Insomnia

[bugswhiskers]

Hallo, all. Please could I have some advice. I've developed insomnia because of anxiety, and my GP has prescribed 2mg Diazepam to be taken at night as needed. I know it's only a small dose but I'm afraid to take it in case it interferes with the 2.5mg Bisoprolol I take at night. I also take 5mg Bisoprolol in the mornings, and 100mg Flecainide as PIP about every ten days. What are peoples experiences of taking medication to help with sleep, together with your AF medication?

[Paulbounce]

Hello Bugs.

Interesting one !

Diazepam (valium) is a subject I have thought about bringing up on the forum a few times. However I don't as I am not medically qualified.

2mg is a low dose but you'll develop tolerance pretty quickly. Please follow your doc's instructions and follow the advice "be taken at night as needed". At least you have a back up if required

Maybe discuss using either Zolpidem or Zopiclone with your doctor too (instead of Diazepam). Again tolerance can build up quickly but it's a back up if you are still awake in the early hours - for me sleep is very important to keep my afib at bay. I find a small dose of Zolpidem works wonders if I can't sleep.

My post is only something to discuss with your doctor and not a personal recommendation - I just want to be clear about that.

Hope all goes well and you get a good nights sleep.

Paul

[bugswhiskers in reply to Paulbounce]

Thanks Paulbounce. I have taken Zopiclone before, but didn't like it because it seemed to cause a blocked nose. I'm so fed up with lying awake in the small hours though, especially as I know sleep is important concerning AF.

[jeanjeannie50]

Your GP has prescribed these pills and knows what other medication you are taking. Just try them and see how you get on.

I'm prescribed the lowest dose of Zopiclone and just knowing I have it, should it be needed, helps me sleep. I find I go through periods of nights of needing it and then others of not. A friend suggested it was my biorhythms changing. Look it up.

Jean

[Palpman]

I was on 4mg alprazolam/diazepam 3 times a day when I was diagnosed with panic attacks. This was decreased to 1mg when I had to take Flecainide.

Apart from falling asleep on my feet, it had no medical side effects.

[Maggimunro]

Hi there bugs

As an occasional insomniac I didn’t want to go down the routine drugs route, although I do fill one prescription a year of Zopiclone to get me through those nights when nothing seems to work.

My sleep aid is an app called Audible. It costs £7.99 per month but I now have an extensive library and for me it has proved invaluable. I have found a really comfortable set of ear phones which I plug in and then choose whatever book I want to listen to. This seems to stop the immediate switching on on my washing machine brain as soon as my head hits the pillow.

At first I would wake up 6 chapters further on but now I set the timer to 30 minutes and it switches off automatically.

Just a thought in case this could help you.

[secondtry]

As I expect you know we can only relate here our personal stories and what reading we have done.

At the beginning of my AF journey (6 yrs ago) it was the feeling of not being in control with many tests, medical/alternative practitioner appointments and pills that left me anxious. Then it becomes a vicious circle including poor sleep. My tips would be: do lots of homework on all AF aspects, build a strict routine in the evenings incl Mindfulness (I also do a bit of yoga & prayer), wind down slowly but be tired before bed and look into breathing exercises/improvements for bed - if you have upper nasal congestion, mild sleep apnea or other such issues this can help e.g. I am currently trialling advice in James Nestor's new book 'Breath'. Both Breathright nasal strips & a small piece (half the size of a postage stamp) adhesive tape (I use Myotape.com) on the lips in the middle - getting much deeper dream sleep so far BUT you may have to avoid when taking sleeping drugs as well. I hope something there helps, I believe in doing everything I can do first myself before I hand myself over to the medics for more pills or an ablation!

Parting shot: Taking PIP Flecainide every 10 days sounds odd and may not help your body/sleep rhythm, once I started getting several AF episodes a month, my cardiologist said lets get you on a regular daily dose as the PIP 'rollercoaster' is not helpful - suggest you ask your cardio.

[Hatten28]

Like you I developed anxiety and was having problems sleeping.

Was given Diazepam to take but only used half a tablet at a time, gradually my anxiety eased so stopped them completely, however it came back with a vengeance, so restarted the Diazepam and reduced it gradually.

Have only taken the occasional tablet since and now completely forget about it.

I have concluded that if the mind can overcome the anxiety eventually the symptoms stop and you forget about being anxious.

Having said this I still have the occasional night where I cannot sleep, but usually sleep well the next night.

Hope you can overcome your worries and have a more peaceful life.

[Redders]

I also have been prescribed 2mg diazepam. I find if I have a episode of af it helps to settle my heart.

For sleep aid I buy Boots Sleepeaze two a night BUT I only take half a tablet which seems to work for me. I don’t take every night though.

[Ppiman]

Being a sufferer from anxiety and insomnia for many years, I can sympathise. From my understanding, the problem with benzodiazepine drugs (the group that includes diazepam or ‘Valium’) is that in about a third of users, some kind of dependency occurs whereby the anxiety increases and more drug becomes needed to calm things down. For those people, coming off the drug can be very uncomfortable and prolonged. That’s why doctors are very reluctant to prescribe those drugs these days.

My experience with diazepam is from some years ago. I only used it (5mg) on an “as needed“ basis, and I’d say that it’s the only tablet I know that actually does something useful, even if only a little - but with me, although I never had any kind of problem with it, it did seem to create a “rebound” feeling of anxiety a day or two after I stopped taking it. That’s what stopped me using it, although I would use it again if need be and I tend to think quite highly of it overall.

For insomnia, though, you might discuss with your GP a trial of either zolpidem or zopiclone. These are, I understand, safe for almost all people and, in my experience, do not to create any kind of dependency. I take 2.5mg in the middle of the night when waking if I feel I genuinely won’t fall back to sleep. The latest I’d take one is 4.30 for walking at 7.30 or so. It gives just three hours of sleep (I wish it gave more, but no). Taken late, there can be a first feeling the next day but that is better than the insomnia - if only just!

Steve

[juder6789]

The California medical board suggests cannabis for insomnia. I have tried it and it works well.

[Ger12345 in reply to juder6789]

Hi juder6789, where can I get some to try , I'm in the UK. Thanks ger.

[davt]

I've a 'meniere's condition which brings on very stressful periods, too often at times...Diazepam is one of the few symptom relievers and I have taken them for a couple of years now and am thankful for their help...I'm on Bisoprolol and Apixaban for AF (both 2.5mg) and have never had any bother at all...I may add though that I have never taken more than 2 Diazepam 2mg tabs in any one day...

Your Doctor has ok'd them so they would certainly be worth trying...

[queseyo]

My cardiologist (whom I trust totally) gave me 5mg for same reason and only need it very some time. He has me on Flecainide, Digoxin, Rivaroxaban, Sotalol...and I haven't had any side effect. It is a good idea always ask your Cardiologist or Pharmacist...some GPs...