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Suggest Remedies For Insomnia Despite Taking Lunesta
Posted on
Thu, 28 Apr 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 28 Apr 2016
Answered on
Fri, 17 Jun 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I am taking 1 - 3mg lunesta at. I usually cut in half. I am up every 2 hours. I've even tried talking a whole lunsetna with no results. I've had insomnia for 40 yrs and it's getting worst. I need something to sleep all night
My email address is: YYYY@YYYY . I am 71 yrs old and had this problem all my life. Please help me
My email address is: YYYY@YYYY . I am 71 yrs old and had this problem all my life. Please help me
Brief Answer:
lorazepam or chlordiazepoxide are helpful in such cases
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to health care magic!
I have read your query and can see that you are having a chronic sleep problem and now lunesta at / ambiens not working for you. This can be due to body's tolerance to a drug when it is constantly used for long. It is seen very commonly in patients with long sleep problem.
You have a disturbed sleep and would like to have a sound sleep with something. There are many drugs which can help you with this, like if someone comes to my clinic with similar complaints I usually give lorazepam 2-3 mg and ask him to follow up after a week or two.
If this dosent work then I usually give a trial of chlordiazepoxide at a dose of 25-50mg..but taper it after a week to lesser dosage.
If there is a long history of sleeplessness then it is very important to rule out anxiety or depression as well. There is a strong correlation between them. So, please check if you are also having these complaints ?
I also ask my patient to follow a neat sleep cycle and use non medicative measures for sleep along with drugs.
P.S. it is advisable to use a lit night bulb to prevent falls at night when under the influence of sleeping medications.
Diving and operating machinery is best avoided after taking them.
I hope the reply helps you.
Wish you a good night sleep!
Please feel free to ask more queries for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
lorazepam or chlordiazepoxide are helpful in such cases
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to health care magic!
I have read your query and can see that you are having a chronic sleep problem and now lunesta at / ambiens not working for you. This can be due to body's tolerance to a drug when it is constantly used for long. It is seen very commonly in patients with long sleep problem.
You have a disturbed sleep and would like to have a sound sleep with something. There are many drugs which can help you with this, like if someone comes to my clinic with similar complaints I usually give lorazepam 2-3 mg and ask him to follow up after a week or two.
If this dosent work then I usually give a trial of chlordiazepoxide at a dose of 25-50mg..but taper it after a week to lesser dosage.
If there is a long history of sleeplessness then it is very important to rule out anxiety or depression as well. There is a strong correlation between them. So, please check if you are also having these complaints ?
I also ask my patient to follow a neat sleep cycle and use non medicative measures for sleep along with drugs.
P.S. it is advisable to use a lit night bulb to prevent falls at night when under the influence of sleeping medications.
Diving and operating machinery is best avoided after taking them.
I hope the reply helps you.
Wish you a good night sleep!
Please feel free to ask more queries for clarification.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Deepak
Answered by
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