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Maybe hurting recovery, but there have been some days I really need to be fully functioning. I’m in the process of doing a lot of job interviews. Under some stress. The good news is, is that since I am taking ambien a lot less, it is more effective – I need less and sleep longer on it. Hope someone can add to this experience on how well and how long they functioned on 3 hours sleep.
My sleep is similar to yours, it feels like 2-3 hours of sleep per night when not using ambien. I have not been able to go more than 4 nights on this type of sleep and take ambien for at least 1 or 2 good nights of sleep per week. I feel the same as you whereas the sleep window could be 10 hours if you are getting out of bed if not asleep in 30 minutes. Last week I was trying to stay up to midnight reading a book and about 11:15pm, I must have dozed off for a minute and the book fell out of my hand. I feel like I should have went upstairs to bed at that moment rather than fighting sleep and staying up to midnight then not being able to sleep until 2am.
Can’t nap – that has been me my whole life since I was a toddler! Born to be an insomniac. Very interesting though. My husband said something similar recently. He recalls when entering the military, they would keep you sleep deprived to break your spirit, but he said when he finally was allowed to sleep, he could fall asleep quickly and stay asleep. He was not suffering from insomnia.
Commonly reported side effects of escitalopram include: diarrhea, drowsiness, ejaculatory disorder, headache, insomnia, nausea, and delayed ejaculation. All drugs have side effects, could this be part of the problem?
I have chronic insomnia now due to a medication, and had terrible insomnia 15-20 years ago due to starting an anti-depressant. My doctors in both situations never acknowledged that these side effects could put me into insomnia.
A big issue for was just in language usage. The term “Sleep Restriction” terrifies me, so I adapted it in my own mind to “Sleep Restructuring” because that is what I need. I will be attempting it very soon! Hopefully you can find a balance in medications that will give you some short term relief.
RonA,
This is just my personal experience, but I feel I build up a tolerance quickly to these drugs and they become less effective so when I was taking them I stop for a week after using them for 2-3 weeks. I feel like I did have withdrawal symptoms the week I took the Ambient CR. Feelings like dread, very achy muscles, and trembling lasting about 2 days. I don’t know if I had rebound insomnia because I’ve had insomnia for so long. My sleep doc said I should not have those symptoms, probably related to something else. Anyway, its not much worse than dealing with regular insomnia and you’ll have support. I don’t think my physicians want to deal with insomnia patients and will probably say whatever. So glad this website is here!
Stay strong RonA! I will probably be starting SR about the same time as you. Hope it goes well for both of us!
Can anyone answer this question? I’m thinking of starting sleep restriction. I know my sleep window would be only 5.5 hours, say 12:00am-5:30am. If I go to bed at 12:00am and am not asleep by 1am, should I get out of bed and read or something until sleepy or do I stay in bed the whole 5.5 hours even if I cannot sleep?
Hi RonA, I am also struggling with taking or not taking Ambien. I took the 6.5 mg for a week or two but my sleep onset was too long with them and they made me groggy during the day. Currently I take the regular Ambien 5mg. I’ve been 3 plus months on and off of them, maybe stopping for a week then starting again. I cannot fall asleep on my own at a normal time unless I go 3 days with very minimal sleep. I’ve also had issues with sleeping with my spouse who has a noisy BiPap machine and very different sleep schedule. Doctor recommended I sleep separate from my spouse so I’m currently sleeping on the floor in a small room where it is at least quiet.
That being said with the 6.5 mg they are controlled release and you should not break them into smaller doses to taper off. Maybe ask your doc for the regular short acting Ambien that allows you to cut a pill in half to taper the dose. Another thing is you are supposed to allow yourself 7-8 hours for sleep on ambien So I don’t see how you can do SR on a med like Ambien if your sleep window was only 5.5 hours. So maybe taper until you get to a low dose of 2.5mg or less to start SR.
I’ve been following sleep restriction for a couple weeks here. If I didn’t take the Ambien I’d average 3 hours of sleep per night. I’ve had a sleep study and have to wait a couple weeks for the results, but that will only tell if I have sleep apnea. Right now the sleep doc has not mentioned SR and primary doc does not seem interested in my woes.
I have a couple questions about Sleep Restriction. If you have a partner and want to be intimate at night, do you have sex in bed, then afterward leave the bedroom until your sleep restriction time, say 12:00am?
Do you start the night by trying to sleep in your bed, but if cannot fall asleep in say 20-30 minutes, do you then get out of bed and stay up to your specific time, then go back to bed?
Except for the one glorious night of 6.5 hours, I average 3.5 hours of sleep per night for the last week.
The acupuncture has not helped a lot, I’ve read a person typically needs 6-12 sessions, I’ve done 7 so far,but I feel two of the sessions had some value.
I am trying to get off of Ambien now. I have been taking Ambien since the middle of March 2019, with a break for a week now and then. Supposed to take 5mg but many times took 10mg. Last week did not take it for one night and the next day I felt like I was in withdrawal. Trying half pill 2.5mg the last 3 nights and tonight, it feels good not to feel drugged in the morning, although the sleep issue hasn’t changed much. Soon I will do 1/4 pill. Three weeks ago I started acupuncture 2x week for insomnia, 7 sessions so far. The night of the 2nd and 7th session I did get better sleep, about 6.5 hours. I am also going to try late afternoon water aerobics class since the weather is getting better, hoping that will tire me out.
Sorry I didn’t really answer your question since I am not through it yet, but maybe we can share our experiences as we go along and get through it together. My most difficult issue is patience, wanting to do this too quickly.
