Sleeping tablets, how long for dependency? risks?

someissues

Hi,

I have been through a bout of major anxiety a few years back due to a marriage problem. I was prescribed sleeping tablets at the time. I'm well aware of the negativities around sleeping tablets, but I found them very helpful at the time, - I was truly going through a crisis over a period of a couple of months or more and genuinely unable to function at work the next day due to broken sleep routine. So, I would say, it was an extreme case where it was the lesser of evils. To be honest, I don't know much about them though, in terms of risks etc.

Anyway, to be honest I seem to be going into another "episode" of my previous crisis, and have some tablets left in the drawer. I'm ot sure if I could have managed to get back into a decent sleeping pattern without them during that episode.

I took a half 2 nights during the week and they helped greatly with getting me to sleep and giving me a break from my anxiety. I am thinking about asking the doctor to prescribe some more as I can feel the fatigue coming on from my anxiety.

I can see the danger of them, in the sense that the can be seductive during difficult times.

I am wondering, how long, and what extent of usage does it typically take to develop a dependency? Is it safe to say take a half tablet a couple of nights over 6 weeks or so?

Thanks. and any advice is genuinely appreciated.