has going off all meds helped anyone gain restorative sleep?

[marlaf]

hi,

i am trying to figure out a way to regain restorative sleep, i take seroquel, lunesta and lyrica. does anyone have ideas? i thought about going off all meds.

thankyou
marlaf

[JennyE]

Always stop medications under a doctor's supervision--you can have some bad compllications.

Last night was my first night without Ambien. I fell asleep about 4 and slept until 10, got up and dressed, then accidentally fell asleep for an hour or so. I'm up and moving now, no caffeine (I've been consuming less and less) so far. Good luck.

[darius_s]

I'd suggest going away from all the meds gradually. I've seen some real life examples going this process. Haven't seen any radical cuts in usage, so can't tell exactly - maybe it would work too... But I'd suggest the former way.

[lisa workman]

After 16 years of being on sleep medications, Ambien and lunesta, I am finally completely off all medication. I tried and tried to go off gradually, I worked with two different sleep therapists. A national sleep documentary was done using me, I was such a good patient, but still no success. I know it doesn't seem like a good idea to go off cold turkey, but, I did with some very important help and it is working!! 6 weeks into it now!!

Here is what I found to be the key for me. I met someone who does energy healing. He did this on me. It took about 4 minutes, and he also did muscle testing with my lunesta. He off course said it was terrible for me. He muscle tested me for a couple supplements, (he works in a health food store) and suggested I take a homeopathic nerve pill. I only slept about 2 hours the first night, but it was very deep sleep!! YEAH! Since then it has been up and down, I'm going through transition, but have had a few nights of 6 or 7 deep sleep nights. I feel tired a lot, but better over all, and I know I'm getting my life back. I go back to him every week, he tweaks some things and we move on. This has been an amazing blessing in my life...I can't imagine how sick I'd be staying on these pills the rest of my life. I was really feeling it with many symptoms. If you do look for someone, I suggest be careful they are not new age. That is a different type of energy, and I would very much caution against that. If you live in PHX, that is where I live, I can give you more details. This is just one of the many things he has helped me with, there are several others....my health is coming back, I'm getting my life back through God's help and with Energy healing!!![/i]

[shansd]

Lisa, you are such an inspiration. I finally came off sleep meds a year ago, but after 5 days of zero sleep I could not cope, so went onto Klonopin and a 1/2 cup of Nyquil. My sleep w/this concoction is better than w/sleeping pills, but still up and down, and still never more than 4 hours, and I never feel rested.

What is "energy healing?" I live in San Diego and am prepared to try anything, but would not know what to look for. Could your person give a SD recommendation?

My life would be so different if I could get off these meds, but I have given up thinking it is possible. Problem for me is that I am a lawyer, self employed, with a very busy practice, in court every day...so I can't afford to have zero sleep very often. I just get by on my 4 hours (and sometimes less) and try (unsuccessfully) not to whine about it too much to anyone who'll listen!!!

But I could take a couple of weeks off and try.

Any helpful San Diego connections or advice on exactly what type of Dr. (or whatever this is) to look for would be great.

Well done though. It must've been torture to get where you are. I have never felt that I really gave it a good shot, mainly because I just can't take the time off to do what needs to be done.

[lisa workman]

Hi Shansd

I am very happy you wrote and I would love to help you. There IS hope for you, tons of it! I am seeing a professional energy "healer" today, who was referred by the man in the health food store...I will ask him about someone in SD that he could refer. IF not, you might consider visiting this man here in PHX? His name is Shawn Warwick. 7531 B East Mcknight Ave, Scottdale, AZ 85251 480.429.9433. IF there is one thing I am sure of, it is that he will help you imensely with your sleep and MANY other things going on with you as well. This energy healing is an amazing thing. I'll let you know what he tells me today about a referall though.

You are on your way to amazing sleep, I know how you feel about just about giving up but don't!!
Lisa

[JennyE]

I have been off Ambien CR for 3 months now and sleeping quite well and awake feeling rested.

[sham]

Stopping my meds was hell. I ended up in the ER with severe tachycardia that they decided was caused by my sleeping meds. So for about 2 years I was given nothing but benzos to try to sleep on. There was this short window of a couple months where I thought "I might survive without seroquel" and then it all came crashing down. I ended up quitting college, adopting out several of my animals, and sitting around staring blankly at the tv in between fits of crying. I finally went to the ER and said I'd had enough. They gave me mirtazapine and sent me to a new psychiatrist. After running through a whole bunch of meds I'm back on the exact same thing I was plus mirtazapine. The tachycardia is worth getting sleep and having a life.