Insomnia

[Sloaner]

Hi I’m new here to this I’m a 61 year old married mum of 4 sons age 40 31 25 22

Three which are disabled

I have had insomnia for some years but over the past year it has got really bad my doctor refuses any sleep medication

Anyone else going through similar problems

[Bulldoguk]

I’m in exactly same situation mine is the menopause. I have about 2/3 hrs sleep a night I’m exhausted and my gp is refusing me sleeping tablets. I take nytol but there not much good I am also desperate for advice??

[foxglove in reply to Bulldoguk]

Try one of the drowsy anti-histamines, e.g. PHENERGAN and perhaps if you tolerate pain killers well add some codeine or ibuprofen. Good luck

[Bulldoguk in reply to foxglove]

Thank you for your advise

[Cooper27]

It's a tough one, but I'd be looking out for podcasts that interview sleep experts.

Part of your problem is likely that by now, you just don't associate your bed as being somewhere you're going to get a good night's sleep, and it then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

You may need to look at ways to calm the space down (e.g. blackout curtains), banning screens from the bedroom, breathing exercises before bed (or baths), redecorating to a more relaxing colour. Give yourself a fresh start.

If you're awake for more than 30 mins, get up and do something else for a bit, to break the cycle of associating your bed with a place you're always wide awake.

Hope that helps

[Bulldoguk in reply to Cooper27]

Thank you

[Yuuupsongbook002]

What kind of diagnosis is that? Is that when you can't sleep at all?

[Cindy2]

I’ve had sleep problems for years and no doctor has solved it for me. Then about 6 months ago I was reading a medical article where it was stated that Magnesium helps to induce sleep. So having nothing to lose by trying Magnesium tablets, I started taking 375mg daily of magnesium in tablet form together with 2000iu of Vitamin D exactly after dinner, and miraculously I started sleeping like a baby the whole night. So I would recommend you try them for yourself. They do not need any prescription as they are just supplements and vitamins. However as I do not know if you have any medical problems that these supplements might be contraindicated for, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check with your doctor first just in case.

[Cooper27 in reply to Cindy2]

In terms of vitamin D, it's possible to take too much, so if you wish to supplement you'd need to test occasionally to see you're alright. 1000 IU is alright, or you could take 2000IU every other day.

Magnesium should be ok, magnesium citrate can be laxative though, in which case magnesium malate would be the preferred type. Best to speak to a pharmacist about and medication interactions. It's a muscle reactant, which is why it helps sleep

[CurlyPretzel]

I am sleeping very badly these days too. I live in Australia. Here (and in Europe and the US) it is possible to buy melatonin, and in fact I currently have prescription strength. Europeans I know take it to get over jet lag. I currently have prescription strength and I am finding it does help to push me over the edge into sleep. The packet says it is for "improving quality of sleep and morning wakefulness in people over 55"... I am 44, so maybe I am a little early 😉. I don't know if you can get it on prescription in the UK but GP has told me it has no side effects other than some people dream vividly (I do anyway) and is not addictive and has no long-term implications.