I haven't slept for 48 hours (antidepressants)

[MotherofBingo]

I restarted my venlafaxine on Tuesday and I haven't slept since then. I didn't have any side effects last time but this time its all hit me like a tonne of bricks after the very first dose. My relationships ending (which it needed too - it's awful) and I don't know how to think clearly with these tablets. I do need them, I'm in a bad place, my GP is only giving me 1 weeks supply at a time. I don't know what I'm even asking here, I just feel broken.

Can you take any natural sleep aids ? Ask a pharmacist so you can maybe rest a bit from that edgy feeling until things get better.

I will ask the pharmacist, I have two children to look after and I can't do it like this. I haven't eaten properly for the last 4 days either I'm just not hungry, I had to force myself to eat a few bites of pasta last night and that's not like me at all.

Hi @MotherofBingo so sorry you're going through this. Could you try having some hot milk and then try to sleep. On days where i wasn't getting any sleep i had some hot milk and it literally knocked me out.

Hope you get some rest.
Sending you strength to get through this time x

I'll try that, it's a horrible feeling like my brain won't switch off

You can buy sominex over the counter. You feel like you've been hit by a truck the next morning but it wears off fast. For me it breaks the no sleep cycle and then I don't need it at all.

I have a friend who struggles with insomnia and she swears by Valerian.
I think you can buy in the chemist.

Hope you get some sleep today

Do you work? Have children?

Sorry I missed.

this is dangerous then. Please say you aren’t driving? Make clear that you are responsible for children when speaking to any healthcare professional

I feel like I've been hit by truck now so I'm happy to try anything, I'm on propanalol as well so I don't know if I'd need to stop taking that with a sleeping tablet.

I work part time, thankfully my next shift isn't till Sunday so I'm really hoping it's sorted by then and no I don't drive and wouldn't at the moment.

How old are your children?

do you have a partner? Any support at all?

7 and 3, my 7 year old will be at school later but I have nobody else to watch my 3 year old otherwise I would ask them. I'm splitting up with my partner, I have told him I'm having a really bad reaction to the antidepressants and haven't slept but he doesn't care.

You may have to go back to the gp and ask for different medication. These ones aren't suiting you this time round by the sounds of it.

It's so strange how differently these are affecting me compared to the last time I took them

Be careful of mixing anything herbal or over the counter with your prescription meds. Personally, I just wouldn't.
I would go back to the GP and request some prescription sleeping meds. They can ensure it won't interact adversely with your venlafaxine.
They have various protocols - antihistamines, strictly controlled but short term benzodiazepines etc.
Sleep deprivation hugely undermines your mental health. You can't go on like this.

Is the propanadol new to you as well? I had problems sleeping when I tried them. Racing heart, couldn't sleep. I can take them now though, had to get used to their effects

No ive been taking the propanalol for a while now

What time of the day are you taking the venaflaxene? I take 225 mg controlled release in the morning. It may be worth asking your GP for the controlled release form that way it doesn't hit you so hard x

I take it at 9am

The doctor rang, they said to wait it out and see how I sleep tonight because it takes a few days to settle.