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What good short-term sleeping pills have you had from the GP? Hopefully with few side effects - dealing with recent tragic death

13 replies

loveyouradvice · 05/03/2023 02:50

Just that really

After a recent tragic death of someone very close to me, my GP has prescribed me Zolpidem but has also warned me to only take them for 2 weeks max, because they are both addictive and lose effectiveness. They seem to work quite well and I feel fine next day. She's ok with me taking them again after a break.

I'm coming up to the end of two weeks and would like to ask her to prescribe me something else which I can alternate - I suspect I'll need them for a couple of months, but have no idea having not been in this situation before.

What do you recommend?

OP posts:
GarlicGrace · 05/03/2023 02:59

I'm so sorry you're going through this.

I had zolpidem for four weeks - she might renew your prescription. The "zepams" are good - very calming, but also highly addictive. If you need medical support for some time, perhaps your GP would consider switching between zolpidem and temazepam.

She'll be looking to move you towards non-prescription coping strategies, though. I did a short course of hypnotherapy while tapering off the drugs. I got a recording to bring home with me; I still use it sometimes.

Wishing you all the support you need getting through it Flowers

TessoftheDubonnet · 05/03/2023 03:11

I sometimes use a muscle relaxant as a sleep aid. Ask your doctor whether they could prescribe something like Cyclobenzaprine for a few weeks or months. It's very well tolerated but does cause drowsiness. I usually fall asleep within 30-60 minutes.

Happyhappyday · 05/03/2023 03:41

I find Benadryl very effective - it's OTC and there is mixed information online as to whether it's great to take it longer term, but one of the main concerns is psychological dependence, which will be true really for any medication - you'll feel like you can't go to sleep without help. So longer term, seeing a therapist for CBT is a really good solution, there are specialists who do sleep related CBT.

Other medications, really low dose antidepressants, they make you sleepier the lower the dose. I was prescribed mirtazipine and take 1/4 of the lowest adult dose. It makes me incredibly sleepy as the main side effect. It does cause weight gain long term, I crave sugar when I've taken it and literally want to eat everything in sight (I am size 8-10 and have a very healthy relationship with food generally!) but for weeks or even months, it's not likely to be a huge problem (so I was told).

If you're struggling with anxiety/difficult thoughts etc, an antidepressant may be appropriate anyway AND therapy. But also Lorazepam, it's an anti anxiety medication, also addictive and can only be taken short term but it was the only thing that was truly effective (makes you sleepy and relieves anxiety) when I was having an insomnia crisis post baby. If you're bereaved, you may benefit from something to help with the root cause, rather than just being knocked out. I think you can take it for a couple weeks without it being an issue. I also found my anxiety sort of slide right off my brain, like I couldn't really ruminate when I took it (which was good).

I personally also get knocked right out by a cocodamol, obviously also shouldn't take long term and I personally hate it because it makes me really nauseous but I don't do well with opiates.

For some reason I never was prescribed/offered Ambien, but that's obviously a powerful sleep medication as well.

I had a several months long crisis with insomnia after DC was born. Medication helped me sort of get over the hump until the CBT therapy could really do it's job, then over time my anxiety about sleep lessened because I was mostly sleeping ok and I was able to have some nights without medication, then more and more and eventually almost all. When I was really in crisis, I tended to alternate the medications more frequently, like a couple of nights with lorazepam where I'd sleep really well, then a benadryl couple of nights where when I was in crisis, I just slept ok, then mirtazipine for a couple nights then Lorazepam again, both to avoid taking an addictive medication for many nights and also to start to help move away from the more serious options.

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My2pence2day · 05/03/2023 04:55

I'm sorry as this isn't answering your specific question, but I myself had to deal with a tragic death of someone, and witnessed the aftermath. I didn't take sleeping pills, but I found that I read very light hearted books (Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes etc) at night to put myself in a positive frame of mind just before going to sleep, and I also slept with the light on. Initially I was really afraid of going to sleep. I would also have a few wines and get a bit drunk by myself every now and then and have a big cry to get it out of my system. I also had a few therapy sessions, maybe about 4. I hope this might help in some way. I think this went on for about 3 months until I slowly went back to 'normal'. It took me about a year to fully bounce back. Grief is very hard and a slow process, be kind to yourself. Thinking of you Flowers

Sunshineandrainbow · 05/03/2023 05:17

Sorry to hear what you're going through. I find boots sleepeaze effective.

monsterradeliciosa · 05/03/2023 05:19

Zopiclone and it worked well but the dreams I had became insane

blackheartsgirl · 05/03/2023 05:24

I’ve had awful trouble sleeping since my dh died. Got so bad that I was waking up with panic attacks even when I did eventually doze off. And a lot of nights I’d lie awake all night.

I’ve had loads of zopiclone prescribed for a few weeks at a time which worked a treat but I was becoming addicted to them as I was also being given them by my mum. On the other hand if I didn’t take these extra ones I’d be in a box myself by now, I was very very close to the edge.

im under a psych now and he prescribed an increase to my antidepressants and gave me a months worth of nitrazepam.
it’s working I think, and broken the cycle. I just take one if I’m having a really bad night and because I know they are there I don’t panic as much

wheelywheelynice · 05/03/2023 05:51

So sorry for your loss.
I recommend Cyproheptadine, it's an old school antihistamine that will make you drowsy enough to fall asleep and is non-addictive

Passmeaplacard · 05/03/2023 07:45

Phenergan (Promethazine Hydrochloride) worked really well for me
also could be worth trying one of the CBD mouth sprays, I think they had a calming effect on my anxiety too
Sorry you’re having such a hard time

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 05/03/2023 07:57

Your GP might possibly prescribe you melatonin. It’s now licensed for short term treatment of jet lag. I have some melatonin food supplement that I bought in the USA specifically for jet lag (food supplement there, prescription only medicine over here - go figure) and I use it very occasionally if I’m feeling particularly wired at bed time. Seems to work to get me to sleep, and knowing re if I need it seems to take the worry out of the possibility of not sleeping, if you see what I mean? Doesn’t stop the 4am waking, but I can live with that.

I’m sorry for your loss, OP. I’ll also echo the others and say tackling the trauma around your grief is going to be the long term solution, but doing that on no sleep is going to be hard.

MMMarmite · 05/03/2023 07:58

On a non-medication note, for when you are coming off of them, I found lavender oil drops on my pillow were surprisingly helpful (having initially rejected it as ridiculous that a smell might help).

Almahart · 05/03/2023 08:02

Lloyds pharmacy sleep aid tablets (otc) are surprisingly effective, might be worth a try when you are over the worst.

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time.

loveyouradvice · 05/03/2023 20:58

Thank you all - a wealth of wisdom here! Really really appreciate it as I've never had call to use sleeping pills before.

Though I am adept at using distraction aids like Sophie Kinsella (a real favourite of mine when life is rough!!) and others so thank you for such a great reminder to get a supply of these on my kindle.

Yes, it is tough - so many of us have to face challenges like this. I know I will come through it but tis so darn tough getting there....

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