Posted by simcha on December 1, 2004, at 2:46:27
Chemist,
I don't know your email so here goes... Perhaps you might see this before my appointment tomorrow...
Thanks for coming back. I've been a lurker of late. I've been on the board since June 2001.
Currently I'm taking:
Citalopram 40mg (am)
WellbutrinXL 300mg (pm)
Neurontin 600+mg (pm) I can take more as needed.I take the Citalopram and the WellbutrinXL for Major Depressive Disorder with Recurrent Features that is currently in remission.
The Neurontin was replaced from Klonopin 1mg at night for bruxism and restless legs. The Neurontin works Ok.
The thing is that I've always had insomnia, chronic. Even with the depression successfully treated there are at least 2-3 nights per week where I have difficulties sleeping.
So, my pdoc decided to allow my gp to come up with a solution to the insomnia. I asked for Ambien because of the great reports about it and my pdoc's recommendation. It works OK, it's very mild at 10mg... I weigh 235 lbs.
The thing is that Ambien is non-formulary on my insurance and the copay has become cost prohibitive....
According to the formulary these are my options:
Restoril (temazepam) 20mg
Halcion (triazolam) .25 or .5mg
Ativan (Lorazepam) 1 or 2mg
ProSom (estazolam) 1 or 2mg
Dalmane (flurazepam) 30mgThe dosages are just what is available and not set in stone without talking to my gp tomorrow....
I was wondering if you had some insight into all of these benzodiazepines. It seems that insurance formularies would rather deal with benzodiazepines than Ambien (a benzo derivative that is supposed to be superior....
How should I approach this... IF this were you what looks good to try off of this list.
I'm not thrilled at the prospect of using benzos as sleep agents. It just seems that insurance would rather pay for it and they seem to think that they get the most effectiveness for the dollar off of these drugs.
Please Help,
Thanks in Advance.
poster:simcha
thread:422675
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041128/msgs/422675.html