Hi, Pepper,

I really feel for you on the sleep deprivation, as I have the same problem due to chronic pain (I have TOS)…

The trouble with Zanax is, not only is it addictive, but it is absolute hell to get off of should you ever decide to stop taking it. The physical withdrawal sx are bad enough, but even after you've successfully titrated off of this med, certain sx persist for as long as eighteen months (e.g., feelings of derealization and depersonalization - which are absolutely dreadful!) after you stop taking it.

A couple of thoughts for you if you'd like to try some safer alternatives: 25mg is a very low dose of Trazodone, and you could ask your doc to up the mgs considerably (I think I was taking as much as 100 - 200 mgs before it stopped working), to see if you can sleep restfully without the addition of a benzo or a hypnotic. The price won't break the bank, either!

Also, amitriptyline is good as a sleep aid (cheap, too!). Chronic Painers like it because it also helps to address nerve pain issues. I take 25mg at night and I am sleeping much better… And I am a hard case, believe me!

Good luck in slumberland. Sleep makes all the difference, doesn't it?

Alison

I used to take Xanax to go to sleep for about a year. Also tried Restoril and Halcion which used to be more popular. I did not have a problem stopping these. Now I take ambien, and it works better for me. I'm glad to have something because, like you, I only got 1-2 hours of sleep without medication.

Trazadone did not work for me.

I prefer ambien and xanax because the others gave me daytime side effects of feeling groggy. Trazadone made me the groggiest and did not help me sleep at all.

Hi, I was given Lorazepam after a panic attack put me in the ER around 2005, major family stressor going on...I continued with "L" for some years taking 1/2 mg but then when a friend put me onto the word that these are linked to dementia and she got off them and so did I, then another group I'm on just sent thru an announcement on the dementia linked meds....I've posted this info on meds/treatments section here.

I do well with my sleep combo I've posted here...no groggy days and awake all day, I get my good night sleep. C

Hi pepper999

I am sorry to read about your sleeping problems - I used to have insomnia as well.

As other contributors have pointed out, it is probably a good idea to be cautious about the benzodiazepines (Lorazepam, Xanax, Klonopin, etc) - they can be addictive.

What helped me with my insomnia is sleep hygiene, which essentially means learning good habits in preparation for sleeping well.

The info here helped me with that and I hope will help you as well;

http://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene