Getting desperate for a good nights sleep - has anyone ever been prescribed hard core sleeping tablets and did they work?

[Strumpetpumpet]

I’m 55, been on HRT for 2 years and recently increased dose on advice from Newson health so I now take
oestrogel 4 pumps
utrogestan 2 tabs
testosterone gel
also taking magnesium glycinate, vitamin d, ashwaghanda for anxiety

i rarely have a problem falling asleep but I’m averaging about 4 hours a night and I’m at the end of my tether. I had a really good night about 3 weeks ago, I’d gone to bed at 8pm absolutely shattered, and woke a few times but in total I got about 8 hours sleep and I felt amazing, I’d forgotten what it’s like to get a good nights sleep, but unfortunately it was a one off, and I can’t do that every day because I don’t normally get home from work until 7 ish.

I’ve tried amitriptyline which the gp prescribed a couple of years ago but it didn’t help, so I’m reluctantly wondering if I should ask for something hard core.

If I could just win the lottery I’m sure I’d be fine 😂

Order Sonador over the net. They are available in Spain over the counter. Half a tablet sends me off to sleep in 20 minutes for 7 hours. If you need to wake up you can.

Actually the spelling is Sonodor

I have been on zopoclone for years. I take one half an hour/ an hour before bed and am out like a light. Can miss one if I have too but have mad dreams if I do!

Zopiclone is very addictive. Don't take them! I took them for 2 weeks during stressful period of my life and then struggled to sleep without the tablets. If you take them long term they are meant to be very dodgy. I read a book called 'effortless sleep method' by Sasha Stephens, which really helped me . Good luck - I really sympathise!

@christmascalypso very 'dodgy' in what way? I have no issue with them and have missed taking them at times. No side effects.

Yes they are. They're very addictive.
They have a short half-life.

People get seriously addicted to the Z drugs. That's why they're rarely prescribed, and always for short periods only.

The active ingredient is the same as that in Nytol, so you can buy them here more easily.

In fact, Boots Sleep Aid is exactly the same, and cheaper than Nytol.

Phenergan (antihistamines) work for me, but they do make me feel drowsy the following day so I only take them as a last resort.

Kirkland's sleep aid ARE antihistamines (Doxylamine)! I found them more effective than the ones you can buy here.
For the PP who asked, Dramamine are sea sickness tablets (also antihistamine).
The older antihistamines all have sedating properties but the problem is that they aren't long lasting so you are still likely to wake up in the night. The newer antihistamines don't cross the blood-brain barrier so easily so are less sedating.

Zopiclone. Was prescribed for 3 weeks whilst in hospital. Absolutely amazing, woke up refreshed for the first time since like ever. I would love to have them once or twice a week at home.

Because of the risks of long term dependence (and people flogging their prescriptions, just as with strong painkillers), it's difficult to get a prescription from a lot of GPs - round here, it generally requires the traumatic death of an immediate family member to get 3-5 benzodiazepines and only if you're one of those really weird people who seem impervious to those <shuffles awkwardly>, they'll then prescribe the same number of Z-meds with a 'only use it when you're absolutely desperate, I can't prescribe anymore than this'.

People do get annoyed and I can see their point of view absolutely - but then again, some of us have memories of family members who were essentially legitimised addicts as a result of GPs handing over long term prescriptions.

@Stomacharmeleon Psychiatric affects amongst others

www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArticles/June2019/Zopiclone-Indicated-for-short-term-use-only.htm

Listen I Don't have an issue with things being opinion but ' rarely prescribed and always short periods only' is factual and not true in my case. I have them and have been taking them for eight years probably. No side effects.

The NICE guidelines are here
https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/insomnia/

I clearly have a shit GP as it's never been mentioned.

Have you tried nytol or piriton.
Next step for me is zopiclone but the gp does ration them.

I have exactly the same issue with sleep but have been taking melentonin and it's incredible. You can buy it in Europe and US. I got my DM to bring me some back from Portugal.

Phenergan works for me, but I do find I feel it can make me feel tired the next day. Not every time I take it, but enough that I use it sparingly.

Usually take it on a Friday so that I can sleep in on Saturday, then I don't feel hungover. If I take it and have to be woken up by my alarm that's when I struggle.

I’m on zopiclone at the moment. My GP will only prescribe 7 days at a time. I’m a nurse prescriber myself and they’re strict rules with benzodiazepines and controlled drugs in the UK as they are addictive.
I find that after the first week on zopiclone your body gets used to them though and I’m back to not sleeping.
There is an OTC medication called Sominex which I find works but it makes you feel a bit hungover the next day. Catch 22 really!

*There are

Yes I use these, you can get in the UK these are the ones Davina recommended in her book