Health Check: how to soothe yourself to sleep That’s because they have a faster onset and short duration of effect so as to avoid a “hangover” the next day. Temazepam (brand names Normison, Temaze, Temtabs) and lorazepam (brand name Ativan) are reasonable choices from the many benzodiazepines available. Side effects include a “dulling” of cognitive function, memory impairment and the increased risk for accidents, especially unsteadiness and falls in older people.īenzodiazepines should only be used for two to four weeks, or intermittently, and only in addition to good sleep hygiene (that is, practising the measures listed in the first paragraph). Essentially, a gradual reduction in dose is needed with support and counselling to assist with the temporary increase in insomnia and perhaps anxiety. Ceasing these medicines needs to be managed by your doctor. Stopping suddenly after long-term use can be dangerous, with violent withdrawal reactions possible, including epileptic seizures. The duration of “ withdrawal” is related to the length of time these are taken.
It can be very hard to stop taking benzodiazepines as insomnia and often anxiety returns. Importantly, the effectiveness for inducing sleep wears off after a few weeks. Weekly Dose: Valium, the 'safer choice' that led to dependence and addiction Unfortunately, far too many people are dependent. Physiological and psychological dependence on the drug can develop after only a few days in some people, or weeks in most. This can be very dangerous, and when combined can lead to respiratory failure, coma and even death. Rarely, some people experience the opposite and become over-excited and more anxious.Īs benzodiazepines depress brain function (they depress the central nervous system), their effects add to other central nervous system depressants including alcohol, sedating antihistamines and opioid analgesics such as oxycodone ( Endone). Their effects, which include some muscle relaxing properties, are achieved by enhancing the effect of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter operating throughout the brain. They are the most commonly prescribed sleeping pills. Benzodiazepines are drugs such as Valium, also used to treat anxiety.
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