Nytol sleeping tablets and sertraline

[Brunosmumhasnaffallgoingon]

Name changed.
Ive taken sertraline 100mg for two years now and have been pretty stable. Not perfect but I’ve cope with life and it’s ups and downs. I’ve no desire to come of it.Without it I would be dead.
Had a review a few weeks back and explained to my doctor that for 15+ years I’ve struggled with insomnia. This took quite a bit of bravery for me because I really struggle asking for help. Doctor was very reluctant to prescribe sleeping pills because of how addictive they are but did say to try the nytol 50mg diphenhydramine tablets. I know they aren’t meant to be used everyday but I’m desperate and some nights I’m living on 2-3 hours sleep.

For the last week my suicidal thoughts are though the roof. They only reason I’ve not actually hung myself today is because I don’t want one of my kids to come home after work to find me. Im racking my brain even though it’s a absolute mess atm and the only thing that’s changed in my life is these nytol tablets. Could they be messing with me? The leaflet says nothing about this ? I can’t think straight? Has anyone else ever experienced something like this ?
Or has my mental health just a nose dive ? Im going to try not to take them but at 3am it’s so hard when they do make me fall asleep.

Anyone ? Im desperate

Number one, please take care of yourself. If you have a friend or family member to be around, could you see them now?
Number two, I think you need to discuss with doctor
Number three, I take both without any issues.

I really hope you are able to find a solution

thank you for responding. I have no one, so I’m sat with my dog trying to calm my thoughts and he definitely helps.
Ive tried the doctors but was in a huge queue so I’ll keep on with that. I know I don’t want to actually die so I’ll ring 111 if it becomes to much. It’s good to know that someone else takes both and is ok.

My only thing is that I don't take them every night. I'm not sure if that has an impact.
I'm pleased you've got your dog for company.
Do you have Nytol or Sertraline packets to read about side effects?

Just put your phone on speaker whilst you wait in the queue for the doctor

Oh love, trust me, I've been there. Still there sometimes.

I relied on antihistamines to help me sleep on sertraline, promethazine specifically. It's sold OTC as Sominex or Phenergan Night. They were helpful, but you're not meant to use OTC sleep aids for more than a week.

Eventually my psychiatrist prescribed low-dose quetiapine, an antipsychotic, purely for the insomnia. It's vastly preferred over Z-drugs like zopiclone, as it's non-addictive.

Sorry if I missed this from your OP, but are you under the MH team? If you are, they're in the best position to help you with sleep aids, as GPs can't prescribe things like quetiapine off-label.

I know it's unthinkable right now, but stop the Nytol - it's causing more harm than good. I actually found that taking sertraline at night was helpful for the insomnia, even though it's meant to keep you awake!

Please feel free to PM me if you need a friendly ear. It's SO hard and I completely empathise.

How are you feeling now?

Thank you all for replying to me. I don’t know how to reply individually sorry.
Im feeling much calmer now. The intrusive thoughts arent as loud now ( does that make sense?) and I’ve managed to get a grip of myself. I listened to white noise to drown out my thoughts and it did actually help.
I read the leaflet inside the nytol packet and it mentions nothing about what I’ve been experiencing. So I can’t say for sure it is them but I’m definitely not taking them again. However it’s probably my own stupid fault for taking them every day, I feel like such a idiot!!! I just was so desperate to sleep and they did help. Today was just awful. I have a appointment with a different doctor tomorrow thankfully.

I just can’t believe how bad the urge was to just hurt myself. I’d rather be sleep deprived than how I felt today. I’ve got dc and I know what it’s like to lose a parent to suicide and it’s the last thing I’d ever want for them. It’s scary because I’ve done so so well on the sertraline. They have been a life saver for me.
Your both so kind for checking back in on me. Thank you 😊