08/20/2026
💊 “I took them like candy for 35 years.”
That is how Georges Marcoux describes the sleeping medication he relied on for more than three decades.
Today, at 81, Georges has been without it since 2022. A patient advocate and past member of our Network’s Public Awareness Committee, he shares his story in Le Journal de Montréal—and there is a lot to take away from it.
Georges started taking the medication in the 1980s while struggling with insomnia during a stressful period. Over the years, he began noticing effects that concerned him. Eventually, he decided he wanted to find another way to sleep.
However, he did not simply stop. Through cognitive behavioural therapy, Georges learned to pay closer attention to his sleep, change his nighttime habits, and gradually relearn how to fall asleep without medication. Over the months, he saw his sleep improve. Today, he says he feels like a different person.
His story invites a question many of us might recognize: Do I still need this medication?
That question does not mean stopping on your own. It means having a conversation with your doctor or pharmacist about whether a medication is still right for you and, when appropriate, making a plan to reduce it safely.
Georges’ experience is a powerful reminder that deprescribing is not simply about stopping a medication. Sometimes, it is about finding a different way forward.
We are grateful to Georges for sharing his experience and helping raise awareness about deprescribing.
đź“– Read the full story by Louis-Philippe Messier here (available in French only): https://fb-news-sharer.pebmac.workers.dev/https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/08/08/jai-pris-ca-comme-des-bonbons-pendant-35-ans---un-ancien-accro-des-somniferes-pete-le-feu-depuis-quil-a-arrete
