Restoril and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 14, 2013

For Insomnia "I take this about three times a week to help me sleep. I have had insomnia for two years. Even though I work 12-14 hours a day and jog 5 miles 4 times a week, I still could not sleep. Started taking this and it did not do much at first. But now it really works! I can sleep about 7 hours and only wake once or twice and can go back to sleep pretty quickly usually. I wish I could take it every night but doing this lessens its effect on me. I save it for 3 nights a week and struggle through the others. Side effects are constipation, I never 'go' the next day. Also, pretty bad rebound insomnia, I do not sleep well the night after I have taken it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 7, 2015

For Insomnia "Tried Ambien, but it lost its effect around 10 months. Lunesta tasted like I sucked on a roll of pennies all night. Trazodone just wasn't really effective. I take 30 mg of Restoril about 20 mins before I need to be in bed. Otherwise, I've awakened in different parts of the house. I also take 0.75 mg, give or take 0.25 mg, of Xanax as a kicker. I would have problems staying asleep. Sometimes no more sleep that night, sometimes the crappy toss-and-turn sleep till you get mad and get up. Then drag ass all day. Occasionally, I still get one of those nights, but they are once in a long while. It works for me, and I recommend (but does not for a friend). If you've tried the others, give it a try, it's cheap, nothing to lose."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

For Insomnia "I have taken Xanax for 20 years as a sleep aid and anxiety med at night. I added melatonin and then Unisom (I've had insomnia most of my life and am 70 and need to SLEEP) and even with all those drugs, I still am awake until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., but I slept. Put on temazepam 15 mg today. Took 15 mg at 11 p.m., and I am writing this at 4:52, WIDE AWAKE!!!!! Back to Xanax tomorrow!!!!"

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

For Insomnia "I have taken Xanax for 20 years as a sleep aid and anxiety med at night. I added melatonin and then Unisom (I've had insomnia most of my life and am 70 and need to SLEEP) and even with all those drugs, I still am awake until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., but I slept. Put on temazepam 15 mg today. Took 15 mg at 11 p.m., and I am writing this at 4:52, WIDE AWAKE!!!!! Back to Xanax tomorrow!!!!"

• wha...
• November 2, 2016

For Insomnia "30 milligrams worked like a charm for three months in addition to the medicine I take for depression, bipolar, and anxiety, all mixed together. I slept, however, I needed to up my dose to 60 milligrams forward to continue to work, which it also did like a charm for 3 more months. That is 6 months I'm sleeping after 2 years of extreme insomnia, which had basically destroyed my life. I am up and running, however, I had a doctor's appointment today because I have been getting restless sleep. I wanted to go to 30 milligrams Restoril and 10 milligrams of Valium, as this has worked in the past, however, my doctor was not there, and I am scared that I may not sleep so well or take extra medicine to sleep. That's my experience."

• nov...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 12, 2021

For Insomnia "I started taking this nightly about 5 years ago, and I have to say I am surprised at all the positive reviews of this medication. Yes, it did help my insomnia greatly, but I feel that recently I have developed a tolerance to it and want to get off of it permanently, but am having a really hard time doing it. The sleep deprivation has been really rough. I have lost my ability to fall and stay asleep naturally, and I blame it on this medication, perhaps that's not fair, I know. My doctor doesn't seem concerned at all about my dependence, and I find very little information about withdrawing from this medication on the benzo bulletin boards. It almost seems like it's not taken seriously enough, that it's a 'mild' sleep aid and that I shouldn't be too worried about trying to get off of it. My doctor doesn't seem to think it's a big step to switch from 30 mg, my usual dose, down to the next dosage of 22.5, but it's really, really HARD. I don't want to take this anymore!!"