i was on xanax xr 3mg for about 3 years then stopped cold turkey. can't get to sleep anymore

i was on 3mg of xanax xr for about 3 years.  even since i stopped taking that medication i haven't been able to get a decent nights rest.   i will tend to spend about 12 hours in bed without getting really solid sleep simply because i need to be in bed that long.  is anyone aware of a psychiatrist prescribed medication that could be given to me that might be in order since after i stopped taking it i can't sleep ?

thank you

[IBKleen]

Hi!

I am not surprised you are not sleeping. I AM surprised that is all you are feeling. Xanax is a benzo and it is recommended that you taper off of them, not quit c/t. But since you have already, good for you!

Try some of the OTC medications such as unisom, excedrin pm..etc. Talk to your pharmacist.

Good luck and keep up the good work!

[teenutz]

I used to take Xanax alot, almost 6mg a day, which is about the max. dosage recommended. I was on this dose for about 3 months, and I was very moody and sleepless when I was cut off. My doctor gave me Dalmane, which is also a benzo. but a very long acting one. It helped me sleep at night, and not crave the Xanax during the day. I agree with IBKleen, try some of the OTC meds first, but since you have been on the Xanax for quite awhile, if things don't work out with the OTC meds, then talk to your doctor about a prescript. substitue. Dalmane did the trick for me, but you have to be careful with these as well. Ambien CR and Sonata are relatively new sleep medicines and can be use for a short period of time to help you sleep. Talk to him/her about these. It's hard to go off Xanax cold turkey, esp. after as long you have been taking them. Your doctor should try to work with you on this to help ease any side effects or possible withdrawal that may accompany the sudden stopage in medication. Best of luck to you and keep us informed of your progress. God Bless!    

[sleepyhead303]

what type of medication is Dalmane ?  

i am thinking my doctor will not want to give me anything addicting.  

i have been off of xanax xr 3mg 3x a day thats 9mg daily of the xr extended release stuff for about 6 months.  since i have been off my sleep has been horrible.  just very hard to fall asleep and when my doctor would prescribe heavy doses of antipsychotics to deal with my sleep it never occured to me it could be the xanax xr until today.  so yes i was taking super high doses of the stuff for a long time and now i can't get rest.  i cannot help but feel that i need a lose dose of antipsychotics and something to help with sleep.  hopefully fix my sleep so i dont have to depend on those too.  the doctor that gave you Dalmane was he your psychiatrist ?  i'm not sure if mine will give me sleeping meds for the long term.  

[sleepyhead303]

to clarify.  i was on 9mg of xanax xr a day for 3 years and have been off of them for 6 months.  at the same time of being off them they changed my antipsychotic which i have attributed to my messed up sleep.  i thought the antipsychotic completely rearranged my brain chemistry but i have come to suspect getting off the xanax xr is what has messed up my sleep for me.   I would really like to be able to sleep normally without medication though i'm willing to take meds to help my sleep.  i have taken ambien a long time ago and will need something much stronger to put me to sleep but only sleep for about 8 hours (opposed to 12 hours of not very good sleep and rest) and ideally be off of sleep medication eventually.  

[IBKleen]

Again, those are very high doses. You are lucky that you didn't experience other symptoms of w/d. Like it was mentioned, speak with your doctor. Explain your situation honestly.

I hope you get the help you need. Restorative sleep is necessary and not getting it can lead to many other problems.

[teenutz]

Dalmane is also a benzo. but it is very long acting unlike Xanax. It can be addicting, but after being on 6mg on Xanax for 3 months it did the trick. Only had to take one a day, at bedtime, and the medicine was still in my body the next day. These are only intended for short term use. If you take them for a long time the medicine will build up in your body and you will feel like a walking zombie. That's why they are less addicting than other benzo's, slower onset and powerful when they do kick in,and they last a long time, so you don't have a constant craving. You would absoultely have to be addicted to sleeping 24/7 in order to abuse these, but some do get hooked, you would be amazed!

As I said, they can be addicting like any benzo. but most of short-half life benzos (like Valium and Xanax) ae the ones to watch out for. Many doctors will prescribe a longer acting medicine, even a benzo. to ease withdrawal if needed, then again I don't know the whole picture in your case here. Ambien CR and Sonata can also be addicting, but again these are not nearly as bad as medicines like Halcion or other types of sedatives. Ambien CR or controlled release is released into your body slowly and can be taken for 7-10 days, one a day at bedtime. Talk to your doctor about this. He/she has to have some sympathy to your cause without cutting you off cold turkey. One good OTC I always recommend for sleep is Benadryl. These knock me out, and they will definately help you sleep at night. You may get some hangover effect in the morning, but at least you will sleep. Talk to your doctor about these medications. There has to be something out there that will work for you. Keep us informed. Take care