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Original poster

Insomnia; which is better Sominex or Amitriptyline

36 replies

KatyMac · 07/12/2021 13:45

I never had insomnia before menopause and both of these were suggested when I did

Now HRT patches have solved the menopause insomnia (& they were life changing)

I had covid and now I may be post viral or overly anxious and I'm not sleeping again

So which should I try?

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 07/12/2021 15:03

I'm leaning towards the Sominex but I dont know why

OP posts:
IAmHereForTheFood · 07/12/2021 15:08

I was prescribed Amitriptyline for a pain issue. It was awful.
It kept me awake all night -despite the majority of people finding it helps them sleep-but left me feeling so doped up the next day I couldn’t drive to, or function at, work.

I googled and read some forums & seemingly it does keep a fair few people awake.

HundredMilesAnHour · 07/12/2021 15:17

Try Sominex first, especially as it sounds like a short term problem. Sominex is OTC so easier to get and also has less impact on your body i.e. no side effects (although you shouldn't take it long term).

Amitriptyline is prescription only and you will probably get some side effects. I take a low dose for pain management although I'm currently reducing my dosage so I can stop it altogether. Side effects aren't crippling but I do get them, even at such a low dosage. When I first started, it helped my insomnia for 2-3 nights but after that I was used to the effect and there were no more sleep benefits. Sad My GP refused to up the dosage. I spoke to my menopause consultant this week and she said I was the 2nd woman who has told her recently that GPs are refusing to increase the dosage, and she will look into it further as she doesn't know why and suspects something might be going on (note: it isn't cost as amitriptyline is cheap).

Original poster
KatyMac · 07/12/2021 15:18

I have both so getting them isn't a problem

But the pain in my head from not sleeping & then not napping as I don't want to distrupt the pattern more is extreme

OP posts:
shreddednips · 07/12/2021 15:23

Could you try cbd tincture? I get monthly insomnia linked to my period and I've been sleeping so much better since I started it.

Dahliasrule · 07/12/2021 15:23

I take amitryptiline to try and prevent migraines. (Can’t say they are very helpful for that). I found was very zonked out the next day so am now cutting the dose to 5mg every other night. The day after I take even that small dose, I am lethargic and dozy.i soon hope to be off them altogether.

Original poster
KatyMac · 07/12/2021 16:32

I think I'm going to go with sominex - what time should I take them?

OP posts:
Crabbyboot · 07/12/2021 18:22

Sominex is amazing, but don't buy the actual Sominex buy Phenergan you get a lot more for your money and they are exactly the same medication, Promethazine. I personally take the 10mg ones as 25mg is very sedating for me and I am very drowsy the next day. I take 10mg early at night 8.30ish and I can still wake up at 5.30 without feeling drowsy.

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/12/2021 01:12

Went to bed, slept really well and now I'm up!

OP posts:
Crabbyboot · 08/12/2021 06:56

Oh no! Is that an improvement or how you usually sleep?

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/12/2021 09:15

I fell asleep slightly easier; but basically the same as previously

Didn't drop off again until about 4 - so I've had about 6 hrs in all but previous to this phase I'd sleep from 11 to about 8

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 13/12/2021 10:25

Nope I think after 6 nights it's a fairly certain "sominax" isn't working for me

I'm not sure about the amitriptyline

I think my problem is that my sleep pattern is disturbed I can sleep enough (just) but all at the wrong times

Any suggestions?

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 13/12/2021 10:29

Sominex didn’t work for me.

Just coming into 18th year on Amitryptiline for sleep.

Loulouskiptomylou · 13/12/2021 11:02

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow what dosage?

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 13/12/2021 11:04

I take 100mg. Some people can sleep on 10mg.

Original poster
KatyMac · 13/12/2021 12:45

I have an unopened pack of 28 x 10 mg

Does it take time/days to build up?

Again with the "what time should I take it"?

I feel very insecure about my decisions atm

OP posts:
ABitOfAShitShow · 13/12/2021 14:22

Days to build up Sominex? Or Amitriptyline? Promethazine doesn't build up. It's interesting on the whole 'doesn't work' point as for someone without chronic insomnia issues, I think it does (based on experience years ago and the number of people who are knocked out by Night Nurse) but now that I have serious, long-term sleep issues, it does very little. However, some people take a hefty dose and it works then.

Have you tried melatonin? It doesn't help me sleep through like it does for some people but it can speed up the onset and give me a few hours before the waking starts. It's great for some people though.

What about Nytol? It has the opposite effect on me but it works for my mam, who also has chronic insomnia.

There's also doxylamine who is another antihistamine. It's not available in the UK but you can order it from Biovea easily. A lot of people on here swear by it. It's the one thing I haven't tried.

I take zopiclone at times but I only get prescribed 14 a time to spread out and, now, my gp only continues to give me them as I have an actual neurologist-sleep specialist and he tells them they have to. This is not a long-term solution for correcting anything though.

I'm about to try trazadone as a nightly solution. Can't say anything about it until I do. Mirtazapine didn't work for me but it works for a lot of people.

One of the herbal things that not many people have heard of is magnolia bark. I've yet to try it as I have no luck with herbals usually but it's quite well documented that it can help sleep.

ABitOfAShitShow · 13/12/2021 14:24

Oh in terms of time, you really need to give sominex an hour. Amitriptyline you'll have to play with. Some people need to take it early to offset the fogginess the next day. Some people just take it half an hour before bed and they're fine.

Original poster
KatyMac · 13/12/2021 15:54

Doesn't work as I fall asleep easily enough but then wake 2 hrs later and stay awake for 4-6 hours

I'll try nytol I have added it to my tesvo order!

I am against amitriptyline for some reason! So stupid

How do you get melatonin?

OP posts:
Wizardora83 · 13/12/2021 16:00

I used to take amitriptyline for migraines (although my consultant was angry as they make my type of migraines worse!) anyway, amitriptyline kept me buzzing ALL night long and I was so dreamy and dozey / spaced out I couldn’t stay at work!

Thankfully my neurologist saw sense and took me off them! (It was a GP who prescribed them!)

Wizardora83 · 13/12/2021 16:01

Amitriptyline was so bizarre, I once got up at 2am after a full day at work and ran 10km on the treadmill! Shock

Original poster
KatyMac · 13/12/2021 18:03

I seem to remember that from when I had them before!

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 13/12/2021 18:49

You can get melatonin off the Biovea website. I found you build up tolerance and it stops working after about 6 months.

ABitOfAShitShow · 13/12/2021 19:00

For melatonin, 1mg of instant release works best for me. There are studies to prove lower doses are more effective but some people need much more.

A psych prescribed 6mg for me (I have ADHD so it’s easier to get) and it didn’t really work unless I split them and took the second tablet at 3am. 🤷🏼‍♀️

ABitOfAShitShow · 13/12/2021 19:01

@Wizardora83

Amitriptyline was so bizarre, I once got up at 2am after a full day at work and ran 10km on the treadmill! Shock
I know it’s not funny but this made me chuckle! I sometimes get up and make a sandwich but that’s as energetic as it gets!