Advice please
I have been experiencing insomnia and anxiety for the past month on and off. Initially I was prescribed Temazapam to help in the short term. I was also prescribed another small dose of the drug alepam to take a few times during the day. It did but then my insomnia has recurred in the last week with a vengeance!
I went back to my gp who has now prescribed avanza. This has helped with my mood but I am totally unable to sleep without the temazapam!
I am thinking I am hooked on the drug which is quite terrifying! I am only averaging a few hours sleep a night and feel truly awful.
Can anyone offer me any stories of encouragement? I can't believe this is happening to me I am one of the most mentally stable people usually and I now feel totally out of control :-(
P.S I am going to be seeking professional medical advice
4 Replies
I can't believe you were offered temazepam as a first port of call!! I'm so sorry, I'd be changing GPs. Most drs are really reluctant to prescribe something like that without trying something that's not addictive first and milder first!! You can get off of it, you really can. But I'm really pissed at your doctor. For example it took us 12 months with my son if trying a bunch if other things before my sons (whose an adult) psychiatrist would even consider that class of drug!
I have had temazepam but have been told it was a last resort. I am sure you can beat it.
In the past I have taken temazepan, an still have other sleeping pills in the cupboard - I take them only sometimes, I get very stressed an my mind starts ticking as soon as I get into bed, I keep having to get up an go to the toilet, an I can't stop thinking about things, usually ending up in tears... And I used to take a sleeping pill on the nights I hadn't slept well for a week or when I could tell from the days behaviour that I was stressed... For three months I haven't had even one, things that I have changed, after the kids go to bed, TV goes off, an I'll either, listen to music, finish off the housework, do some research on the computer, or read, but at least an hour before I want to be asleep, I read a book, then I force myself to put the book down, turn everything off, (phone is in the kitchen) an then I lay there an concentrate on my breaths.. Breath in slow an long, hold for 5 seconds, let out slow an long - sometimes my mind starts to wander but as soon as I notice I bring it back to the breathing, since doing this technique it has only taken my 20 to fall asleep aposed to laying awake for hours... The first week will be the hardest to withdraw from the temazepam, after that it will get easier
I use this method too, it works a treat :)