After stopping the medicines for insomnia, I cannot sleep more than three hours at night. Why?

Question

Hi doctor,

I was taking medication for insomnia. Lonazep 0.5 mg was prescribed at night along with Nexito 5 mg and Fluovaxin CR 50 mg at night. After tapering it, it was reduced to 0.25 mg and I stopped it after few days. I was getting five to six hours of sleep with an intermittent disturbance at night till last week. I can sleep only for three hours at night and I could not sleep in the morning for the past three days. Can I have rebound insomnia? What is the treatment? I do regular walking and all related sleep hygiene techniques. My sleep has got reduced after 100 days of stopping the medicine. Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the details given. You are suffering from insomnia. Please mention whether you have any repeated thoughts about any event or any stress in your life. If there is anything, please tell me and stress can be treated appropriately with counseling. It is unlikely to have rebound insomnia due to the stoppage of medicines as it has been 100 days by now. You can have any underlying depression. Please tell me if there is anything so that I can help you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

As you do not have any stressful situation at this moment, I suggest you follow sleep hygiene. It helps to bring back your normal sleep pattern. Follow it for two weeks to have improvement. Try to maintain your regular sleep timings at night. Do not sleep in the afternoon or in the morning. Have your room pleasant and neat. If you have negative thoughts in your mind before sleeping, kindly avoid them. Avoid using artificial lights before sleeping. Try to avoid using mobile phones, TV (television), laptops, or any other electronic devices.

If you are not getting adequate sleep after going to bed, kindly stay calm and walk in your room for three to four minutes and get back to sleep again. Use your bed only for sleeping and avoid working or reading on your bed. Stay calm and relaxed even if you did not get sleep immediately. Avoid drinking tea, coffee, or any other energy drinks after evening. Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes. Follow these steps and revert after two weeks.