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Suggest Treatment For Sleep Disorder
Posted on
Fri, 5 Sep 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 5 Sep 2014
Answered on
Mon, 13 Oct 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : how to get rid of zolpidem
isleep disturbed sleep at 4 am with 10 mg zolpidem want to have my clock reset
isleep disturbed sleep at 4 am with 10 mg zolpidem want to have my clock reset
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Brief Answer:
Clarifications needed...
Detailed Answer:
Kindly provide the following clarifications...
How long are you having this problem of disturbed sleep?
How long are you taking Zolpidem?
Do you suffer from anxiety, worrying or repeated unecessary thinking?
Are you going through any stress in your life?
Do you use alcohol, cigarettes or any other substances?
Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist
Clarifications needed...
Detailed Answer:
Kindly provide the following clarifications...
How long are you having this problem of disturbed sleep?
How long are you taking Zolpidem?
Do you suffer from anxiety, worrying or repeated unecessary thinking?
Are you going through any stress in your life?
Do you use alcohol, cigarettes or any other substances?
Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
the disturbed sleep is for around four to five years
taking zolpidem for around 2 years
yes i do
not at present but family problems related to relationship in jointb family
no i am a teetotaller
i want to get rid of sleep drugs and lead a medicine less life
taking zolpidem for around 2 years
yes i do
not at present but family problems related to relationship in jointb family
no i am a teetotaller
i want to get rid of sleep drugs and lead a medicine less life
Brief Answer:
Advice given...
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for the clarifications. Zolpidem is a short acting medication. Its average duration of action is about 6 hours. This could be one reason why you are having sleep disturbanc at around 4 am in the morning. The other reason could be what is known as "drug tolerance". When medication, especially sedatives are taken for a long period of time, their effect starts gradually decreasing. So, after a prolonged period, the same dose of the medication may not be as effective as it was when it was started.
Either ways, it is good that you want to come off the medication and reset your biological clock to its natural rythm. But this will take a while and you need to be persistent in your effort.
Regarding the medication, I would advise you to taper it down very gradually. For example, reduce it to 7.5 mg for 1 month, then 5 mg for the next 1 month, then 2.5mg for the month after that and then stop it. During this period of time when you are gradually weaning yourself off the medication, you need to practice very strict "sleep hygiene". So, I would like to give you the following advise:
- Fix a specific bedtime and an awakening time. Do not allow bedtime and awakening time to drift.
- Avoid napping during the day strictly.
- Avoid coffee, tea or any caffeinated drinks or alcohol 4 hours before bedtime.
- Avoid heavy, spicy, or sugary foods for dinner. Have a gap of at least 1 hour between dinner and bedtime.
- Exercise regularly, preferably in the early evening, at least 4 hours before bedtime.
- Set up a comfortable environment which is dark, quiet and disturbance-free. Block out all distracting noise, and eliminate as much light as possible.
- Reserve the bed for sleep only. Don't use the bed for studying, working or for other rectreational activities.
- Try a light snack before bed. Warm milk and foods high in the amino acid tryptophan, such as bananas, may help you to sleep.
- Practice relaxation techniques before bed. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing and others may help relieve anxiety and reduce muscle tension.
- Don't take your worries to bed. Leave your worries about studies, work, daily life, etc., behind when you go to bed. Some people find it useful to assign a "worry period" during the evening or late afternoon to deal with these issues.
- Establish a pre-sleep ritual. Pre-sleep rituals, such as a warm bath or a few minutes of reading, can help you sleep.
If you follow these suggestions regularly and persistently over the next few weeks, then your biological rythms will gradually return to normal.
Wish you all the best.
Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist
Advice given...
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for the clarifications. Zolpidem is a short acting medication. Its average duration of action is about 6 hours. This could be one reason why you are having sleep disturbanc at around 4 am in the morning. The other reason could be what is known as "drug tolerance". When medication, especially sedatives are taken for a long period of time, their effect starts gradually decreasing. So, after a prolonged period, the same dose of the medication may not be as effective as it was when it was started.
Either ways, it is good that you want to come off the medication and reset your biological clock to its natural rythm. But this will take a while and you need to be persistent in your effort.
Regarding the medication, I would advise you to taper it down very gradually. For example, reduce it to 7.5 mg for 1 month, then 5 mg for the next 1 month, then 2.5mg for the month after that and then stop it. During this period of time when you are gradually weaning yourself off the medication, you need to practice very strict "sleep hygiene". So, I would like to give you the following advise:
- Fix a specific bedtime and an awakening time. Do not allow bedtime and awakening time to drift.
- Avoid napping during the day strictly.
- Avoid coffee, tea or any caffeinated drinks or alcohol 4 hours before bedtime.
- Avoid heavy, spicy, or sugary foods for dinner. Have a gap of at least 1 hour between dinner and bedtime.
- Exercise regularly, preferably in the early evening, at least 4 hours before bedtime.
- Set up a comfortable environment which is dark, quiet and disturbance-free. Block out all distracting noise, and eliminate as much light as possible.
- Reserve the bed for sleep only. Don't use the bed for studying, working or for other rectreational activities.
- Try a light snack before bed. Warm milk and foods high in the amino acid tryptophan, such as bananas, may help you to sleep.
- Practice relaxation techniques before bed. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing and others may help relieve anxiety and reduce muscle tension.
- Don't take your worries to bed. Leave your worries about studies, work, daily life, etc., behind when you go to bed. Some people find it useful to assign a "worry period" during the evening or late afternoon to deal with these issues.
- Establish a pre-sleep ritual. Pre-sleep rituals, such as a warm bath or a few minutes of reading, can help you sleep.
If you follow these suggestions regularly and persistently over the next few weeks, then your biological rythms will gradually return to normal.
Wish you all the best.
Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
thanks doctor
Brief Answer:
You're welcome...
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome. Please close the query and leave a rating if you are satisfied with my answer.
Best wishes,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist
You're welcome...
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome. Please close the query and leave a rating if you are satisfied with my answer.
Best wishes,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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