temazepam

[MiniN]

My doctor prescribed temazepam to help me sleep but they are not working at all.......i was wondering, do doctors ever prescribe placebos?

[Ice.Maiden]

It depends on how long you've been taking these tablets MiniN. Like any tranquilizer or medication for anxiety/sleep problems, you can take a course before they start to kick in properly. It perhaps also depends on their strength. However, I know someone who became dependent on Temazepam, and it took literally years to get weaned off them. Never just stop taking them though. If you're on them for any length of time, follow your doctor's orders if you want to stop. x

[MiniN]

i'm off work with stress and this was prescribed to help with sleep. i was only given a weeks worth but was told not to take them every night.

i've taken them on 3 nights and they have had no effect. still takes ages to get to sleep, i dream about my stressful situation and then wake up in the night. its rubbish. i think i need a stronger dose or somethign different maybe?

[Ice.Maiden]

Hi there. Well only your doctor can say whether the dosage needs increasing - say from 1mg to 5mg, or whatever. The thing is, a week's nowhere long enough for them to take proper effect, but it sounds to me as though your doctor was being cautious - hence just giving you so few, and with saying not to take them every night. I know it might seem silly to you, but before you embark on further or stronger tablets, have you tried relaxation methods of getting to sleep? Stress can play havoc with sleeping patterns, but that's why sleeping tablets should never be taken lightly - because most can become addictive. You could try the herbal sort that you can buy from most chemists.

[pinktwink]

the weeeks supply was probably to help break the cycle like icey says you need to look at stress management techniques to help you deal with the stress and learn to cope with it. Have you thought of alternative therapies like aromatherapy lavender is especially good, yoga, meditation. counselling to talk about the source of stress. It is also helpful to devise a sleep routine wherby u unwind before bed sya have a bath hot drink etc play soft music. That way your body begins to recognise it is preparing for sleep
good luck

[Ice.Maiden]

I think a drop of lavender oil on your pillow's a good idea - but preferably on the underside or away from where it might come into contact with your eyes. A warm milky drink and a bath are quite good as well.
Ideally, the thing to do, would be to remove yourself from whatever's causing the stress, but that might not always be possible. Talking things over with your family or friends may help. x

[sqad617]

In answer to your question GP's are extremely unlikely, if ever, to prescribe placebos. Placebos are commonly used in hospital drug trials, but the patients are informed that placebos may be used, but not which trialist is given the placebo.

[spudqueen]

The chemist will have dispensed whichever drug was on the prescription. If the drug is not working then you need to go back to the Doctors.

[imajenarry]

think was done as normal practise on prescriptions til the 70's (there's even still a box on current prescriptions for just this purpose oddly) . it sounds like this medication isn't working for you. there are lots of other sleeping tablets that the doctor could prescribe for you to try that work a bit more with the body's natural sleep mechanism.

[MiniN]

thanks for all the advice....

i've quit my job so thats a step forward with gettin away from the stress and i might go on holiday at the end of the week if i decide to book a last minute thing

i'll be goin back the docs this week too to sort out my sleepin

thanks guys