) and ever since I haven't been the same. And about the same time is when I started taking sleeping pills.

I haven't been into a doc for a sleep study...I've mentioned to doctors before that I take sleeping pills every night and don't sleep well, but they never seemed concerned with it.

So I guess my question is....is it possible that I may have a sleep disorder? And is it safe that I've been taking sleeping pills everynight for 3 years(with increased doses because I get immune to it?) Does a prescription drug like Ambien correct a problem without constant use?

Thanks for any help.

OTC pills like Unisom are not really sleeping pills, they are antihistamines and antihistamines will tend to induce relaxation are basically harmless. But prescription sleeping pills are very, very different, can cause dependancy and most people after awhile become extremely tolerant to them, which can cause tolerance withdrawals(withdrawal symptoms while still on medication) and rebound during the day(nervousness, anxiety). They are addictive and are known to cause brain receptor changes.

Don't go there, they will not "correct" anything but possibly make pre-existing insomnia much worse in the long run.....