Benzo's vs. Melatonin

Benzodiazepines are addicting as a sleep aid. I have used Ativan and Klonopin.
Melatonin does not seem to be addicting and works for me.
Should I use each one for different reasons? (Particularly in jet lag and bipolar mania)
Which one gives a more restful sleep with fewer side effects?

Don't ever use benzos ever for anything if you can help it, please! My bf got hooked on them and withdrawal literally almost drove him insane. Anything is better. Not sleeping is better.

In bipolar not sleeping equals being sectioned and put in a mental ward where one of the first things they will do is feed you sleeping meds. Sleep is absolutely essential for a bipolar sufferer.

I am currently on diazepam. Started on 25 mg as I went over the maximum dose of zopiclone. I am down to 5 mg now. I found it quite easy to drop to 10 mg, then got stuck there for a while, and then at some point around two weeks ago I moved down to 5 mg in one step and now I have nights where 4 mg is enough and sometimes I have to go up to 5 or 6. I am glad I managed to reduce the dosage so much -- I now have dreams again, and it's much easier to get out of bed in the morning.

If melatonin works for you I absolutely recommend you stick with it. It is much, much less dangerous/addictive than prescription meds like zopiclone, ambien or benzos. If it puts you to sleep -- more power to ya! (Also I'm a bit jealous )

Thank you. I am trying to ween myself off benzos and cut back on coffee in the afternoon. Sleep is so important.

Oliveira wrote:In bipolar not sleeping equals being sectioned and put in a mental ward where one of the first things they will do is feed you sleeping meds. Sleep is absolutely essential for a bipolar sufferer.

Gotcha, I wasn't aware of the context. For a while it felt like doctors were writing unlimited benzo prescriptions as a first resort for relatively mild conditions, and without adequately explaining their dangers. Sounds like you're in good hands tho' mbk.