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Chronic insomnia

Posted , 4 users are following.

starekss
starekss

Hello, my insomnia started 2 years ago where I was not able to fall asleep, and when I did I was waking up after 30 minutes. So my doctor first put me onto zopiclone, then on amitryptyline because zopiclone was only short term solution. 10mg of amitryptyline worked for 5 months, after that I needed to upped my dose to 20mg which worked for 2 weeks and then stopped and my insomnia returned. I tried switching to mirtazapine 15mg but It worked for 2 weeks, after that sedative effect of it wearn off and I couldnt sleep again. Tried upping dose to 30 mg with no effect so I stopped and I tried amitryptyline again 20 mg but still no effect. Now im on 10 mg amitryptyline again, with tons of natural remedies (kiwi, tart cherry juice, herbal sleep aids, magnesium+calcium, vit.d3) and im getting 4 hours of sleep and after that I cant go back to sleep again. I feel tired and washed every day. Tried CBT-I with no effect. Now I got 2 options, I can either upped dose amitryptaline again or try Mianserin 10 mg. I dunno what to do, what you guys recommend ?

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Rintz333
    Rintz333 starekss

    Posted

    Have read the book Effortless sleep method by sasha Stephens. This book is good. I wud say....wean off from ur amitryptiline. U can continue with those natural remedies. And see for 1 month. Even u get 1 or 2 sleepless nights. Does not matter. Ultimately u will fall asleep. This is antidepressant with lot of side effects and abuse potential.
  • starekss
    starekss

    Posted

    It's really easy to say that, I've read many books like that one and it didn't helped. I don't have a problem with falling asleep but staying asleep. Without amitryptyline I didn't slept a wink for few days, I need something to knock me out.

  • alanatcroydon
    alanatcroydon starekss

    Posted

    amitryptaline is a regular to combat depression, and in your situation I would try to wean myself off that : not suddenly but gradually,  I had bad experience of Mirtazapine (and I see others on this site have had too); after just 3 days I had strong pains in my thigh and I had treatment from my physiotherapist to relax the muscles again.  The rest of the packet just sits in the cupboard.
  • starekss
    starekss

    Posted

    Yes those are antidepressants, but Amitryptyline is used for depression in dosage from 50mg up to 300mg. Im taking lowest possible dose and thanks to that im actually not waking up every 30 minutes. I don't have problem falling asleep, but staying asleep. Usually without amitryptyline I wake up after 30-90 minutes unable to fall asleep again. With amitryptyline im actually sleeping between 4-5 hours, but I cant go back to sleep again. Im after CBT-I therapies, reading many books, I started reading the one Rints talked about but so far shes writing same things as I already read elsewhere. Something is waking me up and I need something to stay asleep at least 6 hours to function, that's why I asked you guys for advice. I took mirtazapine before and I felt good on it but after 2 weeks sedative effects worn off thats why im thinking about trying again but im not sure.

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