Supported Sleep Medication Taper
Safe Sleeping Pill Reduction
Assessment
Starting a medication taper begins with understanding your unique needs. Our comprehensive assessment provides a clear picture of your current medication use, insomnia or other sleep disorder, underlying health conditions, and any mental health concerns. This ensures the treatment and tapering process is tailored to address the right issues safely and effective.
Treatment
Up to 1 in 5 prescribed a sleeping pill will become a long-term user. We provide a supported sleep medication taper using a science-backed combination treatment of CBT for insomnia and medication withdrawal. Research supports this approach as a way to reduce “rebound insomnia” and long-term successful discontinuation of sleeping pills.
Support
A combination of a supported sleep medication taper plan along with CBT-i can eliminate both sleeping pill usage, and chronic insomnia, getting you back to natural sleep. But it’s not easy. That’s why our sleep psychologists are trained to provide comprehensive, close support every step to ensure you get results.
How Do You Get Off Sleeping Pills?
If you've been relying on sleep medications to manage insomnia or other sleep issues, you may feel worried about being dependent on sleeping pills, concerned about their long term health effects, or simply wish to transition toward natural, medication-free sleep.
The problem is, studies show that more than 50% of long term sleep medication users have tried and failed to stop using sleeping pills at least once.
Our Supported Sleep Medication Taper service is designed to:
Support you in safely reducing or discontinuing sleep medications;
Minimise “rebound insomnia”; and
Improve or return you to your natural sleep
This is done under the guidance of sleep specialists experienced in CBT for insomnia and sleep medication tapers. Research shows a combination of CBT-i and a supervised taper plan is effective for discontinuing sleep medications.
Why Sleep Aid Withdrawal Support Matters
Long-term use of sleep medications can lead to dependency, reduced effectiveness, and potential side effects.
However, abruptly stopping these medications can cause withdrawal symptoms, rebound insomnia, or other complications.
A gradual tapering process ensures a safer and more comfortable transition. But a successful taper takes into account both individual factors, and medication factors as these can make tapering easier/harder. Our approach is tailored to your unique needs, and combined with CBT for insomnia enables a safe withdrawal process with an aim to minimise disrupted nights.
You can learn more about CBT for insomnia service here.
What Our Guided Sleep Medication Reduction Service Involves:
Comprehensive Sleep Assessment
Before starting the taper, we perform a detailed clinical interview to understand your sleep disorder(s), evaluate your sleep patterns, habits, and underlying factors that may contribute to sleep difficulties such as physical and mental health conditions, as well as sleep medication usage patterns and other medications you may be taking.
CBT For Insomnia & Sleep Therapy
Medication discontinuation is more successful when the tapering process is complimented with CBT for insomnia. We provide cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), education on how your sleep system works so you can understand what is needed to get off sleeping pills, and other support and tools as needed.
Professional Monitoring
Throughout the tapering journey, our sleep specialists ensure your safety by closely monitoring your progress, addressing any challenges that arise, and communicating with your prescriber as required.
Follow-Up Care
After successfully discontinuing your sleep medication(s), we continue to support you with follow-up consultations and resources, as needed, so you can continue your medication-free sleep.
Who Can Benefit?
Anyone currently using sleeping pills can benefit including:
Individuals seeking to reduce or stop long-term use of prescription sleep aids.
Those experiencing side effects or diminishing effectiveness of sleep medications.
Patients exploring alternative approaches for managing insomnia or sleep disorders.
Individuals that want to continuing sleeping pills but want to maintain or restore the effectiveness of their sleep medications
Why Choose The Better Sleep Clinic for A Supported Medication Taper?
At The Better Sleep Clinic, we combine sleep expertise with compassionate care to help you achieve better sleep without unnecessary reliance on medication. Our evidence-based approach prioritizes your overall well-being while respecting your personal goals and preferences.
Full multi-component CBT for insomnia (generally required for a combination medication taper)
Trained sleep psychologists with specialty behavioural sleep medicine expertise
Personalised treatment plans tailored to your lifestyle
Session by session approach
Ongoing support and follow-up care as required
Evidence-based treatments with proven results (please always read reviews, read our reviews here)
More 5 star reviews than any other Auckland Sleep Clinic, Wellington Sleep Clinic, Christchurch Sleep Clinic, or NZ Sleep Clinic!
Treatment is delivered one-to-one by an experienced and qualified mental health practitioner and sleep specialist.
Stopping Sleeping Pills: Take the First Step Today
Ready to regain control of your sleep? Contact us to schedule a consultation and learn more about our Supported Sleep Medication Taper service. Together, we’ll guide you toward restful nights and healthier days.
Written By: The Better Sleep Clinic Team
Reviewed By: Dan Ford, Sleep Psychologist