here i am again with the sleep problem with vic wd

[mm27]

I am on i dont even remember maybe day 6-7 of being off vicodin.  The wd's are over with the exceptioin of the sleep.  I AM GOING CRAZY. 72 hours and 6 1/2 hours of sleep during that time I NEED HELP.  I cant take this much longer have tried everything that people have had to offer.  Walking, excercise, melotonin, v?????? root klonopin.  I dont know what to do.  I am on the border of going back to the drugs just to sleep normal.  I really dont want to do this because I am trying despratly to get my life back in order but this is too much.  the wd's were nothing compared to the sleep problem.  insomnia, restless legs.  which i have been diagnosed with about 15 years ago any way so this is making it ten fold for that problem PLEASE NEED HELP

[worried878]

like chopper said...drugs like ambien or lunesta can be abused...but way safer than benzos for sleep...try ur best to hang tight...

[jifmoc]

I just had the exact same problem as you. (I'm 20 days clean)  I never had a problem w/ anything but opiates, so I told my doctor about the sleep, he gave me some ativan.  I've had it before and since it doesn't make me "high", I can take it or leave it.  I know the "right" way is to just deal w/ it.  But, I was physically dizzy and felt INSANE from lack of sleep.  Not falling asleep until 11am or later, and then only getting 4 hours.  It was so horrible.  Thank GOD I got the ativan; this is just my opinion, but I don't think it's helps to be an insane zombie, why suffer like that?  Maybe tell your DR. to give you only a certain amount or something.  All the over the counter **** did NOTHING.  So, I am w/ you, I know how you feel.  

[chopper841]

Hang tough if you have to get Ambien for sleep it should help u sleep a full 8 hours but don't go back to the pills.  I did and everything got worse I did not have a plan everytime I wen't back on the pills more and more the insomnia got worse the rls stayed with me and even when I took the pills it would not go away.  I'm day 29 and I have taken Ambien on the really bad nights within 20-30 minutes I was out.  Becareful if you do get it and if possible have someone else hold the prescription for you so you only take 1 when you need it.  Some of the other options mentioned above did not help me on a good night I take 40mg of melatonin and almost 2000 of the valerian root and I fall asleep.  You can do this.  

[worried878]

This passes..i read ur other post...before i read this one..i am glad u r not using the pills as it will not help...the restless legs will pass...it is a proven fact that those who exercise regularly r less likely to get rls...but if u r doing all u can..then u r doing all u can...
there is a great article in the health pages on rls...read it..it may help...rls is caused by the sudden wd of dopamine/the endorphins the pills fed ur brain/and the brain stopped producing as much cos it sensed the outside intake..it will catch up if u keep the pills away and produce enuf to get u thru this....there r those who have rls that is not caused by wd...and there r meds for this if it is severe...otherwise just know it will pass

there r meds to help u sleep that r not habit forming..sounds as if u tried the over the counter stuff...phenergan will knock most out in a heartbeat..and is not habitforming...some anti-depressants like elavil will do the same...nuerontin is another that will help sleep and help the rls...and as mentioned above, muscle relaxers like zanaflex can do wonders for sleep...other than soma, they r not habit forming

Hang in there...read thru the health pages and learn..if u understand what is happening it may help u deal with it....u r in a fragile time right now...the first 90 days can make or break u...r u doing any type of aftercare?   90 meetings in 90 days is an AA slogan/for a reason...this is the estimated time the brain needs to heal to cope well enuf to ward off relapse..u need to fight hard..i can feel it in ur post..i hope u have no pills left in ur house..u r so close to being free...yet so close to becoming a prisoner again if u do not fight hard..please dont give up...this time is short in comparison with the rest of ur life...it really is..hang tight and keep posting

[shelby001]

hang in there.....that sounds so lame i know.  you will get some sleep soon, your body just won't be able to take it anymore.  can you get into the doc on monday and get a sleep aid like ambien?  even just some samples.  i just wrote in your other post also. i've done the quitting thing a few times and everytime i've gone through wd's, lack of sleep is the hardest to deal with.  the best time i had (with the sleep during wd's) was when i had some old muscle relaxers, they helped me sleep a lot.  don't know if you have any of those.  anyway, i'm thinking of you, hope you get some rest tonight.