Question:
My doc prescribed Clonazepam and Lorazepam for helping through my insomnia, paranoia, depression and a bit of OCD too. At 1st I was taking the Clonazepam at night and only using the Lorazepam during the day if needed for anxiety. Now I only use them at night for insomnia. I have found if I can get a good night sleep I seem to be making progress, and can handle the daytime without anything else. I have tried Wellbutrin for depression and Trazodone for sleep before but had no good results. Temazepam was too weak to do anything after a few days. Right now I take 2 1 milligram tablets of Lorazepam or Clonazepam and alternate them each day. I found Benadryl if taken with them definitely increases the effect making it hard to wake up but giving a good nights sleep. I only tried that 1 night, and am unsure if I should try it again. My Anxiety is always much better if I can just sleep makes sense. Anyone used these things before and have any advice? I'm wonder if I should ask for Ambien, Xanax, or Valium. I'm "getting used" to the Lorazepam and Clonazepam. Also, I hear it's easy to get addicted. The doc says I should be able to stay on them for a month or 2 without getting hooked. I also have this AlphaStim100 machine you hook up to your earlobes. Now that thing really mellows me out. It's only a 9 volt battery in it but it makes you dizzy and calm. Anyway I'm glad to feel somewhat sane and be sleeping more during the night and up during the day, the anxiety is a lot better but I'd like to hear some advice if anyone has any. A mistake I made today was using the Alphastim100 this morning to relax, I accidentally fell asleep for 6 hours during the day with it, which threw me off again, It's 4:25AM and I have 2 Lorazepams and them machine on and I'm still typing away. Well things certainly could be worse. Before seeing the doctor, being up for 3 days with anxiety gave me a nice taste of what true insanity feels like. I also found out the hard way that Pot will not relax someone with these types of things going on. Much like an alcoholic drinking to kill the pain, works for 2 hours then true hell sets in.
Answer:
Benzodiazepines are very addictive, and it takes less than a month for this
to occur. I'd suggest trying to rely more on Benadryl (and anything else that calms
you) and weaning off the benzos, as much as possible, given your difficult
circumstances. I'm only suggesting this because, if you do become dependant on benzos, then
you have to keep taking them just to feel as you would have done before,
without the benzos in you. Where did you get the AlphaStim100 machine, by the way? Does it work by
acupuncture? Uh Oh Ive been on them off and on for over a month. Only at night for
sleep though. So maybe I'm not hooked yet? Would ambien be a posible
alternative? Another poster recomended remeron, serzone, or buspar as
sedating anti-depressives to take at night. I'll talk with the doc about it.
I have depression/insomnia/mild ocd/ and worthless unatractive sadness from
the divorce. hmmm.... I'm going to try and find something else to help. These things
have "stabalized me", however. getting to sleep and now not having total
fear/anxiety/ocd madness with insomnia. I do feel like I "need" them
though. Also, they arent working as well to "knock:" me out. I was going to
ask for something stronger....... The AlphaStim100 machine was loaned to me by a Naturopathic Doctor in
town. My insurance is covering it as a treatment. I'm hoping maybe my
insurance will help me buy one, theyre about $400 bucks not cheap. They are
not accupuncture at all. You just clip these little clothespin like felt
pads on your ears and then set the time and strength of the "stim". its
microcurrent electric stim operating on a 9 volt battery which seems safe. I
find it really helps relax me. Seems like $100 would be a much fairer price
though.... It is nice to have. As with ANYTHING that helps normalize and
make you feel better. Whats great is it isn't a drug. You can find out about
it by searching the web. Also theres alot of spam ads trying to sell them.
Unfortunately most people would rather make a buck than help out. I like it
alot, but I don't know if I can afford to but one. The AlphaStim100 machine was loaned to me by a Naturopathic Doctor in
town. My insurance is covering it as a treatment. I'm hoping maybe my
insurance will help me buy one, theyre about $400 bucks not cheap. They are
not accupuncture at all. You just clip these little clothespin like felt
pads on your ears and then set the time and strength of the "stim". its
microcurrent electric stim operating on a 9 volt battery which seems safe. I
find it really helps relax me. Seems like $100 would be a much fairer price
though.... It is nice to have. As with ANYTHING that helps normalize and
make you feel better. Whats great is it isn't a drug. You can find out about
it by searching the web. Also theres alot of spam ads trying to sell them.
Unfortunately most people would rather make a buck than help out. I like it
alot, but I don't know if I can afford to but one.
