Feeling drugged

Posted , 4 users are following.

I've had sleep issues for as long as I can remember. Not being tired until an hour before I need to get up, having an exhausted mind but a body that insists on twitching and moving for hours keeping me awake, that sort of stuff. I can work around most of it but the worst problem comes the next morning.

I almost always wake up more tired than I was when I went down. It usually passes within a few hours (unless I had a dream about water. that leaves me useless all day for some reason) but this morning was especially weird. 

The previous day I did not sleep at all. I was tired, but nothing I did would get me to sleep so I eventually gave up and went about my day as normal. The longest I have had this issue is 3 days and I was determined to not have that happen again so even though I was pretty sure I could fall asleep last night I took a sleeping pill on top of the exhaustion to make SURE i stayed down for the full night. I don't medicate unless I am desperate so I knew I wouldn't have any sort of immunity built up and that the single over the counter pill would kick me in the head the moment it kicked it. 

Sure enough when I fell asleep, I STAYED asleep. That may have been one of the best nights sleep I've had in ages. 15 hours of blissful unconciousness. The time didn't worry me any, as 15 hours is a normal sleep cycle for me. I have talked to a doctor in the past since I was worried that I slept on average 10 to 15 hours a night but he assured me some people just need more than others and though it was uncommon it wasn't damaging me any. So a full 15 hour night? Yeah I'll take that! :D

The issue came when I tried to get up. My whole body felt drugged. Even now as I am typing this more than 2 hours after waking up, my body feels droopy and sedated. I recognize the feeling as 'drugged' since it is the same way I felt after my first time taking Codine. Lazy, limp, floppy, like evrything is so comfortable that if I layed down I could just drift away. I wouldn't mind it so much if it wasn't also effecting my mind the same way. It's giving me a mild headache and my whole head feels slightly tingly. I have things to do! I can't afford to feel like this but I can't shake it off!

After 15 hours, that single pill should be well out of my system. Why do I still feel like I just took the stupid thing?

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    What was the pill called that you took? Some anti histamine based sleep aids can have a long lasting effect.
    • Posted

      Nytol can leave you feeling extremely drowsy the following day, especially when you are not used to it. I have found I feel groggy until lunch time at least.
    • Posted

      Thanks smile

      I had no idea how much this brand can linger! It took several cans of high sugar soda pop to finally shake off the worst of the muscle fatigue. Now if I can stop my hands from vibrating I might be able to get some work done!

  • Posted

    Hi Aemi

    I just wanted you to know that I've read your post with sympathy, I really sorry you have such problems sleeping.  I too have had problems sleeping in the past but it was mainly down to the mania in my bipolar.  Once I got stabilised I started taking diazepam, 5mg, at night, but it didn't help too much aftera while although was good for my anxiety.  I'm now on Hydroxyzine, which is a seadting anti-histamine, which gives me on average 7 hours sleep, which is OK for me.  You just have to find a remedy thats right for oyu, we are all so different

    xxx

    • Posted

      I was diagnosed bipolar as a kid but it was found out years later that it was a misdiagnosis when my doctor saw my severe lack of want to socialize with people my own age and took it to mean I was manic depressed. I'm not on the meds anymore (thank god) but I think they caused some damage on the way out since I didn't really need them. : /
  • Posted

    Aemi,

    I am really sorry to hear that you're having such a problem. I wouldn't worry about the Nytol, it had the same effect on me and I believe it has a comparatively long half life (sticks around in your system for a long time). It is common for you to be experiencing this, I know of many people who have felt the same, myself included. The good news is that if you tell your GP what has happened, then they may be able to prescribe a drug with a shorter half life, meaning that you stand some chance of feeling refreshed when you wake up. I know of a drug that few GPs would turn to with a shorter half life called Zolpidem. In the meantime, I would try to avoid caffeine and sugar, and drink a ton of water to try to flush it out. I would try to keep busy also.I would advise however that most sleep problems can often be treated by practicing good sleep hygiene and relaxation methods - simple lifestyle changes that will mean better sleep. And it will be up to you to figure them out. For me, I needed to cut out caffeine, sugar and "fancy" foods; do a lot of exercise, drink more and set up an effective bedtime routine. I would also tell you (regretfully, because I want you to get to the bottom of this soon and start sleeping better!) that finding the right sleeping medication is often trial and error, it may take up to 6 goes, and you'll need a gap in between each. It is also (as I know you are aware) not a long term fix. I really hope that you start feeling better soon. Take care.

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