Insomnia and Felodipine ?

[BobbyCollins]

Hi everyoneI have been on Felodipine for several weeks now after trying many other drugs for BP. While I feel a lot better on these drugs my existing insomnia is now off the scale!. I am now averaging 3 or 4 hours a night and over the counter sleeping pills aren't helping much. My GP says she has ran out of options for me now. She suggests prescription sleeping pills but I really don't want to go down that route.

Any ideas ? Thanks so much

[Happyrosie]

one of the problems of getting older - I don’t know how old you are but like us all you must be getting older than you were - is that good sleep gets more and more difficult to achieve. Part of life. If you can accept that the quality of sleep that you had a few years ago will, in all likelihood, never be available again, this might help.

Have you read up on “sleep hygiene”? Things like properly darkened rooms, no coffee for 12 hours before, make sure you are physically tired and so on.

If that’s all in hand,,the next thing I’d suggest is breathing techniques. . Googling gets you a lot of suggestions

[BobbyCollins in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you Happyrosie as ever for your wise comments. I have suffered severe insomnia for more than forty years so sadly I am profoundly aware of all the so called hacks to improve sleep could write a book ! All to no avail whilst I felt I could cope previously (just about) I feel the Felodipine has tipped me over the edge. Three to four hours just won't do I'm afraid. Back to the drawing board. Thanks again for your response. Best wishes

[Kasmi in reply to BobbyCollins]

I am not a good sleeper but I try to follow sleep hygiene, going to bed and getting up same time each day. Have been taken felodipine for a lot of years, don't think they interfere with sleep. I take them first thing in morning, the only ones I can take without problems. Breathing exercises can help also darkened room, maybe a mask if bright too early in morning. Good luck, keep trying you will get there.💤

[BobbyCollins in reply to Kasmi]

Thanks Kasmi so much. It does say sleep problems on drug leaflet. They have been by far the best drug I have tried so really don't want to give up but 3 hours again last night. Grim ! All the best to you

[Brisk61]

It’s dreadful when u cannot sleep..a friend of mine has been referred by her GP(in London) to a sleep clinic for CBT . She is finding this very useful and it’s slowly helping. She also has never been a good sleeper. 🍀 with it all.

[BobbyCollins in reply to Brisk61]

Hi Brisk61

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I think I have to now ask for some sort of referral so your comments are useful. Good luck to your friend people who sleep well don't understand when you are chronically deprived of sleep. I am questioning my own sanity !

Thanks again and best wishes to you.

[Brisk61 in reply to BobbyCollins]

Oh dear hold on , there is help out there. Life is good, despite the challenges it’s good to live it.

[BobbyCollins in reply to Brisk61]

Thanks I will keep on trucking!

[Anneonimous]

I have tried most BP meds and the majority have interfered with my sleep.I've also had intermittent insomnia most of my adult life.

Great sleep hygiene works wonders for me and recently I have added in reflexology and massaging magnesium oil into my feet before bed. Works a treat. I've consistently been sleeping well for the a good few months now and sleep through the night more often than not.

[BobbyCollins in reply to Anneonimous]

Wow! That sounds fantastic thank you. I do the magnesium gel think it helps a bit but haven't tried reflexology will definitely look in to that. Thank you so much Anneonimous!