39 days Benzo free and need sleep!! Need advise

[bBarry]

I was offered Ambien and declined it, don't need another addiction. Doc put me on Gabapentin which helps a lot but gives me a salty or maybe metallic taste and makes me really sick to my stomach. I took about 15 of them and had to stop taking it. I have heard of Sleepy Time Tea but never was much of a tea drinker, if it's great I'd be willing to try anything.
Have been taking melatonin but can't sleep through the night on it. Wake up in a few hours on it. Is the herb GABA the same as Gabapentin? That might be an option if it's different than Gabapentin.
I bought some Theanine and 5-HTP but they don't seem to help sleep, both are good for the shakes in acute w/d which I am over now. Been feeling okay, just dog tired.

I really need some quality sleep, if anyone could help I would be in your debt.

BTW, I don't drink coffee anymore and only drink caffeine free coca-cola.

[Jade59]

Right, the Alteril.  Barry, try that also.

[vicki595]

There's an OTC called Alteril. It's good for sleep and only contains natural ingredients including Valerian and melatonin. A lot of people have told me that it's helped them.  They have it at Walgreens and probably any Walmart.
Give it a try and it's great you're finally off the Valium!  

[Stonestentpain]

Congrats. Huge deal. Be proud. Did you go into a detox facility or did you do this on your own? I take about 1 mg - 4 mg (depending on the day) Its been about 2 years now. I use for sleep and anxiety. I have already kicked heroin and stopped everything else. I really feel I was only truly addicted to heroin but the benzo is now an issue. I don't use it to get high I started using it after I couldn't sleep from H detox. Dumb, I know. Trying to get pregnant and this is a huge issue. I am afraid to do it in my own so was just curious if you had help or just weened off? I can drink a beer then never tho k about it again or even other drugs, I don't, I just know the one thing that took hold of me was heroin and now this. So hard to stop now as I had a miscarriage and the first thing I did at the doctors office when I found out was head to the bathroom and took 3. Been self medicating a long time now. Very frustrated.

[bBarry]

Wow, I wish I was as good as you thought! Unfortunately (or fortunately) I was only on Valium since 2000. I was saying 12 years until I read some old medical records and discovered I was actually on it around 15 years. You gave me an extra 20 years credit I don't deserve.

Yes! I noticed increased anxiety with the 5-HTP too. I only took it a couple times since it wasn't what I was looking for. The Theanine did calm me a lot during the day but neither seemed to help sleep. I read side effects for Theanine were mainly constipation so I don't take it regularly but it was great when I was a quivering mess. Made me feel a LOT better, took the shakes right away. I would recommend it for anyone in acute w/d. Lucky for me all thats gone now, if it will return only God knows. Only the lack of sleep remains. The Gabapentin I was only taking at night and it was bothering me but I wanted to sleep so bad that I took it until the bad belly is hanging on now. It seems to have a rebound so I agree with that too. I feel pretty anxious by the next evening.

Thank you so much for responding. I really needed some help. I'll try the Valarian Root since you speak so highly of it. Seems like someone else said it worked some months ago. I wonder if the stuff at Wal Mart is ok? Not sure they even have it. I usually get my herbs from swansonvitamins.com but just got an order. I also tried Clonadine (catapres) and it makes my heart pound, I don't know how I could sleep like that but I did.

Thanks again Jade for the prayers, I think all the prayer I got from people must have helped because I could not have gotten off that drug by myself. God had to have a hand in it. I'm going to hold on for a bit and maybe someone else will jump in before I run to the store in a few hours and I can pick up something else to alternate with the Valarian root. I don't want to be dependent on anything new.

BearsFan, Thank You! I already take melatonin, D3 and magnesium. You must know that you have to take breaks from magnesium or you will be running fast and funny to the bathroom! lol I must have been taking it too long (I skip days on the magnesium). It doesn't seem to help with sleep but like I said I have been taking it for years.

God Bless You Jade and Bears Fan!
Barry

[BearsFan1966]

I take vit D and Magnesium along with Melitonin helps me sleep threw the night. Vit D creates melitonin in our brain to help with the sleep. Hope this helps you!