Sleeping Meds?

[SteveFeldo]

Has anyone in the community got any experience or comments on going down the pharmaceutical route to help with sleep? I'm having real difficulties and think that the lack of sleep is actually increasing my anxiety and therefore my symptoms. One day you think you're on top of it, then it bites back with a vengeance 😡 Cheers, Steve

[Angela-H]

Hi Steve, I was prescribed ziplock earlier 15mg when T got me and I went nights without sleeping. I was also given Mirtazapine 30mg to lessen anxiety. I was taking that for 12 months which calmed down the T. Love Angela xx

[Angela-H]

Flipping predictive text on this iPhone! It is of course ZOPICLONE

[SteveFeldo in reply to Angela-H]

Ha Ha, thanks Angela. That's very useful...we're there any adverse side effects?? Steve x

[Angela-H in reply to SteveFeldo]

No side effects Steve and the zoplicone got me to sleep in 20 mins. Mirtazapine made me gain weight but I lost it as I was weaned off it. Xx

[SteveFeldo in reply to Angela-H]

Great, thanks Angela, that's good to know. X

[Hidden]

Hi Steve,

Think I have replied to you on another forum.

I was on sleeping tablets for six weeks and the doctor changes me over to a low dose AD nortryptaline for sleep as better than a sleeping tablet long term.

Amitryptaline is another that can help sleep on a low dose...might be worth a try...lots of love glynis

[SteveFeldo in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Glynis, I'll see what they have to say but I think I need something to help as I am so tired and that has a pretty negative effect on my mood and overall ability to tough this out ! Cheers, Steve x

[jim_t]

Steve, have you thought about hypnosis tracks specific to tinnitus?

I used them some years back and whilst I wasn't suffering from lack of sleep at the time, I never got to the end as I always drifted into deep sleep due to haunting soundtracks!

[SteveFeldo in reply to jim_t]

Hi Jim, no I hadn't. I'll look into it! I don't tend to have any problems going to sleep, my issue is waking up in the small hours and not being able to nod off again.

Where did you source the soundtracks from? Cheers, Steve

[Hidden]

Why not try one of the otc formulations to see how it works out? (I do have single-side T but I'm thankful I'm pretty well habituated to it and it doesn't cause sleep problems for me.)

To help with general (non-tinnitus) sleep disruption I use Walmart brand 'Sleep Aid' whose active ingredient is diphenhydramine hydrochloride and I think similar products can be found in ASDA, Tesco, Boots and independent pharmacies. Loss of sleep leaves me feeling dreadful and behaving accordingly.

I find that the two-tablet dose is way too much for me and a half tablet will often help me relax through the night. If you try it you might want to experiment with the dose. I can't comment on how effective it might be when T is the cause of sleep loss but for a few bob it might be worth trying it out for yourself.

[jim_t]

The tinnitus one was a Glenn Harrold CD which I purchased for circa £10. You can probably buy it as an MP3 download now but I am going back a few years when I purchased it!

I found some other free online tracks which were general sleep hypnosis type ones.

However, you say you have no problems getting to sleep but wake up and can't get back to sleep. Have you tried any nature sound type things playing through the night.

I would exhaust all non medication type props before going down that route.

[NicBTA Partner]

Hi Steve

Sorry to hear you're having trouble sleeping. As you can see from the responses, it's not uncommon in people with tinnitus - in fact, we funding some research into CBT for tinnitus related insomnia.

In the meantime, we do have some tips on getting a good night's sleep on our website at tinnitus.org.uk/tinnitus-an...

Hope that helps

[SteveFeldo in reply to NicBTA]

Many thanks Nic. Have a great Christmas and thanks again for your help. Steve