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having trouble sleeping

Posted , 5 users are following.

Ellie82038
Ellie82038

I've been on antidepressants for my mental health but I've not been able to sleep, there are days I can sleep 2-3 hours but then there are days I am unable to sleep at all. I've tried relaxing before bed, warm milk, clearing my mind before bed, having a bath etc but those aren't helping. I don't want to take sleeping tablets due to my other medication. Has anyone got any advice or tips to help me just a little. I've had trouble sleeping for 6+ years.

Thank you x

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • linda187
    linda187 Ellie82038

    Posted

    Years ago when I was a young lady, I had a serious depression and it affected my sleep drastically.  I am not sure that one did not reinforce the other.  I would be unable to fall asleep easily and once I fell asleep, I was unable to awaken.  I once slept 48 hours and woke up feeling no more refreshed than when I went to bed.  I was tried on several different antidepressants over the span of a year and the last one I was put on worked the first night for correcting my sleep.  It is an old drug but still on the market.  Trade name is Tofranil, generic name is imipramine.  It has sedative properties but is not addictive like tranquilizers.  The older drugs had side effects at higher doses like dry mouth, blurred vision and dizziness if you got up from a chair too fast but with my first dose I felt drowsy after dinner, put my head on the pillow and fell asleep.  It was a lighter sleep however, and I dreamt more.  I woke up once only to fall asleep again and I woke up in the morning feeling refreshed.  I was very deficient in the brain neurotransmitter (norepinephrine) that this drug supplies.  I was started on a dose of 75 mg but I still use it today at a dose of 25 mg with very little side effects at this dose.
    • Ellie82038
      Ellie82038 linda187

      Posted

      I have to watch with other medication due to my health and my bad attempts. I need to stay clear of other medications just for now x
    • aedii9
      aedii9 linda187

      Posted

      That's interesting, thanks for sharing that.

      Ellie82038, I have such bad trouble sleeping too, I have for years but it's become something of an unconquerable problem now and my sleeping schedule is ridiculous.

      I have done all the things you've listed too, I've even drunk this disgusting tea that tastes like feet which is meant to make you sleep. No luck, I lie awake for hours and hours. I don't like being nocturnal and I just want to go to bed at 11:30 and sleep, instead I'm awake till 3/4/5 am, then I can sleep a bit when it's light.

      I think sleeping pills can sometimes help re-establish a routine of sleeping. You can take zopiclone with anti-depressants, I did. I didn't find them addictive either, I didn't crave them. Sometmes anti-depressants can cause insomnia, do you think that it is a side effect of the drug you are on?

  • Nessie91
    Nessie91 Ellie82038

    Posted

    HimEllie

    you may be need to change your antidepressant.  There are some like fluxoxetine and Citralapam which "pep" you up. I've tried both and neither worked and so,the dose was increased and I couldn't sleep, got agitated and with fluxoxetine, my hands shook.  I was put on a sedative antidepressant - Mirtazapine - I get a good night's sleep.  The only problem is the side effect of weight gain.  So you're needing to ask your doctor for a sedative antidepressant.

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