Nytol, Kalms or ? Need to sleep.

[BanyanTree]

I am going on holiday in 7 days. Since Christmas I have been having some peri-menopause symptoms including my anxiety going up a notch or 2. On occasion this anxiety has led to insomnia whereas otherwise I sleep like a brick.

So with a week to go to a dream holiday, the excitement and stress has led to me lying awake at night. Also on my last flight I got stressed out and felt trapped so am worried about that happening again although as soon as we took off it subsided. 2 nights ago I couldn't sleep, then was up at 4.30am on Wed, last night woke up and was awake from 2am. I took a Kalms 1 a night last night which sent me off, but didn't keep me asleep.

I need some temporary sleep relief just to get me to my holiday in one piece. I know that as soon as we have got through the airport and taken off I'll be fine.

I am thinking of trying Nytol. Can anyone please share with me what over the counter sleep remedies work best for them? I have tried Kalms 1-a night which as mentioned have got me off to sleep but I need something that will help me sleep longer.

I don't want to wreck my children's holiday

I get periods of insomnia and it really has a bad effect. I often take a full dose of sleepeaze (same as kalms) which means I get to sleep fine but then frequently wake up at 4am and don't get back to sleep.

Recently a couple of times I've taken a half dose of blue nytol (not the green herbal one which is same as kalms) and it's worked brilliantly. Slept through till 7am when the bin men came.

I don't want to get into a regular habit of it but knowing it works is really reassuring as if I have a couple of nights of bad sleep I can then take it one night and feel much better. I'd definitely recommend it. My only isssue is that taking it on holiday means you can't drink wine!

I think I am going to try it. I am like a tiger with a toothache if I don't get a lot of sleep. I have the comfiest bed, it is bliss.

I love sleep

Usually once what I am worrying about has passed, I collapse and sleep like a log.

Insomnia is really annoying. I have had lots of traumas in my life and never lost sleep whilst going through them. It's the minor things which wouldn't bother other people that keep me awake.

If it's to retrain sleeping and for a short period would it be suitable to have betablockers for the anxiety and a few days of mild diazepam to sleep?
2mg diazepam will be enough.

I have some beta blockers and will take them before I get on the plane. Apparently a side effect of them is they mess with sleep so not too keen to take them every day.

Diazepam - can I only get this from the doctor?

Yes. I take Tesco sleep aid from pharmacy-it's the drowsy anti histamine.

I got prescribed amytiptaline for migraine. Not sure how much effect it has on those, but they r definitely improving a bit. The main positive though, was the completely unintended, but profound effect its had on my sleep. (I hadn't thought to ask for help wth sleep, just thought I'd have to cope with waking up at 3am in an anxious sweat forever!) I stopped taking the amytriptaline a few weeks ago, but night waking and night anxiety came back! so back on it! Only need 10mg at night and it really does the trick! I'm out for the count all night!! Completely recommend it (although don't know if your doc will prescribe it for sleep).

Alltheuser

I have that as my Doc gave it to me after a nasty incident of insomnia a few months back. It did work for a few nights (and completely not on one night). However, I want to try off the shelf/ over the counter items first before I get them out again.

Fair enough! although if u r only using them short term ish, might b worth it for a few good sleeps (if 10mg didn't do the trick, u could always take 20mg if your doc ok with it) Understand u want to try over counter stuff first. (Before the amytiptaline I was advised by dr google (!) to try over counter stuff with valerian in (as apparently all the other over counter stuff is pretty placebo!)

250mgs of magnesium with a glass of milk knocks me out. Helps with mild anxiousness too.

Your doctor will prescribe diazepam for going and returning on the plane. They are not heartless, they just don't want you to become reliant on them.

As mentioned diazepam must only be prescribed by a doctor.
It isn't a fluffy herbal type thing but it isn't a sledgehammer.

I think the advantage of that is you will go to sleep but also be able to function the following day.

I suffered badly from (peri)menopausal insomnia and anxiety and am now on HRT - the only thing (including prescription sleeping tablets) that really works for me. As well as HRT, I have found these supplements help to some extent: 5htp, hops, magnesium, valerian, melatonin. Good luck!

I'm prone to periods of sleeplessness too

Night nurse is good and as long as you take it no later than around 8.30pm you shouldn't feel groggy the next day

Phenergan is a hayfever medication but it also can be prescribed for temporary sleep problems.

Thank you everyone. As always, Mumsnetters are super helpful and supportive

I took 1 x Nytol blue packet and slept 11pm - 7am with a wake up for about 45 mins around 3am. I got a bit stressed out when I woke up, but did go back to sleep. The Nytol has made me really groggy and spaced out though, but it worked. I also bought some Cherry juice yesterday and had a glass of this before bed. Apparently it is a natural melatonin supplement. Not sure if I read this here, too spaced out to remember .

Thanks for those tips Messaliona. I will check them out. I am on the Menopause forum too.