How much longer do I have to feel like this?

Hi Spacecadet - Your experience with cipralex sounds very similar to mine when I first took prozac. The panic attacks initially and rapidly got much much worse and I was absolutely terrified.

Something Ive found useful for sleep both on and off medication is the 'SLEEP' aromatherapy range from Boots. they do a bubble bath/ pillow spray and massage oil. Its red in a glass bottle. Not too expensive. You might want to try some of this along with some relaxation/breathing exercises before you go to bed.

Good luck
Kizziex

Well I hope it is true that if Iwas going mad iwouldnt be worried about it! I can fall asleep ok, its staying asleep thats the prob, I have been told that I dont get enough deep sleep.

When you wake in the night and can't get back to sleep, do you ever try a walkman with in-the-ear headphones. Radio5 live turned down low always gets me back to sleep. I don't bother to turn it off - duracell batteries last forever!

sounds like panic attack type symptoms to me - which would be worsened by complete exhaustion/lack of sleep or possibly withdrawal symptoms from the Cipralex. sorry I can't be much help at iding the cause of the problem. if you were literally "going mad" the last thing you would be doing would be worrying about it and posting on MN - it would just happen IYSWIM without this level of awareness. think all you can do is try and get as much rest and relaxation as possible - easier said than done I know. if you had really, really really bad flu you would take to your bed, expect lots of TLC whilst you ride it out - I think what you are going thru is very similar in that way.

Feel very frightened today took ds1 to Pre-school didnt feel too bad, but by the time I got back everything seemed unreal and I feel like My brain is bursting out of my head, feel like I am going mad, is this lack of sleep?Cos I feel terrible

Well slept like alog till 1.30, then woke up went back to sleep till dd woke at 3 and then didnt get back to sleep till 5 aaarrrggghhhh!!!
So feel no further forward today, everyhting has astrange sort of cloud in front of it.Had no trouble dropping off though, that's some consolation.Dh going to get up to dd2 tonite and I will sleep in dd1 bedroom as she sleeps in the extension( so we cant hear her music!) hopefully I wont hear dh getting up to dd2, I will try anything.

Tell me about it! this evening I feel like I am going out of my mind, My vision is blurred, my eyes feel like they are being forced out of my head and my brain feels too big for my skull!.It's horrible cos I havent had any deep sleep for 8 weeks and I think I might go barmy.Took ds1 to library today which brought me out in a panic attack and ds2 shouted MUMMY! and I yelled WHAT! just as a women came out of the library and stared at me, worse still he only shouted cos he was excited cos he had seen abig red tractor! What a nasty mum I am

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LOL !! perhaps not!

No!! I live out in the fens and nearest town is 7 miles away, I know I am on a fitness drive but that is just a bit toooo far to walk!lol!I will perhaps get dh to get me some on his day off as the prospect of driving anywhere while I am this sleep deprived doesnt really appeal, especially with my precious children in the car.

Is town close enough to walk there?

The sun is shining today and I just think if I could snap out of the trance I am in I would actually feel quite good, def sleep deprived, no wonder they used it as a form of torture!Yes when I feel confident enought o go to town I will got to Holland and Barrett, valerina Daytime quite good too, calms you down in the day.

think you can get tea from Holland and Barratt with valerium in (and of course all other types of weird and wonderful herbal teas )

Oh yes! I use Kalms sometimes - hops, valerian and gentian. Well done for completing task!

Thanks agy but paracetomol has never knocked me out, dh says 20 pounds of semtex wouldnt knock me out! Going to try valerian once evrything else is out of my system, it's a natural herb with sleep promoting qualities and not addictive. I used itonce before years ago when I had mild insomnia, so its worth a go. Think the Cipralex is out of my system now, thank god. Can't wait to see the CPN next week.At least I completed my achievable task today, hurrah!(smile)

I'm not advocating mixing paracetamol with any other drugs, of course! Just mean in the interim period once you're off diazepan and waiting to see the cpn for new prescription.

Hope it all comes right when you've seen the cpn. Once you're off the diazepan, a couple of paracetamol at night could help a bit with the sleeping - not as a regular thing though - bit naughty I suppose!

Been to see Gp, he says I may be better off on the older trycyclic type of anti-d, He says I a m mainly suffering from sleep deprivation which can make you feel a bit mad.He recommended that I only take the diazapam at night for another day or 2 then come off it. He says I will get better but it will take time.H e is leaving it for the cpn to discuss meds with me next week. MTS I have sent you an email, let me know if you get it.

Hi Spacecadet. Glad that you got a bit of sleep - which will help a bit. I would say push your GP for a referral to a psychiatrist to discuss appropriate meds; if he's uncomfortable prescribing you anything because of your reaction to the cipralex, fair enough - but why not then refer you to a specialist in prescribing these drugs who will know what they are doing. I think you are absolutely doing the right thing looking to limit your time on the diazepam.

sorry that your HV has been no use. you could try and phone up Homestart yourself? I know with my HV, turning up at Surestart things and asking about whether anyone could just turned up was far more productive than relying on my HV to sort it out.

my e-mail addy is [email protected]

take care
x

Slept better last night than I have for a week, only woke up about 3 times and I was doped up on diazapam. I want to stop the diazapam, I need to learn to fall asleep naturally. Feel terrified today as my task is to walk ds to pre-school AND I have to got the gp which involves sitting in a crowded waiting room, my hands are shaking just thinking about it. I feel like I have been mentally destroyed.

Guess I was just unlucky. i will see the doctor tomorow so i'll see what he says. xx

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Agy was it you that said you loved Wales?