Insomnia and anxiety

[Frootbat]

I have palpitations and arrhythmia which is being investigated but I have a horrible feeling that I am going to be told to live with it as I am on beta blocker and Bp meds. I have CHD and a stent and "pre fib". But I know that good sleep is paramount and I'm getting rubbish sleep with the palpitations and anxiety that goes with all my problems. Has anyone been given meds to aid sleep/anxiety. I am thinking of Amitryptiline for example.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello Froobat

Have you considered other strategies to manage your poor sleep and anxiety?

Stress and anxiety can effect many of us with heart conditions.

I use Mindfulness meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, breathing and relaxation techniques not unlike the techniques which midwives teach women to help them cope when they are birthing their babies.

Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT can help too. Ask your GP to refer you or have a look for an online course.

There is this free app Insight Timer which has loads of meditations breathing exercises and other strategies which may help you.

insighttimer.com/

I live with a difficult to treat angina and have most of my pain at night so sleep poorly.

I was prescribed imipramine at a low dose for pain management. I couldn't cope with the side effects.

It didn't work for me at all, it felt like

I was walking through treacle, my pain still there I just couldn't be bothered to complain!

There is no right or wrong way.

What matters is what works for you.

There are other members of the forum who have found various strategies to manage their anxiety and I am sure they will be along to share their experiences with you too.

[Frootbat in reply to Milkfairy]

Dear MilkfairyThankyou. I will try more therapies. I do breathing techniques to try and calm the palpitations but will try more stuff. The trouble is that at the moment, like others I’m sure, I am obsessing about my heart because I can’t live my normal life. I’m scared about not seeing my grandchildren grow up- unable to be with them as they are not local. But I know I’m not the only one. xx

[Ageingfast]

Dear frootbat

Love the name.

I agree with milkfairy. In addition to anything you are proposing to ask your doctor, do try meditation. I use relaxation and gentle yoga and the results can be excellent. I also use a tinnitus relaxer, just to get me off to sleep.

I also changed my mattress, slept in another room, tried hotter and colder. Had a light on. Different numbers of pillows and recently i found better sleep if my cat sleeps in the room.

You very rightly point out that sleep is paramount.

The other thing you might try is smiling. Several times a day. False, fake forced or real doesn't matter. Just smile.

Colin

[Frootbat in reply to Ageingfast]

Ha! My dog sleeps with me and although she disturbs me a few times a night, I wouldnt have it any other way as it is very calming and reassuring to feel her there. My husband’s on the other side 🤣I find talking to and laughing with all my dog walking acquaintances very therapeutic so yes, smiling is good. Thanks.

[Frootbat in reply to Ageingfast]

BTW your name is nice too 😀🐾🐾

[Frootbat]

Thanks.

[Tessie28]

I'm a low dose of it. Don't think it is helping. Try an app like the Calm app very helpful.

[JK5AEO]

I take diazepam, 2 to 4mg, but not every night. I find it to be the most effective medication I have ever taken. After my heart attack, when I had to come off clozapine, I was prescribed 15 to 20mg every night for 3 months. It is safe from a cardiac perspective, but if you use it for too long (months at a time) it becomes ineffective due to dependency, and will have the reverse effect. Some GPs are a bit sceptical about diazepam because of it being over-prescribed in the 70s when 'Valium' was the answer to every patient's problems, but my original prescription was from a psychiatrist, and GP's are scared of psychiatrists (as we should all be!).

[Sparklegrrl]

I would try some of the non medical suggestions first to try and get a good sleep routine and anxiety levels down.

If you do go the prescription route I found amitriptyline useful for anxiety related insomnia. I took a while to work - my doctor described it more as helping to reset your sleeping pattern. I didn't find it to be like a sleeping pill like zopiclone or a benzodiazepam - I was prescribed zopiclone first and I hated it - it knocked me out but I didn't feel rested at all, and I was extremely groggy the whole next day. Amitriptyline made me a bit drowsy the next morning if it took it too late at night, but was generally fine. It more made me drowsy enough that I could get to sleep which was one of the major problems I was having.

[Arrowe]

I take amitriptyline for pain that I have because of degenerate disc disease in my spine, but mainly in my neck. It does seem to work for me. I was advised to try 10mg at first and move up to 20mg if necessary. I find that 20mg, whilst effective, completely drains me the following day, to the point that I feel like a zombie. Therefore I now find that 10mg, taken around 9pm does give me a good nights sleep. Hope that helps

[Frootbat in reply to Arrowe]

I've got the same spine problem and was offered the drug years ago but declined for various reasons but mainly because I'm not in constant pain ( fortunately). It's sporadic. But if it will help me sleep I may try it. No harm.

[Hidden]

Hi Frootbat,I can relate to your issue, I had heart surgery and had anxiety without being able to sleep. My doctor and I tried several different medications and finally found Trazodone. I'm taking 150 to 200mg. At bedtime. It has helped me better than anything else. It is a antidepressant also with the added sleep benefit.

Good Luck!

Stay Strong,

Dusty 68