Not slept in 3 days, provisional diagnosis of bipolar, GP hasn't offered sleeping meds what can I do?

[Whatayear21]

Hi, I have adhd and asd, and also have a provisional diagnosis of bipolar.
My anxiety levels are sky high, Paranoia and not slept for 3 days (at least) . I spoke to my gp today who prescribed proponalol (May have spelt that wrong) I have no physical symptoms of anxiety, no racing heart, shaking etc so don't see how these will help. I really need to sleep as I know where no sleep can go for me, and I don't know what to do.
I was under the crisis team in Feb due to ending up at a and e due to mania and no sleep for days.
I'm currently under the community mental health team, can I ask them for help? It's never been explained to me what the mental health team is actually for. I spoke to them a few days ago and they told me to ask my gp for zopiclone, which hasn't happened. Can I ring them back, can they help?
All the GP was saying today was that I'm under the mental health team and to ask them etc. But can I just ring without an appointment?
I can't see propronalol being very helpful, never mind the fact that I'm that anxious that I can't even open my blinds, never mind leave the house to pick up the prescription. I've left it to late to collect the prescription now anyway I think.
I just don't know what to do.

[ShirazSlag]

Honestly I've tried everything prescribed and otc for insomnia, and the best I've found are Kirkland sleep remedy, which are otc and you can buy online.

Aside from diazepam which is like gold dust, I haven't got on with anything else prescribed. Zoplicone made me feel awful.

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

Nytol one a night, or the liquid, may relax you enough to sleep? Obviously that means getting it from somewhere. If I haven't slept and I'm a bit 'wired', sometimes holing up in my bedroom, and having a hot bath/shower helps. This might not be possible for you though. Also, does that ASMR (sp?) stuff on Youtube help you sleep at all? The white noise thing, some people find it really relaxing.

[Hm2020]

I have bipolar and I use phenagan u buy them over the counter they are a very strong anti histamine that can be prescribed for sleep you can buy them in any chemist you really need a psychiatrist and to get on proper meds if it is bipolar. Good luck op

[Hm2020]

Propanalol can disturb your sleep I take them but first thing in the morning do not take in the evening.

[Megasaurus]

@Hm2020

I have bipolar and I use phenagan u buy them over the counter they are a very strong anti histamine that can be prescribed for sleep you can buy them in any chemist you really need a psychiatrist and to get on proper meds if it is bipolar. Good luck op

Yes they're good. They're for travel sickness aren't they?

[glitteringfishy]

I was recommended promethazine in A&E - you can get it over the counter - brand name is Sominex. Maybe similar to what a PP mentioned - it’s an antihistamine but the best thing I’ve ever taken for insomnia. Hope you manage to get some sleep, and yes you can just called the mental health team without an appointment - there will always be someone on duty you can talk to.

[Whatayear21]

hm2020
I'm on aripiprazole but only 5 mg which I think is too low but can't increase till I have a full consulation and med review with a psych on the 25th may. The aripiprazole has been making me feel really restless and unable to sit bloody still even for 5 minutes, so I hope that wears off.
I was given promethazine in feb off the crisis team ( I think that's phenergan? ) but it did absolutely nothing. Tried melatonin... nothing. Mirtazipine helped last year but I was taken off it because of hypomania. I don't know what else to try.
I've tried everything to wind down, absolutely everything I can think of but nothing is working. I'm taking ADHD meds which probably isn't helping.
When I got the provisional bipolar diagnosis I was given the options of aripiprazole, quetiapine, olanzipine or lithium, I chose aripirazole because it's meant to be the most weight neutral, but oh god do I wish I'd just took something more sedating.
I just want to sleep, a couple of days no sleep isn't a huge problem, but when it gets onto 4/5 days it makes me feel absolutely nuts. It's horrible
I feel so anxious and paranoid, I just need sleep.
I know I'm rambling on now but I can't think properly.

[Whatayear21]

propanolol can disturb your sleep? Well I really don't need that, that's literally what I wanted help for, sleep!

[Whatayear21]

I just feel like I don't know where to go, mental health team said to ask my GP for zopiclone because that's what I need, and my GP says i need to speak to my mental health team, it's like pass the parcel. Mental health team told me to get back to them if no luck with GP though, but I just feel like i'm wasting their time or something and should just get on with it. I find it so hard explaining things etc on the phone too.

[TheSilveryPussycat]

Having been prescribed zopiclone, I was only given a few tablets and given to understand that they would not prescribe more.

Do you take any meds for the bipolar? I have a diagnosis of bipolar as well, and am on an antipsychotic, a mood stabiliser, and an antidepressant. I can't remember if quetiapine is an antipsychotic or a mood stabliler, but although I am not keen on relying on it, it gives me 7 and a half hours of sleep.

My episodes of mania were proceded by sleeplessness. After 4 days of no sleep, my theory is that I begin dreaming while awake, leading to bizarre behaviour that makes sense from the POV of the dream.

[TheSilveryPussycat]

Also, could you ask for an appointment with your psychiatrist?

[StateOfTheUterus]

I had an episode like this - it was awful - couldn’t sleep or eat. From my experience I do think you need to go back to the CMHT and ask them to write/contact your GP and advise that they feel zopiclone should be prescribed as the GP isn’t happy to prescribe without their input. They were probably hoping they could get the GP to manage it. I do wish the CMHT could prescribe directly, then you wouldn’t get bounced around, but unfortunately this is the system. Hope you can get some sleep.

[Whatayear21]

TheSilveryPussycat I'm on aripiprazole but I think the dose is way too low ( 5mgs) I'm waiting for a med review to increase or switch. I've never tried zopiclone before.
They won't let me take anti depressants anymore after becoming manic on citalopram and mirtazipine.
My episodes always start with sleeplessness and anxiety, which is whats scaring me. in between episodes I sleep a normal amount.
When i ended up at A and E I hadnt slept for 5 days and was completely delusional thinking I was controlling everything happening around me and in the world. I don't feel like that right now but I definitely feel speeded up and anxious.

[Whatayear21]

And what is scary is I didn't even think anything was wrong and only went to the hosp because my sis rang 111 and it escalated from there, I thought I was being totally rational.

[Whatayear21]

TheSilveryPussycat I cant see the psychiatrist till the 25th they said last week.

[Whatayear21]

I'm in between psychiatrists, the pysch from crisis team diagnosed and prescribed my medication but after I was discharged it goes over to the CMHT psychiatrist apparently and I've not seen him yet.

[MalbecIsMyOne]

OP, it sounds like you’re heading into crisis if you don’t mind me saying. Your symptoms certainly sound like you could be reaching hypomania. Do you have any out of hours crisis contact numbers? Or a crisis plan from the CMHT?

[TheSilveryPussycat]

@Whatayear21

And what is scary is I didn't even think anything was wrong and only went to the hosp because my sis rang 111 and it escalated from there, I thought I was being totally rational.

Yes, you had lost insight. At the moment you still have insight into your state. The trouble is there seems to be a sort of Catch 22, whereby a person has to go over the edge and lose insight before they can access help

Be sure to eat something, rest if you can't sleep.

[OurChristmasMiracle]

OP in the kindest way your GP has probably referred you back to your mental health team as they are the experts at this and know what risk you pose to yourself and therefore are best placed to make a judgement on whether sleeping tablets are safe.

They aren’t a long term solution and I highly doubt they will leave you on them until your assessment.

I’ve previously been prescribed diazepam and zopiclone but it wasn’t as simple as asking for them.

I really hope you feel better soon.

[StateOfTheUterus]

Thinking about it, I would try the CMHT but if there is no out of hours service then contact the Crisis team and ask for their support this weekend to keep you safe and monitor that you don’t become delusional. Also wondering if you have a family member who can monitor you and contact Crisis / take you to A&E over the weekend if needed?? All the best, I know the feeling that you are circling the drain and frightened of being sucked down only too well. It’s so hard to reach out for help and being rebuffed in any way is so so hard but please do reach out to CMHT, Crisis and your family if possible.

[Whatayear21]

MalbecIsMyOne
I don't know if I am, how would I even know though I suppose? I feel OK, apart from the sleep, anxiety and paranoia etc. Maybe that's normal though for people? I don't know, it's all new for me!
I have a crisis number but no plan. I wouldn't know what to say though without sounding ridiculous.
Could I ring and just mention the no sleep, is that a normal thing to ring for? I'm a bit of an overthinker and don't know what we are allowed to ring for lol. I've only been under CMHT for a couple of weeks and just had an initial assessment and spoke to someone on duty last week , so no idea whats OK to do.
But then I don't know who to ever ring for anything so end up not doing, then end up in a mess!

[Whatayear21]

dane8* I'm on elvanse and they can cause insomnia, but they don't in general for me, I've been on them since december and the pysch that prescribed them thought I may have bipolar when he diagnosed the ADHD and advised that they could cause adverse effects if I am bipolar. I thought they wouldn't, (cos I know best obviously :( )but I have had 2 manic episodes since starting them... in january and then feb, whereas before I had hypomanic/manic episodes but they were many months apart and not quite as pronounced.

[ATieLikeRichardGere]

Yes I think you have to ring the crisis number and tell them you haven’t slept and are experiencing paranoia. That’s definitely a good enough reason to call. It’s what they are for.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

While you're waiting for support, are you able to do anything self-care wise?
There's a good app called Molehill Mountain that's for autistic people with anxiety that might be a good way of logging anxiety levels.
Can you try and do one thing in the morning and one thing in the afternoon even if it's just brushing your teeth?
Do grounding, sensory activities like essential oil baths help?

I know it's a drop in the ocean but it might give you a sense of control.

A bedtime routine might help. Something like a bedtime herbal tea and then avoiding phone/Internet.

I tend to read on my kindle so that my brain has something to do.