AboutJoe Haynes, R.Ph., MBA Expertise I can answer pharmacy/pharmacology questions as they relate to both pediatric and adult therapies. Please note that since I practice in Florida that I may not be able to answer specific questions regarding pharmacy practice in your state.
As a disclaimer, I have no financial interest in recommending or failing to recommend any drug product. My goal is to give you the best answer to your questions regardless of product.
Experience I have 24 years experience in pharmacy practice including pediatric and adult hospital, home-infusion, and long-term care (nursing home/ALF). I enjoy assisting with pediatric dosing and medication questions since children respond differently and are dosed differently than adults. I can help you determine if the dose you want to administer to your child is appropriate. I am currently director of pharmacy for a small community hospital in St. Petersburg, FL.
Organizations Florida Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists
American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists
Florida Pharmacy Association
Education/Credentials BS in Microbiology from Auburn University (1989)
BS in Pharmacy from Northeastern University (1994)
MBA (generalist) from St. Leo University (2005)
Question I took clonopin 1-2mg for 4yrs only at night to sleep and 1mg of xanax for 6 months. Of course they don't work and i stop taking everything 7weeks ago. I can't find anything to help me sleep after benzos. please help! i am desperate. My doctor has no advice left. will my sleep ever return??
Answer You have at least two other drug options. One is Ambien which is a non-benzo but acts at the same receptor site as the benzos do. It's short acting, helps mimic REM sleep better than benzos, and you don't get the groggy, hungover feeling in the morning. It is a controlled substance, so you would have the same refill restrictions that you did with Xanax and Klonopin.
The other option is Rozerem which helps increase the amount of melatonin in the brain, mimics REM sleep, and is not a controlled substance.
You could try Benadryl or some other sedating antihistamine, but I think your long term exposure to benzos would make you resistant to that option.
There may also be underlying reasons (other than your tolerance to the drugs) that may be causing your lack of sleep. Have you and your doctor discussed possible organic or emotional reasons you may not be sleeping? Are you using other drugs like decongestants or amphetamines that may be keeping you awake? Good sleep hygiene practices such as retiring early, no caffeine late in the afternoon, using the bedroom only for sleep (no TV watching), reading a dull book, or doing something mundane while you are in bed may also help.
I can kind of empathize with your situation. My brain refuses to shut off once I get into bed. What helps me personally is reading with all of the lights of and just a book light. Usually 10-15 pages in, I'm dozing off. When I have needed it, Ambien seems to work best because it will put me out in about 30 minutes. If you try it, ask to start with 10mg; take it on an empty stomach about 30-45 minutes before bed then get directly into bed. Ambien, like the benzos, does cause anterograde amnesia. In other words, once it takes effect, you will lose memory of anything you did until it wears off.
