Reducing Sleeping Pills and Anti-Anxiety Medication

During tapering, the brain and autonomic nervous system are sensitive and easily affected by stimulants. Caffeine makes it harder to fall asleep through its stimulant effect, and while alcohol may seem to help you fall asleep, it makes the latter half of sleep shallow, causes frequent awakenings, and worsens rebound insomnia. In particular, alcohol combined with sleeping pills can be dangerous, so reducing afternoon caffeine and avoiding alcohol during tapering is important for both safety and recovery.

Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective

Dongjedang focuses on returning a body that has been forced to sleep and wake by stimulants back to a body that can sleep naturally on its own. During tapering, we calm rising heat and the oversensitized body to support sleep recovery without relying on coffee or alcohol. This also supports the prescribing doctor's tapering plan, and managing stimulating food and drink is a solid foundation for tapering.