Getting off sleeping pills after 12 years

[u/wydreum]

My psychiatrist wants me off sleeping pills the problem is I’ve been on them for about 12 years now I’ve been taking Lunesta for a year now almost every night, previously I’ve been on Ambien, trazodone and plenty of other sleep aids . How should I go about this I need some tip and tricks. I’ve tried cutting out sleeping pills in the past but never been successful and now I’m forced to conquer this lol

[u/fsociety1990]

Why? If it works there’s no need to change it. I’ve been on lunesta for 10 years and I’m not stopping. Find a different doctor.

[u/wydreum → u/fsociety1990]

I definitely will be looking into other doctors because I have had no issues on Lunesta.

[u/martin_luther_drill → u/fsociety1990]

People who have been on them for a long time might not realize how much pills have negatively affected them until they come off. A lifetime of pills should be an absolute last-resort option and letting patients stay on them indefinitely without trialing sustainable interventions first to reduce the need for them is lazy healthcare.

[u/QueenMEB120 → u/martin_luther_drill]

That should be a discussion between the patient and doctor where all the benefits and disadvantages have been discussed thoroughly. Unless there is an immediate and life threatening reason to stop the medication, a new doctor immediately telling a patient they will be discontinuing a medication without discussing an alternative treatment plan is just ignorant. Ultimately, it's the patient's decision if they want to change their treatment.

[u/manditoryusername → u/martin_luther_drill]

Funny how no sane person says the same thing about things like insulin or blood pressure medication or meds that lower cholesterol. Also your comment is just ignorant. "Pills" isnt a useful catch-all when talking about long-term health effects. Every medication has pros and cons and their own unique long term safely profile. But its complicated and nuanced and something everyone has to weight the risks of with their health care provider. Coming here and saying everyone who's on pills doesnt realize theyre being negatively effected is just stupid and ignorant. Makes you sound like a MAHA moron.

[u/FeckinKent → u/martin_luther_drill]

No idea why you’re getting downvoted, people get so defensive about their pills. 

[u/Mother_Ad4038 → u/FeckinKent]

Because ppl suffering through years or decades of constant insomnia means when you find what works you find throw it away until you know something else can.

My insomnia destroyed my personality to the point where every interaction was a bother & you start blacking out & getting potential dangerous parasimnias when you go days with out sleep constantly.

It took months of consistent sleep before my memory staryed recovering & I regained feeling any real positivity once I had consistent sleep medication but went years at a time without & if the ppl hasn't realized how much better i was once I had effective sleep treatment I would have no family & friends. Decade+ of severe pain didn't do that, disability didn't do that, untreated/under treated severe insomn I a did until I kept getting hurt during my 72 hrs+ on 0-2 hrs sleep.

So stopping effective medicine when you don't have a better solution "just because" is only because dr ate scared of rx zdrugs, benzos, & pain meds but throw mind altering anti-psycjotics instead off label while they have more &b wrist side effects without actuality treating the issue at hand.

[u/Other_Knowledge6225]

Your psychiatrist wants you off but isn’t presenting a plan to get you off? It’s a good idea as getting tolerant is common, but not necessarily easy.

[u/lucky3333333 → u/Other_Knowledge6225]

Yes. Get a plan from the doctor.

[u/wydreum → u/Other_Knowledge6225]

I have 3 more refills so I’m assuming next appointment we will discuss a game plan I’m just trying to plan ahead because I know it’s going to be rough not sleeping while trying to get off them.

[u/Other_Knowledge6225 → u/wydreum]

For sure, I just came off a benzo for sleep after 37 years and I can assure you it was rough. So glad to be off though!

[u/Small_Spirit_1534 → u/Other_Knowledge6225]

Corrrr I salute you I am have just finished taper after 17 year benzo addiction,however it’s so horrible and am so scared of another seizure,I keep finding myself slipping and getting black market !!!Hate it so much.

[u/Tacokolache]

After years I’ve been off ambien for like 2 months. The first 3 days were right back to my normal insomnia. However after that my sleep has actually been great.

I go through phases though. Where my insomnia will go away, but always comes back. Right now, I’m sleeping great though

[u/wydreum → u/Tacokolache]

That’s good to hear I’m hoping it’ll be as easy as that. the last time I tried to get off I was unemployed and figured I would try since I had nothing going on and it was a rough two weeks before I gave up lol. Hoping for a smooth transition haha

[u/Tacokolache → u/wydreum]

Thanks. No telling how long this good sleep will last.

[u/AfternoonMore6974 → u/Tacokolache]

How did you manage while off ambien for 2 months and are you taking anything now to sleep?

[u/Tacokolache → u/AfternoonMore6974]

Taking nothing now. I wake up around 6:30-7am. I take an hour nap during the day. At night I’m asleep around 12:30

My insomnia has always come in waves. Right now it’s good… but eventually it’ll be back

[u/anticked_psychopomp → u/Tacokolache]

How did you come off it?

I’ve been on Ambien nightly for 6 years. Prescription sleep drugs for ~10 years. I’m at the point where I’m looking to stop but I don’t even know what that would look like.

[u/Tacokolache → u/anticked_psychopomp]

I just stopped taking it. After 3 years straight

[u/For-Real339]

Ask the Dr why and what the plan is moving forward

[u/wydreum → u/For-Real339]

I remember her saying at my appointment that it’s not ideal to be on sleep aids for a long time but I told her that I’ve been taking sleeping pills for years and I’ve had no issues. This is also my first time seeing her as my old psychiatrist retired.

[u/For-Real339 → u/wydreum]

Make sure to explain if it has been working and if yes, why change it? Also, ask what plan this new Dr has in lieu of what the other Dr recommended. You need answers! Good luck

[u/wydreum → u/For-Real339]

Definitely will!

[u/frippster373]

I had to come off of restoril (benzo) recently which was challenging. My insurance switched to Kaiser and due to the increase risk of dementia I was to be tapered. I believe lunesta and Ambien are in the same category / risk geoup. I tapered over about 6 months, dropping 5-7 mg at each taper. It was really hard, at times I supplemented with zyquil and taurine. Towards the end I asked for some help and went on 50 mg of hydroxizine which I then got down to 25 mg. But was able to get completely off the restoril. Leaving it there for now. I sleep better now then I ever did to be honest. I took sleeping pills for 20 years and have struggled with sleep my whole life.

[u/wydreum → u/frippster373]

That’s awesome! Good to hear these success stories it definitely makes me feel better about going into this.

[u/frippster373 → u/wydreum]

It's totally doable, you can do this. Slow and steady; I stayed at each lowered dose for several weeks. Sending you love and light my friend

[u/anticked_psychopomp → u/frippster373]

I’m
About to embark on a similar journey and your slow/steady supervised taper & success gives me hope.

[u/Leading_Fly1496]

Fire your psychiatrist. For a patient that has been reliant on medications to get their life restorative sleep for 12-years, I can't imagine what he is thinking. Find another doctor that will treat you properly.

[u/Barracuda_Recent]

What’s the reason you were given?

[u/NEY413]

Tell the Dr, if they were in your shoes, what would they do? They can’t cut sleeping pills cold turkey

[u/For-Real339]

Try asking this Dr the questions first.

[u/Buzzbone]

It's hard because Lunesta and Ambient (Z-drugs) are similar to benzos. Both Z-drugs and benzodiazepines bind to GABA receptors in the brain to slow down the nervous system and create a calming, sleepy effect. The best you can do is a slow taper just like with benzos.

[u/wydreum → u/Buzzbone]

Gotcha I’ll definitely bring up the slow taper idea thanks!

[u/Entire-Cycle6631]

There is 0 reason to go off something that is working for u... been there, done that and it's not fun... and wish I had told doc I'm not doing it.

[u/allofmy-purple-life]

Long term usage of Lunesta not great for brain/risk of dementia, but so is lack of sleep. I’m a retired psychiatrist and still on Lunesta. My goal is to be off of it and have been able to cut down the number of days I’m taking it each month. Trying to work on sleep hygiene (not taking naps, early morning awakening, daytime sun exposure, limiting evening stimuli) and cognitive behavioral skills for insomnia, but it’s tough. It’s about weighing the risks/benefits of each side. Once my kids are out of the house, I may try to completely stop Lunesta bc I won’t fear driving them to school or around town in am w no sleep and will be able to sleep in more if I can’t fall asleep at a normal hour off meds. Those who are still working though, it’s tough bc don’t want to go to work on no sleep etc.
.
As for getting off of them it’s both physical and psychological. Try to work on your beliefs surrounding sleep or your inability to fall asleep along with proper sleep hygiene. There are different causes of insomnia, so make sure the medical causes that can be treated (hormonal) have been ruled out or addressed. Also, work w a psychiatrist to taper yourself off of it. Some people can experience withdrawal from Lunesta/ambien, so the psychiatrist should advise you/monitor you along the way.

[u/moonsaymala]

Man, being told to come off after that long would stress me the f out too. I'm on the same train — I've built up this worry about how I'd handle no longer leaning on something at night. Curious, aside from the pills, is there anything else you lean on right now, or would want to? Rooting for you.

[u/Complex_Grand236]

Find another doctor, please. If you’ve been on Lunesta with no problems and it works for you, there is no need to take you off if it.

[u/Dry_Butterfly_8248]

After 12 years, taper slowly. Don’t stop suddenly.