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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tosca on August 11, 2008, at 20:13:49
I have a history of generalized anxiety and some depression. I go through periodic episodes of anxiety, usually lasting a couple of weeks. During the day, if I am feeling acutely anxious, I will take 1 mg Ativan, which puts me back on an even keel and gets me functional.
As for my sleep issues, I can usually *get* to sleep reasonably easy. The problem is I wake up 3 or 4 hours later, filled with anxious thoughts. This happens way more in summer than winter as I have never been able to sleep all that well in heat. I lie there getting more and more anxious about anything and everything, including how lousy I will feel the next day if I *don't* get back to sleep. Talk about putting pressure on myself, LOL. After a three or so hours of this, I can get back into a light sleep, but I'll still wake up early, 6:30 or so, and of course I do not feel so great.
Anyhow, my dr has given me Imovane 7.5mg (zopiclone) as well to address the sleep. In the past it has worked well for me. I take it, and half an hour later it kicks in and I am asleep, and then I'll stay asleep for the full night.
My question is: if I have had Ativan as well earlier in the day to combat the anxiety, how many hours do I need to wait before taking the Imovane? Or, can both be in my system at the same time?
Thanks all :)
Posted by Phillipa on August 11, 2008, at 23:16:16
In reply to Taking zopiclone after ativan, posted by Tosca on August 11, 2008, at 20:13:49
First welcome to babble bet you get a lot of good answers here. I've been given lunesta, valium, and xanax all at the same time for sleep so I'd imagine ativan would be okay. Why not give your pharmacist or doc a call to make sure though. And good luck. ps I think sonata can be taken twice in a night if you awaken and not leave a hangover. Even with valium I still wake-up after four hours for years. Love Phillipa
Posted by Justherself54 on August 13, 2008, at 23:11:42
In reply to Taking zopiclone after ativan, posted by Tosca on August 11, 2008, at 20:13:49
The only time I take clonazapam is at bedtime with zoliplone (except for a rare few occations where I've had to take some during the day). I would think ativan taken before zopiclone should be OK...if not...someone will more knowledge that I will correct me.
Posted by Tosca on August 14, 2008, at 10:46:00
In reply to Re: Taking zopiclone after ativan » Tosca, posted by Justherself54 on August 13, 2008, at 23:11:42
Thanks for your replies :)
I will definitely clarify this with my pharmacist next time I go in, but I have been playing it safe and not taking the zopiclone until at least 8 hours after I have taken the ativan. I know they are different classes of drugs, but I just worry that their effects would too much compound each other if taken too closely. The ativan works great for daytime- takes that terrible anxious edge off and stops the ruminating thoughts dead in their tracks, and, the zopiclone then takes over at bedtime to put me and keep me to sleep. I'm not looking for any more 'effect'- they both do their job well- I just want to make sure I do it all safely.
Thanks again everyone.
Posted by yxibow on August 15, 2008, at 1:29:31
In reply to Re: Taking zopiclone after ativan, posted by Tosca on August 14, 2008, at 10:46:00
> Thanks for your replies :)
>
> I will definitely clarify this with my pharmacist next time I go in, but I have been playing it safe and not taking the zopiclone until at least 8 hours after I have taken the ativan. I know they are different classes of drugs, but I just worry that their effects would too much compound each other if taken too closely. The ativan works great for daytime- takes that terrible anxious edge off and stops the ruminating thoughts dead in their tracks, and, the zopiclone then takes over at bedtime to put me and keep me to sleep. I'm not looking for any more 'effect'- they both do their job well- I just want to make sure I do it all safely.
>
> Thanks again everyone.
The main issue is that given enough time, using Ativan for anxiety over time (months to years) will make zopiclone less or ineffective for sleep because the transmitter system that they work on are the same. (GABA-a)
Posted by West on August 15, 2008, at 12:49:14
In reply to Re: Taking zopiclone after ativan » Tosca, posted by yxibow on August 15, 2008, at 1:29:31
Probably fine. There are no specific complications with how both drugs are metabolised i.e) individual blood levels will be stable. Both are habit forming which might be relevant, however zopiclone much less so - I came off using it for 3 months cold turkey with no trouble. When I stopped taking lorazepam for 2 weeks without a taper i did feel much more anxious. Hope that helps.
Posted by AvaG on August 16, 2008, at 2:51:26
In reply to Re: Taking zopiclone after ativan, posted by West on August 15, 2008, at 12:49:14
I've been prescribed ativan to be taken in combination with zopiclone before bed by my doctor. He is a psychiatrist specializing in sleep disorders.
I took this combo for a long time; he eventually switched the ativan to clonazapam.
I went off the clonazapam very easily and haven't had any problems in regards to habit-forming. When I did taper from the high amounts, I did it much slower than the doctor recommended. I went off zopliclone completely by doing this when I noticed my sleep improving. Tapered off very slowly. I went back on during my divorce, unfortunately.
Now I just take 100mg trazodone with 7.5-14 zopiclone and have good sleep. In the past I used much higher amounts of each to get even 5 hours. I have no idea why my sleep got better, but it was hell for many years. Zopiclone is not the greatest to stay on long-term, but nothing else I've tried has worked.
Posted by AvaG on August 16, 2008, at 2:51:40
In reply to Re: Taking zopiclone after ativan, posted by West on August 15, 2008, at 12:49:14
I've been prescribed ativan to be taken in combination with zopiclone before bed by my doctor. He is a psychiatrist specializing in sleep disorders.
I took this combo for a long time; he eventually switched the ativan to clonazapam.
I went off the clonazapam very easily and haven't had any problems in regards to habit-forming. When I did taper from the high amounts, I did it much slower than the doctor recommended. I went off zopliclone completely by doing this when I noticed my sleep improving. Tapered off very slowly. I went back on during my divorce, unfortunately.
Now I just take 100mg trazodone with 7.5-14 zopiclone and have good sleep. In the past I used much higher amounts of each to get even 5 hours. I have no idea why my sleep got better, but it was hell for many years. Zopiclone is not the greatest to stay on long-term, but nothing else I've tried has worked.
This is the end of the thread.
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