I had very little sleep for 2 weeks, a few minutes here, a few minutes there. My doctor prescribed Restoril. It works, but it works too well as far as I'm concerned. I only take it about every 3rd night or so because I don't want to add an addiction to my list of woes. I'd rather sleep just a few hours than sleep too long. I took one last night, the first in 3 days, and slept for 11 hours. I'd break it in two, but it's in capsule form. I will admit I do feel better the next day, but I don't like sleeping that long.

I don't know anything about Restoril, so I can't relate. Mine is a 1 MG tab, which I cut in half. A .5 MG is just enough to do the trick. The pharmacist said .5 MG is so trivial, it isn't worth worrying about, but sleep deprivation is.

I would not want to sleep for 11 hours either. Anything else he could give you?

Debbie - when Joe was sick, our doc prescribed Alprazolam (.5 mg) for both of us. It did help. After he died, I took a quarter of the prescribed dose (a quarter of one tablet), in the morning. When I told my doc this, he started laughing - "are you sure it's doing anything?", he asked me. Well, probably not, because when I had to have blood work done, I didn't take it, and haven't taken it since (2 months), and didn't notice any difference. However, sleep - that's something different. I have a prescription for 15 mg of Temazepan, which I take probably once or twice a week. I find Tylenol PM helps sleep as well. Sleep deprivation, waking to anxiety, I went through that - I swear I would wake up at 1 a.m. and think through my whole life. Did I do my quarterly taxes? What was that guy's name at that party in 1973? What the hell's going to become of me? What's the meaning of life?? Oh, yes, it sucks, and it's draining. Do what you need to do, right now, in moderation. Screw the grief sites (sorry, I should be nicer!) Hugs, Marsha

Dear Marsha--
Can totally relate to the sleep deprivation and waking up at 1, 2 or whatever. The mind keeps going, the anxiety builds, you try your best to go to sleep, and you can't. You get up when the alarm goes off, and you are just a total mess. Sleep is so far more important to me right now than worrying about getting addicted to .5 MG of a pill, or worrying about what any doctor is going to say.

You do wonder if there ever will come a time when you don't need it, and I don't see that right now and choose to not worry about that either. Thanks Marsha. And everyone else

Following your doctor's advise is absolutely the right choice. We here at DS are here for support and encourage. We don't prescribe, diagnoses or treat, so stick with the professionals. Sharon :)

Hi , when my husband had his by pass i was doing well after all the complications and him passing away , i was very depress and had very bad panic attacks, i could not sleep or eat.. I am taking 0.5mg of xanax and paxil. For me to keep my sanity right now if far more important then worrying about being medicated, as time goes on i will get off them, but for now i will take meds if i need to..... I am on a very low dose so is not bad.. But at least i can get a few ours of sleep, without waking up crying in the middle of the night and not know where or who to turn too..

I went to the Doctor with the same complaint, toss and turn all night getting absolutely no sleep. She prescribed Ambien, she said that it is only to be used maybe 3 nights a week because it can be addictive. I have never taken anything like this before, first night i took it I slept for 7 hrs straight without moving an inch. So if you are really deprived of sleep ask your doctor if it would be right for you. I don't take it unless I am totally dragging and someone is staying the night with my kids and I.

I agree with following the doctor's advice about taking the meds. Quality sleep is far more important than tossing and turning all night, not being able to shut the brain off, and being an emotional mess the next day. I guess sometimes we are too anxious for normality, which can only come with time.

I feel that you have to trust your instincts more than anything else, so if you feel that what the doctor prescribed works for you, then you should do it.

I don't like to take meds, never did. I finally went to my doctor several months ago because I couldn't sleep throught the night and I had back problems as well. I took Ambien for a while, and also got a pain med for my back. Finally, I could sleep and felt rested. But I hated the idea of the whole thing. I stopped the Ambien a while ago because I was getting crying jags and somehow I blamed the Ambien for making me feel more depressed than I already was.....maybe that was inaccurate but that was just my gut feeling. I still take the pain med at night, because if my back is not bothering me I can usually sleep pretty well now. The bottom line is this, I try to listen to what my body is telling me, I want to be healthy, I don't want to take medication I don't really need, but for now blessed sleep is important. I have to get up each morning and go to work. Maybe some day things will change and I won't need any medication. Don't fret, be sensitive to how you are feeling and give it some time.

Hi jersyegirl, When Robert first passed away, I was not sleeping and waking up like you every hour on the hour. It got to the point that I was having palpatations and couldn't catch my breath. My primary gave me a script for Ambien, and Xanax for the palpatations. Neither helped and my B/P went up and I was having symptoms of elevated B/P so I went to my cardiologist and he gave me a script for Ambien XL and Clonazapam (for anixety). It helped and now I only take them when needed. Most nights like last night I was so tired I feel alseep sitting up with my lap top. Sometimes I take my pain meds for RA and that makes me a bit sleepy so I don't need anything else. It is tough. So many issues and meds to deal with.

As an update to my post, I have sucked up the courage to make a doctor appointment this afternoon to touch base about my meds. Naturally, depression is to be expected and I'm not looking for the magic pill to take all this away. If so, my loss meant nothing in the first place. However, I don't like waking up between 2-4 and not being able to go back to sleep. The mind starts, the anxiety kicks in, and it stinks. Also need to see if the Lexapro should be changed. As time goes by it seems I get less interested in anything, let alone get the strength to go through with a planned event. It is worth the hour to get the doctor's advice.

Hi Jersey girl, I am glad you will be seeing your doctor, yes depression is to be expected, but when depression takes over or anxiety it becomes a problem.. I lost my husband on July 23, 2009 .. At first i did not want to take any medicine, i could not sleep , eat had no motivation to do anything.. Stayed up all night crying, I went to my doctor and now i am on Paxil and xanax, i still cry which is ok , but i am more able to think clearly and do the things i have to do, because you take meds does not mean you will be forgetting him and you won't hurt ... I find it's just making my life a little be easier.. And i truly think if i was not on meds i would fall apart... Good Luck to you , keep us posted... (((hugs)))

Thanks for the words of encouragement. It has gotten to the point where it is an effort to do anything, or get interested in anything. When I go out, I feel like I'm in a well with the world bustling around me. The motivation is what is killing me, plus not having a good night's sleep. The anxiety is the worse. I hate it. It brings such false fears attached to it.

I know exactly how you feel, because after my husband passed away, i was walking like a zombie, i had such bad panic attacks i just had to run home and cry... The thought of him not being here anymore , cause very bad panic attacks, i am still not able to sleep much but i am getting a little more sleep then i use to.. Don't get discourage with the anti-depressants, if Lexapro does not work for you, another one will.. Everybody is unique so what might work for me might now work for you.. But you will know when is working... Talk to you doctor if you don't get better... But do try to find the right one for you... ((((hug))))