Does anyone take Halcion for sleep? - Sleep Disorders Message Board

Debjean777 · 05-18-2007, 06:00 PM

I have been taking Halcion for a year now to help me sleep and it works very well for me but i'm so tired of taking it. My pyschiatrist prescibed it but my regular doctor told me the other day i shouldn't be taking this medication for this long and that my body has become dependent on it. He told me to get off of it. I tried for 2 nights and i didn't sleep a wink. I don't know what to do. I don't want to take it but i need it. I already have depression problems and now this lack of sleep has made it worse. Any advice or personal experiences?

flintrock · 05-18-2007, 07:14 PM

Your doctor is right!! Good doctor!!! it is very addictive. You need to start weaning yourself off. Just take a half for a few weeks...then half that for a few weeks..........you really need to get off.......

whosit · 05-19-2007, 07:19 PM

Yes you need to get off of this med quickly. Ask your doctor if he can prescribe you a sleep aid like Lunesta, or Ambien to help you get off of that med. In my experience Lunesta worked the best but left a metal like taste in my mouth that was unpleasent. Another option I have tried is about 100mg of seroquel to get to sleep...it works well but you get used to it quickly so I couldnt use it every night..just every other night. Ambien has worked very well for me to sleep, the Ambien CR didnt do anything for me but regular Ambien works well(10mg) they make a 5mg too if you wanted to start out small. If you get a sleep aid it will be ALOT easier to ween yourself off of it quicker because you will still be able to sleep at night! Hope this helps...talk to your Doctor about it.

wvrecon432

MidlineNotFine · 05-19-2007, 09:40 PM

I am not personally familiar with Halcion and its effects, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to talk to your psychiatrist about the concerns of your regular doctor and approach those concerns together. I would recommend doing that before stopping the medication - but just my advice.

I suffer from sleep disorders too (apnea and insomnia) and am prescribed Ambien CR for long-term use. My previous primary care physician told me that I needed to stop as quickly as possible, but my psychiatrist is the prescribing doctor and feels in my case it's safe and necessary. My sleep doctor is ok with that as well. So I just think it's worth the extra conversation. Could very well be Lunesta or Ambien is the right move but you can plan that transition together with your psychiatrist.

Again, just my thoughts based on my own personal experience. I am in no way a doctor. Best of luck to you!