So I've been on Temazepam (Restoril) 15 mg since last March. My LLMD prescribed it to me for sleep because I couldn't sleep anymore AT ALL. I wish I knew at the time about the habit formation and dependency issue. It did help me sleep but only with supplements for sleep. I would get 6-7 hours of restful sleep. Overtime, especially the last few months, it has lost its effect. I wake up a lot, though I try to fall asleep after that to make up for the lost hours. Other things I am concerned about is whether Temazepam is causing damage to my nervous system. It is hard to tell if it is Lyme (and co-infections) or if the sleeping pills can also produce these symptoms, especially overtime:
Interesting thing is that when I take Temazepam before sleep, these symptoms die down and then they reappear the next day. Since I've been taking them a while, it is possible I am already withdrawing and experiencing those symptoms without actually getting off the pills. At the same time, it is hard to tell because I also have Lyme.
I also have sensitivities to food, chemical sensitivities, sensitivities to smell, low tolerance to supplements and medications, MTHFR and other gene mutations. All these things can cause the same symptoms, so it is even harder to pinpoint. One thing for certain is that I know Temazepam isn't good for me longterm and it is probably doing some damage. I wish I could taper off them, but I am scared.
I am even more scared because I just started a Lyme treatment and new probiotics. Wish I never started these pills in the first place! And my LLMD has no set schedule on how to taper off them and they're in capsules also. My only hope is when I do start tapering off them, my acupuncturist knows how to deal with withdrawal symptoms.
Any thoughts? Ideas? Opinions? Suggestions? Thank you!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Another possibility is that the temazepam is calming your mast cells. I know that lorazepam does that.
I would try tapering off SLOWLY .. but talk to your doctor about it.
I use lorazepam, but try to only take it 2-3 times a week. I take it when I am really reactive and it calms things down.
You may indeed by sensitive to salicylates and that is why you can't sleep. If I eat them or use skin care products containing them, then I will be wide awake.
Which probiotic are you taking? Some will be GOOD for histamine levels, some will make things worse.
Posted by tepidauutmn (Member # 49476) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo: Another possibility is that the temazepam is calming your mast cells. I know that lorazepam does that.
I would try tapering off SLOWLY .. but talk to your doctor about it.
I use lorazepam, but try to only take it 2-3 times a week. I take it when I am really reactive and it calms things down.
You may indeed by sensitive to salicylates and that is why you can't sleep. If I eat them or use skin care products containing them, then I will be wide awake.
Which probiotic are you taking? Some will be GOOD for histamine levels, some will make things worse.
That's an excellent point you are making! I remember one doctor told me I had oxalate crystals in my blood, but who knows, that was before he put me on a terrible regimen that caused me to have more heightened sense of smell and chemical sensitivity and food sensitivity. What kind of food is high in salicylates? I started taking this probiotic: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N1G17GG/. Two of the strains are supposed to help with the mast cells.
Posted by Phoiph (Member # 41238) on :
tepidauutmn...
Here is a link to the Ashton Manual. It explains benzodiazepines in detail and how to safely taper off:
Thank you so so so much!
Posted by tepidauutmn (Member # 49476) on :
quote:Originally posted by tepidauutmn:
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo: Another possibility is that the temazepam is calming your mast cells. I know that lorazepam does that.
I would try tapering off SLOWLY .. but talk to your doctor about it.
I use lorazepam, but try to only take it 2-3 times a week. I take it when I am really reactive and it calms things down.
You may indeed by sensitive to salicylates and that is why you can't sleep. If I eat them or use skin care products containing them, then I will be wide awake.
Which probiotic are you taking? Some will be GOOD for histamine levels, some will make things worse.
That's an excellent point you are making! I remember one doctor told me I had oxalate crystals in my blood, but who knows, that was before he put me on a terrible regimen that caused me to have more heightened sense of smell and chemical sensitivity and food sensitivity. What kind of food is high in salicylates? I started taking this probiotic: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N1G17GG/. Two of the strains are supposed to help with the mast cells.
Oh poop, I've been consuming a bit of avocados, coconut oil, olive oil, and almonds :S. From what I've been observing, I react to nuts, eggs, fruits (though I only ever ate berries and lemon in water), and possibly beans (I cook them with some herbs like cilantro, parsley, dill weed).
Posted by Phoiph (Member # 41238) on :
You're very welcome, tepidauutmn.
I think your observation about experiencing withdrawal due to tolerance may be accurate.
I believe this was happening to me (with Clonazepam/Klonipin) when I was ill, since I never increased the dose over a few years.
I couldn't discern the tolerance/withdrawal symptoms from the Lyme symptoms, as they can be identical, as you mentioned.
Like you, the initial benefits were short lived, and I ended up very sorry I ever took the drug in the first place.
You can get off of them, but it must be extremely slowly and carefully.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Yes, you need to lower the oxalates. Dang, we sound like twins.
Lower them SLOWLY!!!
I THINK your probiotic strains are safe, but they only contain 4 billion CFU's each. I use Custom Probiotics D-Lactate Free. It has 250 billion CFU's.. I think.
lymetoo, do you have your histamine levels checked regularly? Are they high? Or is this another thing that we test for and the test is junk?
Posted by tepidauutmn (Member # 49476) on :
quote:Originally posted by Phoiph: You're very welcome, tepidauutmn.
I think your observation about experiencing withdrawal due to tolerance may be accurate.
I believe this was happening to me (with Clonazepam/Klonipin) when I was ill, since I never increased the dose over a few years.
I couldn't discern the tolerance/withdrawal symptoms from the Lyme symptoms, as they can be identical, as you mentioned.
Like you, the initial benefits were short lived, and I ended up very sorry I ever took the drug in the first place.
You can get off of them, but it must be extremely slowly and carefully.
Ugh, sorry you also had to deal with that!
Posted by tepidauutmn (Member # 49476) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo: Yes, you need to lower the oxalates. Dang, we sound like twins.
Lower them SLOWLY!!!
I THINK your probiotic strains are safe, but they only contain 4 billion CFU's each. I use Custom Probiotics D-Lactate Free. It has 250 billion CFU's.. I think.
Omg, 250! I can't imagine starting with that dose lol. Did you experience any die offs? What else do you take?
Do you feel yourself improving by having made those dietary changes? Do we have to be on such a restricted diet forever? I can't imagine getting all the right needed nutrients. Ugh!