Sleep is going backwards....what's up?

[NeedsEncouragement]

Today (Tuesday) is day 15 on withdrawal for opiates.  During that 15 days, sleep has been an issue, but was continually getting better until 2 nights ago.  Now, no matter what time I go to bed, I am awake at 1am and that is it for the night. In the beginning of this journey, I was taking 10mg of Ambien and 0.25mg of Xanax to sleep.  Now, I am down to 2mg of Melatonin and 1/4 of a Xanax. This did start the first night I went from 1/2 Xanax to 1/4, but I had been tapering for over a week and really do not feel that it could make that much difference.  Has anyone else experienced this?  I was so hopeful because each night last week, sleep seemed to get better, even if only by 30mins.  What else can I do?  I am really apprehensive that with continued nights like this, I am setting myself up for more migranes.  I have always been a person who needs my 8hrs. Thanks!

[RandyHunt]

I was taking 5mg hydrocodone for one year for muscle pain from Lymes disease.  I never increased the dose and never gave dependency any thought.  I just took 5mg every day with all my other meds and vitamins.  About 3 months ago I began to get depressed and it got worse.  I never thought the hydro would be doing it - it always made my mood better - not worse.  WRONG.  The evil nature of the drug had my body demanding MORE.  I was too clueless to realize it.  Then 15 days ago, I DID realize it was the hydro making me depressed and I stopped immediately.   I had been on Cymbalta for 2 weeks when I quit the hydro.  My depression got worse,  I had typical withdrawal symptoms and typical timings.  I had trouble sleeping.  

I wake up about midnight, started taking 5mg Ambien some nights when I woke up and then would sleep another 2 hours, sometimes would take another 5mg.  I have been doing this for about a week and a half.  i took 10mg at midnight last night and slept about 5 hours.  

I don't like what I read about Ambien and would much rather use melatonin because it's MUCH safer.  I'll try some tonite.  

No, I have more trouble sweating than being cold.   I'm sure the worse is now behind us, and the rest will gradually clear time the days to come.  We are lucky this is all (almost) behind us.

Nice talking to you - let's keep in touch and compare our progress.

[NeedsEncouragement]

Thank you so much for your words of encouragment! I think the lack of sleep has caught up with me today.  It feels more like day 5 than 15.  I'm not going back....that ship has sailed!  I have no choice but to deal with it.  I just get crabby without sleep.  I can't imagine how good I would feel if I woke up and the sun was actually up too!

[atthebeach]

it will take time for the seratonin and the endrophins to produce again naturally on their own. you didnt become an addict over night and you wont heal over night. please be patient, try not to be so concerned about the sleep that just makes you more anxious, try valerian root and passion flower also for sleep along with sleepy time tea, that ambien is bad stuff, yes people have driven their cars and gotten stopped by the police, didnt even know they were up and about. scary stuff. you are doing great congrats on the 15 clean days. you are on the road to recovery it will take time for your body to heal,emotionally,mentally, physically and spiritually. keep fighting the good fight, press on ,step by step you are doing it. dont look back.
sending hugs and prayers
debbie

[NeedsEncouragement]

For all intensive purposes, the Melatonin and the Ambien give you the same benefit~they help you get to sleep.  They also have the same draw back~ if you wake up 2 hrs or more later, it's gone.  I would highly recommend trashing the Ambien.  It has been part of my bedtime "cocktail" for about 7 months and it was not easy to give up that sleep.  I was sleepwalking and having numerous abbarent conversations that only my family recall. Once I tapered down from the 10mg to 5mg for a week each and then switched to Melatonin.  I have given it to my boyfriend before and a 3mg tablet worked really well for him~ of course, he has ZERO medication history, so that might need to be a little more for you.  I think the Melatonin does help, I just can't get past 1am.  Really weird that you are on day 15 too~ i'm also reverted back to "freezing"~ are you experiencing that?

Best of luck and God Bless!

[RandyHunt]

Hi -

I am on day 15 also from stopping a low dose of hydrocodone and have a lot of trouble sleeping now too.  I fall asleep easily for about 2 hours and then wake up.  They say it may take another few weeks for our sleep cycle to get regular again.  I took 10 mg Ambien and slept another 4 or 5 hours - but really don't want to take it - I'm concerned about what I read about it.  Does the melatonin help?

Good luck to you!

[NeedsEncouragement]

I just read on another thread about an OTC sleep aid Alteril.  Does anyone know anything about this?  I got kind of skidish when it referred to part of its properties as "hypnotic".  i don't want a new Ambien...just some sleep!