Any doctors around? Would appreciate some advice (mental health related)

[joanneg36]

I have, throughout my life, experienced thankfully brief episodes of extreme insomnia and anxiety, with one feeding the other. I've never taken medication for this, beyond a very rare indeed sleeping pill to get to sleep when really desperate. Had a bit of therapy on and off. Thankfully, I've been mainly completely fine for the last 10 years.

However, I am currently on holiday in Spain and undergoing an episode of extreme anxiety/insomnia, worse than anything I've had before and I am genuinely in a dark place. My husband is doing everything with the kids, bless him, while I am mainly useless. We are home in three days' time, at which point I will head straight to my GP. For now, I do have a few sleeping pills on me - a couple of temazepam and Zopiclone saved up from when I last had an episode. My husband thinks I should just take them on the remaining nights of our holiday to try to feel a bit better but one of the only things that terrifies me more than how I'm currently feeling is the fear of getting hooked on sleeping pills. I have literally never taken them on consecutive nights before for fear of dependency. Please advise if I'm being insane and irrational about this too.

Many thanks.

Not a doctor but work in mh. Wouldn’t advise more than 2 weeks consecutive for fear of addiction. 3 days wouldn’t be of concern

Am I right in understanding that these drugs have been prescribed for you by your GP? What did your GP advise at the time? I am a GP and typically - though I hardly ever prescribe sleeping tablets - when I do, I would be happy for a patient to take them for up to three nights in a row. Every patient is different though, so I can only advise you to follow the advice of your own doctor at the time that s/he prescribed them.

Don't forget that there are lots of English-speaking and - in many cases - English-trained doctors in Spain, so help will be available if you need it.

Not a doc, but lots of personal experience of MH meds.
You honestly will not form an addiction in three days. Please use the meds you have to help you through until you can see your GP.
Sending you best wishes

Thanks all. Yes, all of these tablets have been prescribed by GP (several years ago) who said the same as you all have - ie fine to take for a v short period of extreme sleeplessness. Getting addicted in such a short time is one of my several not entirely rational anxieties.

Also not a doctor but work in MH. 3 days is totally fine. We often prescribe a couple of weeks of zopoclone for PRN, ie as needed, use.

Please take the pills to help you cope with the rest of your trip and especially the journey home. I had zopiclone recently and found one pill was enough to get me asleep each night. At any rate, your GP won't provide enough to get addicted. Hope you feel better soon x

Thanks so much everyone for advice and kind words.

Echoing others, using them for this very short period of time is absolutely fine. You will not form an addiction or dependency in that time.

In terms of your anxiety around this, would it help to weigh up the relative risks - I.e. no risk of addiction from taking the meds vs risk of exacerbating your anxiety by undergoing a further period of insomnia? Don’t underestimate the impact of lack of seep on mental health difficulties.

Not a dr, but experienced in mental health.

Have you got your prescription with you? Not sure what the rules are in Spain but I suspect travelling with old Benzos/z-drugs may not be encouraged without a current prescription.

Yes my prescription info is printed on them.

You will be absolutely fine taking them for three days. I've recently taken zopiclone for a two week stretch whilst a MH inpatient. They didn't give me any to take home with me and I was fine.

I can highly recommend promethazine for insomnia. It's a drowsy antihistamine so far less addictive but still just as effective. I find it has less of a 'hangover' in the morning too.

Deep breaths OP, you're doing the right thing. Take some comfort today in knowing that you can take the meds tonight and get some sleep, hopefully that will reduce your anxiety even just a tiny bit. for you

Thank you so much.

Its not just that using it for 3 days wont cause an addiction, its also that not everyone gets addicted.
My GP lets me order codeine and diazepam on repeat prescription, its there if I need it. I rarely need to use it.

I use magnesium every day, and breathing exercises, breath in through your nose and out through your mouth, and try to get up to a slow count of 5. Practice when you are feeling calm, and do it when you feel your anxiety rising;

I Now Suspect the Vagus Nerve Is the Key to Well-being
www.thecut.com/2019/05/i-now-suspect-the-vagus-nerve-is-the-key-to-well-being.html

Thank you thank you. Every response makes me feel a bit less desperate.

Trust me OP. It will take a few weeks constant use to get addicted to sleeping pills. I had Zopiclone for about a week straight and pop Nytol like Skittles and I'm not addicted. but I still don't fucking sleep

I hope you managed to get some sleep last night OP and that things are even a teensy bit brighter today