What can I take for insomnia?

[DinkyDaise]

Hi All

I had ME for 10 years, had a couple of years of normality and then FB hit me. What can I be prescribed for not being able to sleep at night?

[Fibrofoggiest]

Hi there,

It's always best to check with your doctor, but you could ask him if he thinks amitriptyline would be helpful to you, depending on what medication you are already on. I found that it has helped me quite considerably, and helps with low mood as well, which is a bonus.

Wishing you all the very best

Foggy x

[DinkyDaise]

Thanks Foggy

I took that when I had ME, the only trouble is I was taking higher and higher doses for it to have any effect.

[Fibrofoggiest]

I approached my doctor with the question of needing more and he said there was a guideline maximum dose, which I'm not near, but he also said that there was not shame in taking the amount you need if it has the desired results. Maybe have a word again with your doctor and see whether he thinks it might be worth giving it a go again. Sleep is one of the most important thing we need to help us cope with the pains of the day and non restorative sleep can impact very heavily on our ability to cope.

Keep plugging on

Foggy x

[lynzard]

Morning guys,

Bloody insomnia! Drives me crazy. How is it possible to feel so exhausted and not be able to sleep! Incredible. I really can't take the amitrip anti depressant. Didn't agree with me at all. Was like a zombie - felt awful tho know it is really helpful for lotsa people. I managed to get some mild sleeping tabs off the doc but he won't give me loads or for a long time. Cor they really help tho. Try not to take them every night so the doc knows I'm not 'misusing' them.

If anybody got any other suggestions about what can be taken would be fab.

Hope y'all have an ok day. x

[lynzard]

Morning guys,

Bloody insomnia! Drives me crazy. How is it possible to feel so exhausted and not be able to sleep! Incredible. I really can't take the amitrip anti depressant. Didn't agree with me at all. Was like a zombie - felt awful tho know it is really helpful for lotsa people. I managed to get some mild sleeping tabs off the doc but he won't give me loads or for a long time. Cor they really help tho. Try not to take them every night so the doc knows I'm not 'misusing' them.

If anybody got any other suggestions about what can be taken would be fab.

Hope y'all have an ok day. x

[ladytelita in reply to lynzard]

Hey lynzard, I suffer from sleep issues, mostly because of my discomfort and pain levels. I tried amitripyline and it had the worst effect, so that was a no go. I am now taking nortriptyline which is working without too many side effects. Currently on 3. Did try 4 but that totally wrecked me the next day so back to 3 (went up too quickly I suspect, only a week after the last rise). Means I get to sleep easier and this morning I woke up at 4.17am, but did go back to sleep again! It doesn't always work. If I'm really bad and in a lot of pain nothing seems to touch it, bit like Saturday night. Hate nights like that.

This may seem odd but I also find strapping up my wrists and hands in soft bandages, held in place with a small bit of tap or a grippy thing, helps. I do get a great deal of trouble with my wrists and hands so that's probably why.

P.

[Ginsing]

Morning Lynzard,

It is very difficult isnt it. I have this terrible sleep pattern and for the last few years s get to bed at 11pm up between 5and 6am very wearying.

I am now adding pregablin to my meds at the moment I am actually sleeping till 5am

Certainly an improvement. I think the best thing is practise relaxation techniques.

Good luck

xgins

[michaelb62]

Hi

I am also suffering very badly from insomnia not sleeping at all all night and its driving me nuts also making me feel very low and in tears at the slightest thing it doesn't help that my bed has had it so i am not at all comfortable and i have no way of being able to by a new one. I used to be on 250mg of amytryptiline at night but i was like a zombie and if i read or watched anything on tv i would forget how it had ended the following day also went through some awful times with my ex husband as i would wake up to find him sexually assaulting me but he said i was coming on to him which i cannot believe if i was fast asleep so i never want to go to that high a dose again. I had lowered it to 25 but have gone back up to 50 but they have no effect and i know if i up them to 75 it will work for one night and then that will be it as that seems to be how my body is now. I am feeling like i have the flu all the time at the moment as well i'm guessing that is the fybro and lack of sleep and rest. I have been trying some relaxation techniques with an app i have on my iPad it has helped a couple of times but it seems once it stops i then wake up again. If i do fall asleep it seems to be around 5 or 6 in the morning and then wake at 11 i would just like to get into a good sleep pattern as i really hate this. I know i am stressing over a lot as well waiting for my ESA medical to which i sent the forms off a month a go. I am seeing the knee consultant the end of this month but fell down the stairs again last week thats twice in a month because my knee gave way on me. waiting for a council place but there is nothing to bid on each week as it seems i am not old enough all the one bed places round here seem to be for 60+ or 55+ with disabilities how does that work!!! Getting to the stage where i have really had enough it just seems to be one thing after another.

jackie

[fanakerpan24]

Hi all

I too suffer from insomnia and I am also on amitriptyline but I had the grogginess it leaves me with the next day. I foind that sominex works well netdoctor.co.uk/brain-and-n.... or valerian tablets or tea also helps

[haribo36]

Hi everyone,I too used to suffer with aweful sleep problems and was prescribed amitriptyline as well.I also found that I was like a zombie the next day and had trouble getting up so my doc switched it to dosulepin 75mgs at night and hey presto since then I mostly sleep through the night now.Its only occasionally that I have broken nights sleep now and boy do I suffer if I have them.I would definately recommend them plus have you tried looking at the pro health website as they have natural supplements for fibromyalgia and one of them is to help you sleep x