Insomnia

[Ralowi]

I've had insomnia for 4 years now, on and off. I can have weeks and months of great periods and all of a sudden if creeps back in and it's horrendous. I have been in some terrible states in the past because of the exhaustion. I tried counselling and have tried amitryptilline which worked for a while. I used to use the odd zopiclone for emergencies (bought online as gps are funny about it and that was stressing me out even more).
I came off the amitryptilline as didn't feel it was doing much but I've been asked to try it again by gp. this time round it's not having any impact!
I've been taking anything and everything to try and sleep in my desperation as my usual options just aren't working (amitryptilline/zop) even though I've not taken either regularly so didn't think I'd have built up a tolerance. I believe that's partly because the zopiclone is not from the gp and could have been weakened down so I'm really wanting to avoid them but always end up taking them anyway.

I've recently been given a prescription for citalopram which I believe is just an anti depressant for general anxiety. I definitely have anxiety, I wouldn't say it's general I would say it's only at night!

I wondered if anyone had tried this for insomnia? I'm wary as the side effects sound awful but I'd take it if even one person said it helped them sleep!!

Also noticed it is worse when I'm due on my
Period but not always

Any help gratefully received x

Hello, I suffered from insomnia for a number of years which ultimately led to me having some MH problems. I too used Zoplicone short term as well as other prescriptions and found that only the Zopi's gave me the sleep relief. Eventually I was referred to an online course called Called sleep station and they set some pretty tough tasks along the line of sleep deprivation which sounds weird if you are insomniac anyway but I was personally always going to bed regular as clockwork and just lying there awake. To cut a long story short it helped me massively and I've not had insomnia for a couple of years now. Finally, the doctor prescribed me some Sominex which are an OTC sleep aid, I was extremely doubtful as to how this would work as I'd been on strong stuff that was supposed to knock you out and it hadn't helped one bit but low and behold it really did / does work for me - now I'm not saying Sominex is the wonder sleep aid you should rush out to buy as I know it hasn't been affective for others but you should remain hopeful that there is something that you can get on with. All the best.

Hello OP, I've had mild insomnia for about 5 years - problems getting to sleep, particularly if I was anxious about something, and staying asleep. I started taking magnesium for something else and found it hugely improved my sleep - I now fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply. Do try this if you haven't already. It can take a couple of months to kick in properly. I've since found there's research to show that it improves insomnia symptoms.

If you think anxiety is the underlying problem, look at that too. My sleep also improved when I took a less stressful job. I'm the kind of person who can lie awake all night, worrying about things that don't matter in daylight hours. If you can find that clarity when you're anxious at night, that can also help.

Hi OP,
I have suffered with insomnia for 30 years and can relate very much to your post. I've been on Amiltryptiline for sleep issues these past 5 years. I take 20mg a night, and that usually guarantees I sleep through.
On the nights it doesn't work (average 3 - 4 nights a month) it is always due to having had a late afternoon coffee, or an evening meal high in protein - especially cheese.

I take sleeping pills such as zoplicone if I'm sleeping away from home, but they make me feel depressed the next day, and definitely interferes with the Amiltryptiline; it doesn't really work for a couple of days after taking a sleeping pill.

OMG! 4 years of Insomnia. I am having chronic insomnia for 6 months now. Can't sleep without medicine prescribed by.y psychiatrist. I thought I will be recover soon but now know many cases more than years of Insomnia makes me hopeless. I had insomnia after 15 days of miscarriage. Any advice and suggestions for me plz

Also found a couple of months of high quality magnesium glycine helped. I sleep straight through now.