I am a 70 year old man that has been battling insomnia for five years. I have tried every supplement under the sun and some sleeping pills that were not that effective. I also practice Yoga Nidra every day. Just got a .5mg Xanax prescription today. I intend to start with half that amount. I am not an addictive personality and am careful what I eat and exercise regularly. But not getting enough sleep? Does anyone out there have any good experiences with this drug? There are so many nightmare scenarios out there.
Any comforting stories regarding low dose Xanax for insomnia?
Question posted by Radley9 on 4 Jan 2023
Last updated on 14 January 2023
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3 Answers
Mark_Q
7 Jan 2023
Alas, no comforting story. Yes, it will help with sleep. I thought I didn't have an addictive nature until I started on Xanax (for anxiety) in my 50's and after a couple of years ended in rehab. I would avoid if at all possible.
Radley9
8 Jan 2023
Thanks so much for responding. Yeah seems like the consensus is pretty uniform. I guess there arent too many safe alternatives out there.
ttbrdlady
5 Jan 2023
Been on it 20+ years with no dosage increase. Never had a problem and never abused it. Good Luck. Tough to function lacking sleep.
Radley9
14 Jan 2023
Thanks for responding. Took .25mg of Xanax when I woke up and had 5 hours straight sleep--never have that. Also 2 1/2 hours of deep and almost 2 hours REM during the night. So I am really interested in your experiences since thay have been good and long term. How much of a dose to you take and do you take it every day? Do you alternate it with anything else? Sure would like to keep having restful nights. Thanks.
Kashi1897
4 Jan 2023
Sorry to hear about your insomnia, I went on Xanax when I was having trouble sleeping, 0.5 mg. It did seem to work, but then stopped, went up to 2 of the 0.5 mg, worked, but not as well as trazodone which I was on for years, but I went off all my antidepressant meds which was a big mistake!! I did not want to stay on Xanax, I keep having to take more and more. And doctors do not want to prescript it, so I weaned off of it, and went on trazodone and Prozac, trazodone helps with sleep, and Prozac helps with depression, mind racing, anxiety, and panic attacks. So if you have not tried trazodone, that would be something you can ask your doctor about. Good Luck. We all need our sleep for our health
Radley9
4 Jan 2023
Thanks for responding. Yeah have tried Trazodone to no avail. Taking the Xanax for the short term only and .25mg and every other day until my appt. with my third sleep doctor.
Related topics
xanax, insomnia, dosage, sleeping, supplement, pill, sleeping pills
Further information
- Xanax uses and safety info
- Xanax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Xanax (detailed)
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