I am trying new medicines to help me sleep. I took 2mg Xanax tonight per order and it has been 2 hours. He decreased the Klonopin and I am going off 2 hrs. Can I go up in dosage or does it take time to get in your system?
What is the average dose of Xanax for sleep?
Question posted by Anonymous on 2 March 2011
Last updated on 6 November 2022
10 Answers
edsport81
22 May 2020
2mg seems like the recommended dose. I take Latuda for Bi polar depression. Also I an prescribed 2mg xanax to take at nighttime to help me sleep due to my mild anxiety. I'm a healthy, fit 38 year old Male and 2 mg works fine once at nighttime. Give it a good hour or so.
RxHoudini
30 Dec 2019
If it hasn't hit in 2hrs it isn't. Xanax can make you sleep but taking it to sleep is a horrible idea regularly. The more often you use it for sleep the more you tolerate it. If you are overly anxious or restless take no more than you absolutely need and DO NOT MAKE IT HABITUAL. It is fast acting and short lived. Getting lowered on klonopin is going to cause an increase in anxiety, restlessness and all sorts of fun things. Look more into withdrawal off klonopin. Many doctors do it way too fast worsening original problem. Talk to your prescriber and be honest about your use. At 3mg/ day, I would go days or weeks without it but if I was anxious it would take 5-6 to just calm me. (That is rare and around triggers are usually can avoid). The biggest thing is take no more than you need. If you really need to sleep, cut in halves or quarters and take THE ONE OF THE PIECES every 15-30.
You'll notice what is takes without unnecessarily taking more! If sleep is your problem regularly I strongly suggest talking to your doc about another rx. Seroquel is common but can cause sleep paralysis and vivid nightmares. There are great natural methods that work. Limit stimuli like light, noise, screen time, exercise more through the day, watch diet, etc.
In short, 2 hrs after 2mg hasnt hit you it probably wont and you'll start getting more restless. There is no average.
oldbilljr
21 July 2018
My MD recommended 1/2 of a .50mg pill alternating nights. I take it when I get in bed about 10:30,
it kicks in while I am a sleep. It allows me to sleep longer before the nightly john trip and lets me fall back to sleep quickly instead of laying awake. With a 1/2 life of 12 hours, at midmorning its at .125 strength. I haven't had any craving on the non-pill nights but occasionally lay awake for an hour or two, but I resist the urge to take a pill. Been doing this for 4 months.
nottus2u
4 Sep 2018
I believe the values are wrong. 1/2 of a 0.50 mg pill is 0.25 mg. I don't understand the 1/2 life of 12 hours. You say at mid morning its at .125mg. If you would explain it ,I Thank you in Advance,
Thank you
B.
oldbilljr
11 Oct 2018
You misread..I cut a .50 mg in half and take one half, i.e .25mg. 12 hours later the dosage is .125.
Mariosk
6 Nov 2022
1/2 life is the half-life of a medicine. Medicines decompose in the body after ingestion and become less and less. Half-life is defined as the time taken for the body to absorb/consume half of the original dose. Thus, half-life of 12 hours means that the amount of medicine in the body left is half the original dose after 12 hours. Therefore, one starts with 0.25 mg at noon and at midnight the remainder is half of 0.25 or 0.125
Chapita55
8 Nov 2017
The 1 mg xanax for me personally, takes about an hour. I wish you the best. All my doctors are refusing to continue giving me Xanax. It's the only med that works. They say they don't like to give a 67 year old xanax. Duh. I've been on it for 15 years. My previous Dr. gave me 120 per month. 2 a day for panic disorder. 2 at night for sleep. New Doctor this year, cut me down to 30 a month. When I have a panic attack, I have to try self healing. Last night I had to take .5, due to SEVERE panic attack
I took the other half hours later. No sleep. I'm happy you have a Dr. who understands your need. Take Care...
Alonzo71
24 Nov 2017
yes junkies are causing us to get proper treatment. they want to put people on ssri or snri antidepressants which you could possibly take the rest of your life and need to ween off
lillitae
24 July 2018
I don't understand Dr. refusing xanax after 67 yrs of age. At 89 yrs I can manage with 1mg for sleep but could not sleep without. I've tried.
Satori3636
12 April 2017
Try 3mg Xanax XR. They're kind of like super Klonopin. They are slow release so they keep you asleep all night. From what I understand 1/2 of the med is released right away and the rest is slowly feleazed over the next 10-12 hours.
Eb3311
9 Feb 2013
I'm a 19 year old female and I weigh under 100 pounds, I take 20 mg of adderall in the am and CAN'T sleep at nigh I took 1mg of Xanax at 11pm and 1 more mg at 230am and it's 5 am and still can't sleep, anyone else use anything that workes better for them then Xanax ?
Billy Joe duff
23 Oct 2016
Xanax is considered the gold standard for anxiety/ insomnia. Trust me, all the others are just weak in comparison. I've tried them all. 2 mg is a fairly low dose. Talk to your Dr. About increasing your dosage. I take up to 6 mg some nights but definitely bring this up to your Dr first. Insomnia totally sucks so I sure hope you get an answer and are able to finally get some rest!
Theniceguy
24 March 2017
Please do not listen to the guy that said 6mg. That is an insanely high dose. At under 100 pounds please go see a doctor, your not sleeping because your underweight and your body is hungry.
Zaxy
17 Sep 2017
May try rivotril or zopiclone
Chilidog
14 Oct 2017
I spoke directly to my dr and pharmacist. It is safe to take over the counter extra strength sleep aid and 1 to 1and a half along with one or even two over counter. I use generic of unisom. It's cheaper and it works like a charm.
Alonzo71
24 Nov 2017
that Adderall probably offset it
MsStarbright
29 Dec 2017
I've been taking generic Lunesta for 5 years. It's non-habit forming and works well. Sometimes when I still wake up too early, I take .25 generic Xanax for 2 hours of sleep.
Cnilda
29 Nov 2018
I was taking Mirtazapine for years... and that KNOCKED me out... I recently switched to Xanax only because of a random side effect of Mirtazapine (dry cough) and Xanax isn't working for my anxiety or Insomnia ... Insomnia is back after 5 days ... Also Mirtazapine increases your appetite so you'll gain weight which I loved because I was 108 lbs at 5'8" ... I'm 125 now... So maybe it Mirtazapine will help with the weight and insomnia.
Cnilda
29 Nov 2018
I was taking Mirtazapine for years... and that KNOCKED me out... I recently switched to Xanax only because of a random side effect of Mirtazapine (dry cough) and Xanax isn't working for my anxiety or Insomnia ... Insomnia is back after 5 days ... Also Mirtazapine increases your appetite so you'll gain weight which I loved because I was 108 lbs at 5'8" ... I'm 125 now... So maybe it Mirtazapine will help with the weight and insomnia.
jenniferjoy
6 June 2012
I take Wellbutrin 300mg for depression and Strattera 25mg for ADD in the a.m., plus .125 Xanax in the a.m. to counteract the anxiety the Wellbutrin and Strattera can sometimes trigger (especially without eating breakfast!). At night, I take .5 Xanax to sleep. By that time, the Wellbutrin and Strattera, which have given me motivation, energy and concentration during the day, have worn off pretty much, but I still need a little Xanax to get me sleepy enough. This has worked great for 4 years. I may need to increase the Xanax by .125 again (which means three .25mg pills) - I'll talk to my shrink about it next time, I still wake up during the night sometimes, like I'm not sleeping deeply enough.
Everyone's body chemistry is different - and please please please give the meds several weeks unless you're having life-threatening side effects - even several days isn't enough for your body to start effectively balancing itself out with the new chemistry. I can't tell you how many people in my AA meetings have gone off their meds after a few days or weeks because "they're not working" or "I'm fine now" - and end up using and sometimes dead!!!
vincent1905
3 March 2011
I take 1 and half mg and that puts me to sleep. I can't sleep with less. I would let your doctor know before going up. It takes me about 20 minutes to fall asleep but this me and you may need more or some thing added to it check with your doctor before you do anything.
Inactive
2 March 2011
Thanks for all the responses! I slept like a baby. I took one around 730 and when I was not asleep in 2 hours I became Nervous so I did take the other one and was asleep in no time. I dont know if it was because I was sleep deprived or what. I will try the one tonight. I just thought if 2 did not work I might need to call the d. I dont smoke, I just dont sleep! Thank you again for all your help. I will keep you updated.~Sharon
LaurieShay
2 March 2011
Hey Sharon,
Glad to know you got a good nights sleep. I prayed you would, lol. I think you are smart to try the lowest dose possible before trying a further dose.
Inactive
2 March 2011
Thanks for the prayers! I do not like having to take medicine, even Advil, but I know if I need it I want the least amount. Is it normal to feel shaky and unstable at night when you get up or the morning?
LaurieShay
2 March 2011
Yes, dizziness, lightheadedness, and drowsiness are common side effects of the xanax. Please be careful when you arise at night and in the morning until you get use this medication.
Inactive
3 March 2011
Thanks LaurieShay~I felt dizzy this evening and nauseated so I lay down before a meeting. I slept peacefully for another 3 1/2 hours (not on purpose) but feel really good now. I took 1/2 of one and lay the other 1/2 out. Im hoping the 1/2 will be ok. Im wondering if this works should I tell my dr if I can take this as needed or do you have to be on it or off. Thanks to everyone for the info... my body has never been a by the book body and this whole med change has had me in circles. It helps to hear other peoples experiences
LaurieShay
3 March 2011
It is ok to take xanax as needed. If the xanax is immediate release as opposed to xr (extended release), it is ok to cut in half also. If the prescription bottle says xanax xr then best to not cut in half. Take care girl,
Laurie
LaurieShay
2 March 2011
Hey sc333,
The xanax will take upto two hours after taking it to reach maximum blood level. By the way, do not know if you smoke but smoking will decrease the absorption of xanax. If two mgs is what the doctor prescribed, I don't recommend you take more. The more you take the greater the chance of physical and emotional dependency.
There is no recommended dose for sleep in the literature. Again, it is done by individual and what your doctor prescribes.
I wish you sweet dreams sc333 and hope that you can find a quiet, peaceful place to try and sleep,
Laurie
Inactive
2 March 2011
Hi sc333,
I ususally feel 1 mg of xanax within 20 minutes. Respectfully, Laurie, I disagree a bit on the time it takes affect someone, but that is just my experience.
blaze22
2 March 2011
Laurie Shay is right, and it is a trial and error thing... everyone is different... Blaze22
oxyaaron
2 March 2011
i agree with you lemon xanax usually kicks in in 20mins and effects are gone in 2 hours.
LaurieShay
2 March 2011
I was reporting on the MAXIMUM blood levels being reached in UPTO 2 hours. The initial effects can be as minimal as .5 hours. The information I quote is from to pharmokenetics reported in the literature. So these are averages from the clinical studies. As we know, everyones metabolism is different and other meds etc can affect the absortion of the benzo.
Hope that clears up any confusion.
Laurie
Inactive
2 March 2011
Great info Laurie, I'm sure you are correct. Meant no offense, just offering my personal experience with Xanax.
xx
Lara
LaurieShay
2 March 2011
Yep, I understand, no offense taken.
bella1357
27 Aug 2016
Try warm milk and soft music. Try to repeay a montra. I ssay," God love me. I am safe. I am in control. I am peace."
This helps me.
Chapita55
8 Nov 2017
I've been on alprazalom for years. It always helps me sleep. Now I've been up most of the night, with the exception of an hour. I had to split my 1mg, earlier this evening, as I suffer from Panic disorder. II tried my breathing, focus, technique. It didn'tvworkthis time. I have also been sick with what I woud say is a minor cold. I took the other half hours later. I really need sleep. I'm 67 with CAD. I've tried Melatonin, and other OTC meds in the past, all to no avail. Any thoughts?
Related topics
xanax, post traumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders, sleep
Further information
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- Side effects of Xanax (detailed)
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