If you are ready to quit using medication to fall asleep, here’s an easy step-by-step guide for you.

One recommendation before we start – it’s best not to start reducing your medication if your life is exceptionally hectic or stressful at the moment. Wait until things calm down before you try this approach.

Step One – Tell your closest friends (along with your doctor) that you are gradually eliminating your use of sleeping pills. This will come in handy if you need some support.

Step Two – Pick one night of the week and cut your sleeping pill dose in half. Try to do it on a weekend night so that you know the next day you’ll have little outside pressure.

Step Three – Continue with a half dose of medication on this same night for 1-2 weeks. The rest of the nights, keep taking your normal dose. When you feel ready, pick another night and cut that night’s dose in half as well.

Step Four – Continue this process until you have reduced all nights of the week to the half dose. Once you reach this point, make sure not to return to the original dose.

Step Five – Repeat steps 2-4, except this time eliminate the medication altogether.

Following this approach you can be off of sleeping pills entirely within 1.5 – 2 months.

Helpful Hints:

1. If you take multiple medications for sleep, eliminate them one at a time.
2. Get help from your doctor or from a sleep specialist if you need support.
3. While you are doing this, try alternative non-drug sleep therapies. I can’t overemphasize this. There are many that help.

Author's Bio: 

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From Mark Ament - Natural Healing Advocate - Healthy Living Expert