Depression and Sleep

[markdt]

Hi i'm mark. In 2008 i was diagnosed with depression, leading to anxiety, and agorophobic episodes. To help keep me level my gp gave me Citalopram, taken every night,and Zimovane for sleeping. I also take Diazepam, for when things get bad. These meds might work for others, it's worth a tree for a good nights sleep

[Suzie40]

Hi Mark, welcome to the mad house! I go through phases of not sleeping, too. I've been tempted in the past to ask the GP to prescribe me something, but I get so scared at the thought of not being to wake up if the children need me. Is the diazepam for when your depression gets bad, or the lack of sleep?

[Hidden in reply to Suzie40]

Hello Lucy

Mad House, what mad House ?

I am not mad !!

I take the medications to prove it

All the best

BOB

[Suzie40 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bob!

We'll stay in the madhouse. You can have the conservatory! X

[Hidden in reply to Suzie40]

oK Lucy you can stroke Pax on his tummy He loves that

BOB

[markdt in reply to Suzie40]

Hi lucy, I myself went through those thoughts as i care for my disabled wife 24/7 she has neurological disorders, i understand how scary this can be. The Diazepam is for the anxiety attacks, and the Zimovane is to help me sleep, the only thing i can say is thankfully i'm still woken by any noises in the house, and Zimovane can be given in very low doses. I hope this explains things. My grandchildren manage to wake me up easily (then they bug the crap out of me,) xx

[Hidden]

Hi Mark and welcome to the site. It's nice to meet you. I take mirtazapine to help me sleep. It works for me. I wouldn't touch diazapam with a bargepole! My mother and sister were on those, as and when, for a long time. When they came off them they suffered bad side effects. But if they work for you...

[markdt in reply to Hidden]

Hi coughalot, and thanks, I really do understand your concerns with Diazepam, but needs were a must for me, or i'd be writing from a nuthouse by now

[american in reply to Hidden]

Hi coughalot1 I also am on mirtazapine 15mg but I still feel bad during the day I slerp fine how about you please help

[MsSad]

Hi Mark, just wanted to say welcome

[markdt in reply to MsSad]

Hi MsSad, Hope you are well (silly thing to say sometimes) But i mean it x

[MsSad in reply to markdt]

thanks mark, appreciated x

[Hidden]

Hello Mark

Welcome to this place they are a very pleasant group of people here and will give plenty of support

BOB

[markdt in reply to Hidden]

Thank's Bob, hello to you too, have met quite few people, plenty of help and advice so far, Great place

[Photogeek in reply to markdt]

Hi Mark a big welcome from another one of the residents. Lol.

People are great her and we do have a laugh at times

Too.

Hannah

[Stilltrying_]

Welcome Mark. I was on those meds for years, I now feel the zimovane or in my case zopiclone has harmed me mentally and phsyically from long term use and my doctor concurs. However I was on it probably for much longer than you. I've been on it for 18 or 19 years, currently cut down to 3.75 mg now which I'm happy with for the moment. Diazepam is my lifesaver and I only use it very very very occasionally in absolute extremis but it works. Still I do believe we have to make our own timings with these sorts of things. I have not been ready to reduce the zopiclone until very recently; we have to be ready or it won't work. So I'm glad its working for you right now

[markdt in reply to Stilltrying_]

Hi, that's a long time to be on Zimovane/Zopiclone, i myself only take 3.75mg, i feel i still have enough control when i get up. I take the diazepam only when things feel as if i have no control. I do take breaks from Zim/Zop and i rely on citalopram to keep balanced.

[Stilltrying_ in reply to markdt]

that sounds very balanced Mark and the levels you are on are reasonable, its more or less what I am doing now. Gemmalouise x

[markdt in reply to Stilltrying_]

Hi Gemmalouise, hi hope that what you do is just as good, i tried my gp's advice about using the meds, but i sat and thought about it, then i tried this method. I still have enough control to think for myself. Take care. Mark x

[Marylyn]

I think all you folks should be checked for b12 deficiency goes with thyroid illness as I had all that anxiety,not sleeping.breathless on exertion ,crying not knowing why ,working in special care nursery with shakes,memory lapses.My diligent Gp found B12 was low ,adrenals flogged.Now on Melantonin Godsend sleep 5-6 hrs .taking Methyl B12.Vitamin. B12 is one of the highest misdiagnosed illness in the world.The book Could it be B12 is a must to read.5 times to Emerg.Dept 3 GPS 4 specialist including endo told me all mental health issue.I refused antideppressants as I believed it wasn't.

[markdt in reply to Marylyn]

Hi Marylyn, sorry i did'nt respond earlier, i'm going to ask my gp about b12. I will look for this book too, i need to make the changes, any direcyoin is better than none.