Restoril

[Steph4302]

Has anybody tried the medication Restoril for treating insomnia? I'm interested in hearing people's opinions of it. Any adverse side effects? Issues with tolerance/dependence/withdrawal?

Thanks!

Stephanie

[insomniac76]

Help, I have been on Restoril for 2 years because of insomnia, and I want to get off of it because I'm afraid it may cause me harm being on it.  I just don't know how to stop.  I can't sleep at all without it and am terrified of not being able to sleep, but am also afraid of being on this med for so long.  What do I do?

[ne14moose]

Ive fought with sleepless nights for years.They started me on ambien,but after taking it for a yr or better it didnt work.Soon they tried me on lunesta....but that was the awefulliest tasting thing ever.You couldnt brush it away.Next I was on ambein cr...which worked well...but to exspencive.Then through me back on ambien.Worked for little while,but within a couple months back to not working.This time he added adavan with the ambien.Said I should fall asleep quick and stay asleep.Yea right....within 2 weeks back to falling asleep  between 4-6 am after taking it at 9pm and waking up between7-8:30 am.Today they started me on restoril.Will this work,or is it another short term remidy.Thanks-need some relief,Nancy

[Suri123]

Hi, hope you are doing better. How is your health and sleep these days. have you got evaluated completely. Your thoughs would be of great help to some of viewers of this section so keep updating. Take care.

[Sun657]

I really don't know.I have had issues with my sleep since taking Chantix back in September.It brought on all kinds of problems for me and I am still experiencing them.I had a sleep study in November with me taking 15 mg of Remeron and it showed that I stay in Stage 2 and REM.I dream constantly and they are very vivid.I wake up feeling awful and with anxiety.I have thought seeing a psych for this because it is really getting to me.My other issues resemble Bipolar quite a bit but I never experienced this before with an exception of the time I had 2 Depo Provera shots.Couldn't sleep then,either.I wish I could find a med to shut off the dreams and allow me to enter the Delta sleep that I need.If I don't take any sleep meds,I'm up all night with racing thoughts.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Restoril is an intermediate acting drug. It is helpful in inducing sleep. But its effect does not last all night. You will definitely need a longer acting drug. Insomnia is a withdrawal effect.

Do you feel exhausted because of the insomnia or you have any other problems also which you might want to share ?

Regards

[Sun657]

I took Restoril last month and it was ok.I went to sleep fine,but I would wake up every morning around 2 am.It wasn't a gradual wake up either.Kind of like someone had just hit me and I was wide awake.Very wierd.When I quit taking it,I experienced insomnia again and sweating.I guess withdrawls.HTH

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The benzodiazepine group of drugs are divided in to three categories according to their duration of action - long acting, intermediate acting and short acting. Now, you have to see if you are suffering from early insomnia, middle insomnia or late insomnia. Accordingly the medication is prescribed.

You seem to be having a problem falling asleep (early insomnia). Please correct me if otherwise. Have you been having sleep disturbances for a long time ? Can you identify any problems that might disturb a sound sleep ?

Regards

[Steph4302]

No, I have not started taking it. I haven't yet been prescribed it either. I have tried many other sleep meds including Ambien, Lunesta, Rozeram and other meds that are supposed to have sleep as a side effect (Celexa, Trazodone, Xanax, Elavil) but none are making me feel sleepy. I have also had horrible side effects from some including hallucinations, panic attack-like symptoms, nausea etc. which prevented me from trying higher doses.

I came across Restoril while I was researching sleep medications. I understand that it is a benzodiazepine which works differently than the traditional hypnotic sleep meds. This made me wonder if it could help me. I also do not have problems sleeping every night - maybe two or three x's a week, if that. So I wouldn't be taking for consecutive days.
I'll have to ask my dr. about it at my next appt. Thanks for your help!

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello Stephanie.

In my experience, patients taking Restoril were quite happy with the results. Most people take it for a couple of weeks. For long standing sleep problems, Restoril is not a good choice. The drug works for a short duration.

Withdrawal symptoms occur if you take higher doses and suddenly stop after a prolonged use. Some references are available for withdrawal symptoms appearing with low doses also. The commonest withdrawal symptom is insomnia.

It has some addiction potential and some people do develop tolerance.

Have you started taking it ?

Regards