Kitty - Intermittent dosing of a hypnotic (sleeping pill) can help stop dependence, but not all that well. It is very hard to retrain your body to sleep properly without medication after taking hypnotics for any extended length of time.

I would suggest taking them only when you absolutely need to. I know this is easy to say/hard to do, but it is the best way to avoid becoming dependent on benzodiazepines like Xanax (alprazolam).

Xanax is a short-acting benzodiazepine. When withdrawing from it, it may be wise to use a longer acting benzo like Valium (diazepam) or Librium (chlordiazepoxide). This will decrease the incidence and severity of benzodiazepine withdrawl syndrome.

I hope that this is of some help. - Cam

P.S. - Sorry that it has taken so long to reply, but I was on holidays.

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