need some thoughts

Through the resent labs it is quite clear I at the begging stages of menapause.
I have been taking black cohosh daily and just increaed the amount.
The black cohosh really does help with night sweats and hot flashes.
The problem I have been having is I will go to bed and sleep really well up until 3am then I am wide awake.
During those times I will get up and have some soup or yogurt.
Normally I return to bed and go back to sleep and sleep great.
My mom gave me some 10mg valiums.
The past few nights I have taken a half before bed and at 3am I take the other half.
It is helping and I feel so much more rested.
I called my PCP and she is calling me in a scrip for 5mg valium and wanting me to take a half before bed ect...
What I am worried about is becoming dependant on them.
Any ideas would be good.
                                       Annie
I have also been using meletonin for several months now but it is not as affective as the valium

I don't want to be negative honey, but have you talked with your doctor about alternatives to valium?  It really is addictive if you plan to use it daily for anything other than pain.

Hey Annie, the doctor put me on Lexapro for night sweats and it helped but not I've been on it 9 months and he is weaning me off it. Also I take Lunesta for sleep and it works great and you don't have that hang over feeling in the morning.

Yeah, even a mild dose of Valium can be addictive.  I would look into alternatives with my PCP.  Some of the newer sleep aids are not addicting.  Like oh what's that stuff????  Ambien!  It's non-narcotic, at least, but they are all habit-forming in that they tend to make us dependent on them to get to sleep.  See what your PCP has to say.  But I would shy away from the narcotics like Valium.

Hi Annie,

I had similar issues and would suggest that you talk with your PCP about some other type of sleep aid that wouldn't cause a dependancy issue. Have you ever tried any of the OTC sleep aids like 'Simply Sleep'? They normally are not habit forming and might be just enough to help you over the hump.

Barb

Unfortunately, I had to delete this post due to privacy concerns.

Thxs for all the advice and yes the valium makes me feel like molasses in the morning.
I have tried many OTC sleep aids and the one I have been using mainly is Meletonin.
I just got to get through the weekend and I probally wont purchase the valium my pcp called in for me yesterday and will call her first thing monday morning.
I have had a rough week with the loss of Lucky I am missing him very much.
I did however find some great pics of him on my pc.
This is Lee's last day of vacation and we have all the halloween stuff to put up in the barn and he wants to throw some grass seed today.
I had three tiny bite size pieces of candy before going to bed last night and belive it or not I just did not get the thrill I used to get from candy last night.
The remainder will be going out of my house today.
Tomorrow will be good to get back on my normal schedule.
                                                                         Annie

Don't know if you ever consume any caffeine, but the older I get it's began to affect my sleep.  Even if I have it sometime during the afternoon, it makes my night rough.  Let us know what your PCP suggests! 

Annie:

My doc has me on 75 mg of Zoloft (up from the original 50) for nightsweats which are almost all gone, hot flashes which are almost all gone and it also helps me have a good night of sleep.   Didn't want hormone therapy because of all the side effects but the zoloft has really really helped with all the symptoms.

Love you,

Pam

Thanks for the info on zoloft but I am reluctant to take antidepressants  its a personal choice of mine.
I am glad it is helping you.
Last night I too some OTC Unisome and believe or not I slept pretty darn good.
I did still wake up in the wee hours and was able to go back to sleep.
Ive been up and walked the bulldogs this morning and feel good.
                                                       Annie