Psychosis

[hayleyB79]

Hi I'm new to mumsnet and am posting my for the first time. I am currently experiencing my second episode of psychosis, even tho I don't believe I'm I'll at the moment but that's the thing u wouldn't if your I'll. Just wondering if anyone else has had experience of this and if its something I can expect to live with for thee rest of my life or whether it is possible to experience it a couple of times then never again?

If it's zopiclone be prepared for a horrible metallic taste in your mouth. I thought I was having a stroke when I first tried them 111 were lovely to me

It is zopliclone. What happened to make you feel like you were having a stroke?

Is got into my head (bloody google) that metallic taste was a sign of stroke never thought of the tablet I'd taken 5 minutes
ago

Oh no that must of been frightening for you. I remember taking them for a few nights the last time I was I'll and having that metallic taste. She's given me a months worth this time, bit worried I'll get hooked on them taking them for that long.

Hi lovely hayley,
It's brilliant that you are open to the fact that you are ill. Often, sufferers won't accept there is any problem with them (apart from the problems they are so sure are happening, which are really just all in their head). If you need the sleeping medication then don't be afraid to use it as lack of sleep can be a huge contributing factor to your mental wellbeing and chemical balance. It's helpful to keep occupied and to spend time with anyone who keeps you 'down to earth' or who shares your humour, but also if you need a cry or you're feeling overwhelmed, quiet time is more than reasonable. Take care of yourself xx

I'd be careful with a months supply they are quite easy to develop a tolerance to so they become less effective. Your Doctor must obviously think you need them but don't be scared to ring them if they do stop working. There is another two Z drugs (zopidem is one of them) and they can be interchanged if needed.

Il ask and hope you don't take offence but your not at risk at overdose are you? I mean during really bad times not when your stable if that makes sense?

Thanks lorlorr. I'm making sure I'm around people everyday that can make me laugh but also missing being able to just come home and have time on my own as too afraid at the moment. Thanks for the info about the other z drugs unbornmortificado. I've never felt suicidal thankfully, sometimes I think this is no sort of life being terrified to be alone in my own home but would never do anything. My kids and partner are a major protective factor.

It's good you have them and you sound like your doing really well. Hopefully this is the right dose for you, for what it's worth DH doesn't struggle with sleep he takes his on a night because when he took them on a morning it made his fidgety for an hour or so. (That side effect isn't a common one according to his cpn so I wouldn't worry about it)

I've been told to take the aripiprizole on a morning so see how it goes. That's good your DH can take it on a nighttime and still sleep. I start taking the higher dose tomorrow. Not sure if they'll keep me on 10mg or higher it even more but hopefully won't need to go too high as more likely to get more side effects then.

If you're worried about getting addicted to the sleeping pills there are other options that aren't so addictive so talk to your doctor if you find any signs of increased tolerance or dependence. I take an anti-histamine for my sleep (Atarax) and it works well but have no problems when I stop taking it.

Thanks natsku. I'll be sure to speak to gp if I notice any dependence. I think I'll start just taking them as and when I need them rather than every night to start with. Does anyone know if the zopliclone makes you feel really drowsy the morning after, I pick them up from chemist today. I took a few last time I was I'll but was so poorly last time I can't remember.

I've had it before, felt quite drowsy the morning after but not hugely so if I remember right. Might have been the one that made me hallucinate though (it was one of the z-drugs anyway) and that was scary so stopped taking it after that.

Hayley- I can identify somewhat with your current situation. Particularly with the PP who described it as 'like a waking nightmare' as that's just his o described my period of psychotic depression. I was utterly terrified, shaking with fear, vomiting from terror, but had no idea where the danger was coming from (apart from some suspicions around random houses and objects and areas). Mine was as a result of an extreme stress reaction on top of a pre-existing depressive disorder.
I still take a high dose of SSRI antidepressant (a few years on now) but that's entirely my choice, as I know my mood dips quickly without it. I try to do lifestyle things to help also, such as recognising when I'm stressed, working only part-time, getting fresh air and enough sleep etc, plus avoiding caffeine. These things help me.

Ironically, I'm a mental health professional. So I can assure you from both 'sides' that you'll soon feel much better and safer, and in the mean time I think you sound like you're handling things with amazing strength and good insight, and you sound like a fantastic mum.

Go easy on yourself, ensure you get your needs met, and have faith in your recovery journey.

Zopiclone made me slightly drowsy the mornings after, but generally better than my usual presentation if I'd not had any sleep (i.e. It allowed me to get the sleep I needed in order to reduce my psychotic thoughts).

Your chance to have quite a good tolerance to pills off the antipsychotics (that's just . I was always fine the morning after but it does vary.

I know you said your DP works so if the school run is done by you I'd maybe try going to bed a bit earlier and taking the tablets then. It should give you a bit more chance on a morning to pull yourself round if you do have any grogginess.

Sorry the tolerance thing is what I've personally found I don't know if there is anything science-wise to back up my theory.

Thanks for your message runciblespoon, sorry to hear you've experienced it too but your right it is like a waking nightmare. Think mine this time round is due to stress of my daughter having problems at school and my dads been very poorly since November, he's just had a stent put in his heart today.yes unbornmortificado I do the school run so will probably take it at 9 then go straight to bed. Natsku sorry you had a bad experience on them, really hope I don't hallucinate but I don't think I did last time I took them.

Hayley I've never hallucinated I have heard stories but that was for more pleasant dream like sequences.

Sorry you went through that Nat, doesn't sound pleasant.

Even after years off meds I had a bad reaction to a common antisickness table cyclizine which I had took in the past without issue. It's good to remember adverse reacting are usually quite rare. Plus if you don't get on with them there is another 2 Z-drugs available.

Yes I'll just give them a try and if they don't work for me I'll look into something else. Are z drugs another word for sleeping tablets?

It's just Zopiclone, Zopidem and another I can't remember the name of. They are all the same types, Z-drugs is just work slang.

Z-drugs are sedatives so main use is for sleeping pills so are often first choice for insomnia rather than drugs that are for other purposes but have sedative side effects. There are still many other options available if they don't work (have been through a lot of them! Happy with atarax now)

Dear Hadley the fact that you're listening to the mh professionals and so clearly motivated to do the right thing by your daughters will make a huge difference. Wishing you the very best.

Thanks for the info, good to know there's lots of options out there and thanks colouringinagain for your message. I'd never even heard of mumsnet before I typed psychosis into google and it came up but its helping me so much knowing I can come on here and have so many people give me support and say nice things to me. Its really encouraging me to stay strong knowing so many of you have got through this or know of people that have so thanks to everyone that's posted.

MH illnesses aren't anyone's fault it's just a very shit illness. MN has give me more support over the years then any therapist, there's some very wise posters kicking about.

MH support on mumsnet is outstanding ime