Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Original poster

Doctor has taken away my sleeping tablets

120 replies

filee777 · 02/10/2013 23:40

When I went on sertraline, I was given sleeping tablets because I just wasn't able to fall asleep. For a month now I have taken them and it's been a massive part of my recovery to know that at night I will sleep

The doctor refused to renew my prescription today and said I had to make the 14 that I have last.

I've just started a degree and my head is swimming. I am thinking I will have to stop taking the sertraline despite them really really helping me. I just can't sleep. It's 11.30 now and I've been lying here for near on 2 hours unable to sleep, getting more and more anxious about the day ahead.

I've taken a tablet now because I NEED sleep. What can I do? Can I buy decent sleeping tablets? Should I just start dosing myself up with over the counter codeine every night?

I need sleep :(

OP posts:
Original poster
filee777 · 04/10/2013 11:26

They still haven't seen me, sat me shaking in a public area surrounded by people before 'informing' me that I must sit elsewhere. For the last 15 mins I have been sat on a sofa in an empty room wondering what the fuck is taking so long.

OP posts:
kim147 · 04/10/2013 12:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Orangeanddemons · 04/10/2013 12:17

What complete bollocks about getting enough rest if your lying in bed. Honestly some doctors!

Original poster
filee777 · 04/10/2013 13:02

Sorry for not updating sooner.

My doctor has signed me off for 2 weeks and made me promise to get an urgent appointment with the psych team and reduce my working hours.

She said I need to have some time to come off the sleeping tablets without worrying about work the next day.

Though she has given me 14 for emergencies.

OP posts:
Orangeanddemons · 04/10/2013 14:12

Oh....is that what you wanted? The psych team will probably give you something to make you sleep tbh. Your doctor sounds, well ..,not brilliant tbh. Mine gave me zopiclone for 3 months, then we started on mirtazapne. Psych didn't seem at all bothered about the zopiclone, she said they use it long term. I don't have any withdrawal from stopping it.

Original poster
filee777 · 04/10/2013 14:26

The psych team can't see me until the 28th October. I can't seem to get any other support from anywhere so just going to have to deal with it I suppose.

OP posts:
Original poster
filee777 · 04/10/2013 14:26

I mean medical support, I get support on here and from my husband loads

OP posts:
HoopHopes · 04/10/2013 23:16

With14 tablets that will almost get you to the 28th though. Know it feels a long way away though. Having had to wait 16 weeks to see a psychiatrist this year as dr would not change my medication without a psychiatrist I found those 4 months awful. I got mirtazapine and a review with psych in 6 months but gp has permission now to increase etc. if psych says you need meds it always over rules what gp says.

If your gp gives you a fit note for work the gp can insist you have reduced hours due to ill health if that helps. Sme jobs will lay as full time all depends on pay policy.

Original poster
filee777 · 04/10/2013 23:18

I'm on zero contract hours so can reduce my hours as I see fit (2 way street!) so I think I will just start doing 1 day and 1 evening a week.

OP posts:
Original poster
filee777 · 04/10/2013 23:20

I am going to try and wean myself off these tablets if I can. I have 14 to get me through and when I see the psyche team I will do my best to get them to see that though the sertraline is really working, it's not helping me with sleep which I need it to do...

OP posts:
HoopHopes · 04/10/2013 23:20

Oh that sounds a good idea. Hope it helps

Original poster
filee777 · 04/10/2013 23:22

Thanks so much for talking to me about it x

OP posts:
HoopHopes · 04/10/2013 23:37

Could you try taking one sleeping tablet at the weekend and then a night without knowing you can not at work etc next day.

When I weaned myself off them ( my psych just prescribed them doing me no favours over 2 yrs sigh!!) I used to tell myself I can have one tomorrow so it is just one day without etc. to be honest until I had a baby I do not think I knew what real exhaustion and sleep deprivation was though, oops!!

Original poster
filee777 · 04/10/2013 23:40

I'm going to try and go til Sunday night without one and then go to bed early on Sunday and not have one until I need to sleep (up at 6 on Monday morning) but when I am not up so early I will not take them. Hopefully by the time I am due back at work I will be off them.

OP posts:
TwuntingCrow · 05/10/2013 00:14

Hi - I battled to get myself off sleeping pills and was successful - I did the sleep hygiene stuff but would also allow myself half a sleeping pill at a certain time if I had not managed to fall asleep - for me that was 3am
It honestly wasn't that awful once I acknowledged that if I needed to I could take one - but not til 3am
It helped to take doxy or sominex too but the main thing was perseverance and time ...
Best of luck

Original poster
filee777 · 05/10/2013 01:48

Still awake. Which is probably for the best because the baby has a stinking cold and needed extra bottle/calp

OP posts:
Original poster
filee777 · 05/10/2013 01:49
  • pol.

Husband is in the kids room so he can toss and turn and is not best pleased.

OP posts:
Original poster
filee777 · 05/10/2013 01:50

Oh also incredible dry mouth and slightly nauseous.

Glad I am not working at 7am tomorrow morning. Good call Mrs doctor

OP posts:
Original poster
filee777 · 05/10/2013 15:55

I feel terrible today, spent all night in a weird sort of 'half sleep' and when I did slip into deep sleep at around 4am I had weird dreams that jolted me awake.

Still got up at half past eight and am determined not to nap today.

Have nausea and head is spinning, sometimes hallucinating a little bit.

Bloody odd day.

OP posts:
Orangeanddemons · 05/10/2013 18:43

I think your doctor is crap tbh. Sorry. Insomnia is a side effect of ssris, so needs to treated or at least considered. She could easily give you something to make you sleep which isn't addictive like atopic lone, and fwiw, my psych wasn't at all concerned about long term zopiclone. I think you will find psych team much more helpful.

Your doctor could have switched you to, or prescribed any of the sedating anti depressants such as tramadol,, mirtazapine or amytriptiline.

Orangeanddemons · 05/10/2013 18:44

Having said that when I took sertraline I had permanent insomnia on it, and did sort of cope with it after a bit. Not ideal though

Orangeanddemons · 05/10/2013 18:45

iPad grrrr trazadone not tramadol

Original poster
filee777 · 05/10/2013 18:47

Well they've given me two weeks off and a further two weeks if I need it and if I'm not sleeping after that, they are going to have to sort something out. Maybe best just going straight through the psyche team though?

One of the doctors just seemed absolutely fine with the idea of me just 'not sleeping' for 50% of the time.

OP posts:
Orangeanddemons · 05/10/2013 18:53

But why give you 2 weeks off for something that is easily treatable? It's just shit shit care.

Doctors are notoriously bad at treating insomnia, I would wait for the specialists who will prescribe anythingGrin. Meanwhile someone's or phenergan are good to help you sleep

Orangeanddemons · 05/10/2013 18:53

Aargh sominex