Restoril and Nightmares: What Users Say

• No ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2019

For Insomnia "I started the Restoril with high hopes. For 7-8 years I’ve been taking Xanax to sleep - works like a charm. However, with all opioids and drug stuff going on, doctors are trying to get everyone off of Xanax and find alternatives. After taking Restoril for a month at a small dose, I was having nightmares, waking up at 3 am every morning, and was overly emotional during the day, taking naps in my car on my 30-minute lunch break. My doctor upped the dose to 15 mg. Within a few days, my nightmares and vivid dreams got worse, and I was having extreme panic attacks throughout the day. It has been the worst experience for me with a medication. Had to call in to work sick, trying to get it out of my system and feel normal again, also just to keep my job. I can’t be a complete spaz at my employment. The month I was taking the medication almost cost me my job, friendships, and possibly my life."

• Anonymous
• February 27, 2012

For Insomnia "I have used this medicine for 7 years, and it works great. I was using 30 mg, but now I am using 15 mg. I sleep well, but I heard I talk in my sleep a lot. I have stopped sugar and caffeine and all sweets 4 hours prior to bed. I feel it helps a lot better that way. Relaxing shower before bed as well."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2018

For Insomnia "I had been on Ambien for about 3 weeks, and I was still waking up every two hours. I’d fall asleep quickly but still need naps during the day from being so exhausted. My doctor switched me to Restoril 15 mg, and this is my first night taking it. I’ve been up every two hours on the dot (12:24, 2:24, 4:24) since going to bed at 10, and each time I’m woken up by a horrendous nightmare about murder and death, then I’m awake for 30 minutes to an hour afterwards. So basically, I’ve gotten 4 hours of stressful sleep and had terrible dreams with it, and I’m wide awake at 5 AM for no reason. If my doc says to up the dose, I will try it, but even though the Ambien didn’t keep me asleep, the sleep was still more refreshing than Restoril."

• Sho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2020

For Insomnia "I have severe sleep-induced psychosis due to insomnia and wakefulness. I have been searching for a solution for sleep, and I have found that at the higher dose of 30 mg of Restoril, it helps me go to sleep and go back to sleep after waking up. It's not the best sleep, but I consider it a temporary solution, and I am thankful for the rest it has provided. The other thing to note about it is that it gives terrifying dreams for some people. For me, I get intense lucid dreams that feel real and make me feel like I am blind in one eye before waking up, but I don't mind them as much as some people."

• Ben...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2014

For Insomnia "False awakening dreams, nightmares, vivid dreams, reduced effectiveness over time."