What helps you sleep?

LouLou

Amitriptyline I find is pretty good for putting me to sleep, but I still wake up again and again. It's very common to put weight on using it long-term (I think it's the reason I've first put weight on for the first time in my life! Seems quite a common side effect from this drug; according to other forums). It makes me a bit too sluggish during the day so I've decided I'm avoiding them.

Trazadone does nothing for me. My GP prefers prescribing anti-depressants and reckons that in itself will deal with the insomnia. But I NEED something to sleep most nights. Zolpidem is one that's great for me, but my GP says a strict No.

Strangely on the US drug forums, insomniacs tend to rotate their meds, benzos (such as Diazepam), non-benzos (eg, Zopiclone) and others, so they don't get addicted (also with a few nights "off) and seem to cope better and get more rest. If I suggested that to my GP I don't think he'd be pleased.

I've tried Melatonin (in very small doses) and it did help for a few weeks..then I reverted back to wide-awake at 5am. As I am now.

It certainly drives my depression, suicidal thoughts, compulsive worrying and brings me to the end of my tether sometimes. My "good" days are rare and I wonder what is the point of losing days, weeks, months to exhaustion, trapped and ill.

On top of all that, I'm more or less agoraphobic as I'm self-conscious, isolated (I do keep in contact with friends but a lot of the time I don't feel well enough to go out), panicky in certain situations. I just want to sleep and go about my day like a normal person.

Having a very bad time the last few weeks where I've been very weepy and desperate. I suppose I have to see my GP again and see what to do next.

Uncommonknowledge.com is very good, though I got a stock reply on there there's lots of resources and interesting articles to read. There's one theory that says diet can be a huge cause of mood disorders: http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/hypoglycemic_diet.html

I must admit my diet is pretty dire, though I fill myself full of Vitamin Pills (doesn't really count!).

Penny-Pincher!!

Zopiclone 7.5mg nightly works for me!

PP
xx

SingleSue

Amitriptylene was working brilliantly for me....for about two weeks but then I have gone back to having a few more wake/asleep nights, a couple of asleep for 5 hours nights (this is considered a full night for me) and now creeping back in, the not able to get to sleep at all nights.

I don't feel drowsy in the morning with them, in fact, I don't even feel as if I am taking them at all...but then, insomnia has been my friend all my life so the couple of good nights is more than I have had for nigh on 40 years (apparently I was a good sleeper as a baby).

Carrie_Bloomy

I take homeopatic tablets. http://www.abacohealth.com/index.php/prodid/BOI016 .

GillM

Breast_Cancer_Survivor wrote: »

Thanks Doom, you too. :A

I swear I sleep better in the winter when it gets dark early & it's so cold you snuggle up under your duvet.

Pesky summer. :rotfl:

Just a thought but perhaps it's the light keeping you awake? Heavy curtain linings or a blackout blind behind the curtains might help? (if it does, let me know, I've been meaning to try that myself for ages!):D

simon_the_poet

HI
Yes i am a Dialysis patient and am trying to convert to nocturnal theropy. Trying to sleep with two needles in your arm and a machine whiring ans clanking away as well as the constant crammps and stuff you get is a bit of a pain, i have been proscribe Zopiclone, this is probably another name for one of the drugs mentioned earlier.

It seems to work for a couple of hours but after that it is back to re runs of Red Dwarf and Q I on dave .
Simon

JJ7

I used to think I was the only person awake in the whole wide world at 3 am. Then I found the world wide web. Somehow it helps to know there are others in the same boat out there. It's side-effect of some meds for me.

I took a quarter of a zopiclone at 4 am yesterday. If only I'd have known at 11 pm that I was still going to be awake at 4, I'd have taken a full one

Sublime_2

I have never (even as a child) been a good sleeper. I do go through phases where its not too bad though.

I quite like some of the suggestions already posted.

My usual routine is to have a cup of Clipper Organic Sleep Easy infusion (a natural tea which contains valerian, hops, etc) a couple of hours before bedtime.

I then have two tesco sleep aid tablets, and read a book for an hour or so, before lights out.

This doesn't work if I've got something on my mind, but if I really can't sleep, I get up, make myself a cup of fennel tea, and read, tv, computer, etc.

babymoo

Not going to bed till I am literally "dead on my feet" helps. Having my DP in bed with me definitely makes me feel a lot safer and calmer so I sleep better. I have a heated mattress cover which has been an absolute godsend with pain in the winter it certainly helps a great deal. I am on nortriptyline which helps with the fatigue I get with the fibromyalgia, it doesnt help to send me to sleep but once I am asleep I no longer wake up at the tiniest sound anymore.

T--J

I find Boots own brand Sleepeaze to be more effective than Nytol, not sure if it's because they're smaller and get absorbed more quickly.

I also use Lush Dreamtime Temple Balm.

And I recently read about Light Sleeper but the price put me off so decided to try my own DIY version of mimicking reading by moving my eyes from left to right while trying to go to sleep & it seems to work evertime! :rotfl: