Dear Dr. Dora,
I retired last year, and had trouble adjusting. I had a lot of stress, and couldn’t sleep. My doctor gave me Xanax. It helped, thank goodness. But now I’m stressed even though I take Xanax four times a day. I’m also not sleeping, even though I take the Xanax. I wake up after a couple of hours, and can’t get back to sleep. Should I try melatonin?
Sleepless
Dear Sleepless,
Xanax is a very short-acting medicine. It works quickly, which is why it can quite addictive. But it also leaves your body quickly.
If you’re feeling more anxious, and your insomnia is worse, it is probably because your body is in Xanax withdrawal, even if you take it several times a day. I once had a patient who was a nervous wreck, even though he was taking large doses of Xanax four times a day, and at bedtime. Ironically, it was only when I got him off of Xanax, an anti-anxiety medicine, that his anxiety ceased, and he could sleep.
Wishing You Sweet Dreams,
Dr. Dora