Page 2 | When does not sleeping become a medical emergency?

TolpuddleFarter · 2023-05-14T01:02:01+00:00

I am on my fourth night without sleep, despite taking 7.5mg of Zopiclone. Every time I start to sleep, my body starts jerking. This has just been happening now, despite taking the sleeping pill. It happens every time, hence that I why I have zero sleep (no exaggeration.) I don't know what to do, but I know this isn't sustainable. My dad has psychosis, and I am scared that this will happen to me.

chickenbeak · 14/05/2023 13:03

Are you anywhere near peri menopause age as I had the exact same thing happen to me last year. It also began after starting Sertraline. I had taken it twice before on the past and never had this issue but because my hormones were out of whack I had an awful reaction to it and had to stop taking it. It left me with terrible sleep anxiety for a while afterwards. HRT and taking magnesium glycinate in the evening has helped bring my sleep back to normal. I still have mild phases of it at certain times of the month just the odd night but like you it began with 4 nights of constant jerking all night and each jerk would be followed by a panic attack I thought I would completely lose my mind. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Wishona · 14/05/2023 13:20

I didn’t sleep the night one of my children was born. Then the following night I felt uneasy and decided I’d watch them the whole night and sleep the next day (born at home).
The next day he was admitted and I didn’t sleep that night- so that was 3 nights. I had a camp bed next to him.

I could not sleep, I was so anxious and over tired. Every time the O2 monitor bleeped I jumped so much that in the end they turned the alarm off!
A nurse told me to lie under a sheet, that sensory deprivation was what allowed me to finally sleep.

Its awful, I would try lying under a light white sheet.

Bluelightbaby · 14/05/2023 13:22

Definitely not ED. GP appt tomorrow or asap and request referral to a sleep clinic

bamboonights · 14/05/2023 13:37

I feel your pain. I've suffered from insomnia all of my adult life whereby when I don't sleep, my body just seems to double with adrenaline and I go into major panic attack mode. I have tried so many SSRI's to help and am currently trying Sertraline-made everything worse so far but this is the first week so I need to keep going. I have also been prescribed Zopiclone 7.5mg on repeat for years (14 tablets per month) and have never had any problems with addiction. I do find that I have to be relaxed when I take them and take them early otherwise they may not work. They certainly don't 'knock me out' and have been a life saver. I have been suicidal at times having to carry on bringing up children and working on no sleep for days on end. I did discover from my Fitbit that it's the 'deep sleep' we need in order to feel refreshed. Light sleep doesn't do it. I use occasional diazepam for anxiety/panic, propranolol and when I'm at my wits end, and not working, and all else has failed, I have a large glass of red wine. Regarding the jerking, a few of the SSRI's can cause this. But also sleeping naturally when you are just dropping off can make you jerk. I dont mind that but yours sounds troublesome. Keep on at your GP. And ask for a sleep clinic referral. It is an extremely underrated problem when it's this bad. Good luck 💐

Heartsnrainbows · 14/05/2023 13:39

Weight might help. It does me when anxiety gives me the twitches and wakes me up. I have a weighted blanket, the heaviest one available but before that I used 2 duvets with pillows sandwiched between them and a hot water bottle resting on my chest. In your case I'd put the majority of weight on my lower body.

Titsywoo · 14/05/2023 13:41

You definitely need to take magnesium glycinate as someone else said. It really should help all these issues.

Ungratefulorunreasonable · 14/05/2023 14:22

Fluoxetine gives me insomnia for about a month before it resolves.

hellocats · 14/05/2023 15:25

I've been on Fluoxetine for 2 years, and now coming off them because I can't take the insomnia anymore. I've had two years waking up every 2-3 hours, I never had this before the fluoxetine.

They have helped with my anxiety but some side effects are too much for some people.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/05/2023 15:28

A myoclonic jerk is a sign that you are going to sleep. I'm not fond of them when they happen, but because I know what they are, I stay relaxed and wait to drop off, which usually happens within ten minutes.

Original poster

TolpuddleFarter · 14/05/2023 17:41

Wapping123 · 14/05/2023 12:25

I have been through exactly this, I know how desperate it feels. I was afraid I was going to lose the plot completely and end up being sectioned or something. The anxiety and lack of sleep is very destabilising. The longer you don’t sleep, the worse the jerks get. It’s adrenaline, basically - your body and mind are stuck in constant fight or flight and as your body relaxes into sleep, your brain panics and jolts you awake to keep you safe. What has worked for me in the past is firstly accepting that I’m going to get very little sleep for a few days, but that although I will feel grim, that’s not going to be the end of the world. (Best not to drive though. You feel alert but it’s as bad as being really drunk in terms of judgement etc! Also try not to buy anything for the same reasons!). Then get plenty of exercise. Even just a walk will start to use up the excess adrenaline and that will help. Then when you do go to bed, don’t focus on sleeping. I pop in AirPods and prop up my tablet next to me, and I download a series of a TV programme which I find calming but not too interesting (Escape to the Chateau and GBBO have proved genuine life savers in the past!). As you watch them, you’ll get sleepy and you’ll go through the jerking awake thing multiple times - the trick is not to get scared or frustrated, just refocus on watching. Eventually you’ll sleep for a few minutes, then ten, then half an hour, longer chunks each time. Once you’ve got a few hours sleep, get up again. The next night you’ll find it easier, and after a few nights you’ll hopefully be back to normal. Just keep reminding yourself it’s anxiety based and like most anxiety issues, it peaks but no one can sustain that peak of anxiety for ever. Your background has understandably left you afraid of psychosis, as mine has, but try to steer your mind away from that thought - it’s just about recognising the fear, and then refusing to invite the anxiety gremlin back to tea with you. Slam the door in its face, eventually it stops ringing the doorbell, I promise. Very best of luck and if you are getting worried speak to your GP. During one really bad episode mine prescribed a pill in pocket beta blocker which was a real help.

Thank you for taking the time to post this. It really has truly helped, and you have made me feel better and more positive (which is extremely hard at this point.) You have made me feel a little less alone.

OP posts:

Original poster

TolpuddleFarter · 14/05/2023 19:06

Thequeenofwishfulthinking · 14/05/2023 12:08

I’ve no advice as I’ve tried everything! I’m exactly the same. I was reading all night last night but still nothing. Sending love. Can you try and sleep today? I can’t as I’m s single mum to three dcs. I would make an appointment with your gp first thing tomorrow morning.

Sending love and hope you get some respite soon.

OP posts:

Original poster

TolpuddleFarter · 14/05/2023 19:11

chickenbeak · 14/05/2023 13:03

Are you anywhere near peri menopause age as I had the exact same thing happen to me last year. It also began after starting Sertraline. I had taken it twice before on the past and never had this issue but because my hormones were out of whack I had an awful reaction to it and had to stop taking it. It left me with terrible sleep anxiety for a while afterwards. HRT and taking magnesium glycinate in the evening has helped bring my sleep back to normal. I still have mild phases of it at certain times of the month just the odd night but like you it began with 4 nights of constant jerking all night and each jerk would be followed by a panic attack I thought I would completely lose my mind. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Definitely peri menopausal, as there are a few other things afoot as well.

Interesting that you had the same experience, but absolutely horrid. Honestly wouldn't wish this on anyone.

OP posts:

porridgeisbae · 14/05/2023 22:00

I feel a bit silly that I still took today's dose. I guess it's because it is drilled into you to ride the side effects out.

@TolpuddleFarter Don't stop your meds without talking to your doc. There are dozens of meds they can try, so if one doesn't suit you, try others until they find what works best for you.

porridgeisbae · 14/05/2023 22:03

It also began after starting Sertraline. I had taken it twice before on the past and never had this issue but because my hormones were out of whack I had an awful reaction to it and had to stop taking it

Even when not in perimenopause, throughout my life I've found that if I start an antidepressant, even the same one, at different times in my life it can effect me in different ways.

Wapping123 · 14/05/2023 23:41

Good luck tonight and I’m so glad it helped a bit knowing you’re not the only one. Ive never posted here before but I couldn’t not reply to your post. I felt such relief when someone in a FB anxiety group had gone through the exact same thing - you don’t wish it on your worst enemy but there’s a comfort in knowing that you’re not alone and people have come out the other side ok, isn’t there. No one around me could understand how grim it was and how terrified I was, everyone kept saying “you’ll sleep when you’re really tired” and I’m like genuinely, you’ve no idea, i literally have not slept for the last 3 nights and I can feel my sanity slipping away from me! If you’re still struggling tomorrow do have a chat to your GP about a beta blocker. My heart rate wasn’t that fast but it wasn’t dipping much below 85 at any point when my normal resting is about 60, and the sudden slowing down into sleep seems to contribute to the glitching. I only needed to take a couple and since then knowing they are there has stopped it getting that bad again. The twinings sleepy tea is also good, it’s not going to fix the problem alone but it’s definitely a help. Sending hugs.

Thesharkradar · 15/05/2023 11:30

Cannabis that's what I use
works like a dream

Original poster

TolpuddleFarter · 15/05/2023 11:57

chickenbeak · 14/05/2023 13:03

Are you anywhere near peri menopause age as I had the exact same thing happen to me last year. It also began after starting Sertraline. I had taken it twice before on the past and never had this issue but because my hormones were out of whack I had an awful reaction to it and had to stop taking it. It left me with terrible sleep anxiety for a while afterwards. HRT and taking magnesium glycinate in the evening has helped bring my sleep back to normal. I still have mild phases of it at certain times of the month just the odd night but like you it began with 4 nights of constant jerking all night and each jerk would be followed by a panic attack I thought I would completely lose my mind. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Did your jerking stop after stopping the medication? I am trying not to panic but this feels interminable.

OP posts:

stayathomegardener · 15/05/2023 15:45

I struggled to sleep post covid, it can affect the sleep centre in the brain as Spanish Flu did.

Weighted blanket, aromatherapy, melatonin, yoga nidra and LDN got me through eventually but it was a long three years.

sebanna · 15/05/2023 17:37

My mum had this, she couldn't stay asleep for more then ten minutes. It went for weeks, she was referred for a brain scan, but it turned out to a rare symptom of hypothyroidism. She made a few recovery with thyroxine.

When does not sleeping become a medical emergency?

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