Insomnia??

HIya Pam how’s things going with you?? Hope your ok and feeling good, I had a blip a few days ago, but new I’d be fine on the next day, and I was lol so all good, just need to sort my sleep out then things should all be ok.. big hug 🤗xx

Omg!, dawn !, I've been thinking of you as I had a blip too!! Mon morning went for chat with doc and told him I'm doing good now after 8 weeks on increase !, went out with a friend after and felt back to square one again!! So have had a dodgy week , but today feel fine again!! No reason , its bloody annoying !! I feel you and me are so in tune , being nans as well , , I'm sorry your not sleeping so good hun, do you think its the floux? Love and huge hugs xxxxx

I am having a hard past couple days. I think it’s startinf the flux over again.  Lots of extra panic and it’s super bad at night. Ugh. I’m ready to call my doctor but Kaiser sucks and it’s hrs to get a hold of anyone. 

Hi Pam.. lol think we are the same lol, think mine was Monday, I was ok I’m the morin, then by late afternoon I’d hit the low point, for no reason at all, I was going to send a chat to you that evening😩...

Yeah I’m ok last few days, maybe that’s how it goes, I suppose at least when you have a down day, uv got a good idea that you prob be ok come the next day, not sure with my sleep, if it’s the menopause or not, b4 Prozac I was on trazadone and that puts you to sleep lol, and I was on it for 15 yrs till stopped working, so here I am now, just struggle with sleep, but ha ho, mite settle one day, big hug to you, and hope you have a lovely weekend 🤗xxp

Hello Dawn!! Yes bloody anxiety etc , when we have a bad day for no reason it sends me off course for a couple of days and I have to talk myself that's its OK to have a off day!! Threw me a bit , but hey back to feeling better thank God! Think as sufferers it s always lurking in the background, but the meds keep it in check!! I've got my 8 yrs old great grandsons today , so full on !!! I'm fine when I'm well , but struggle when not well !! Think its the noise lol ! Yes I'm a young greatnan though , 68 ! I work part-time and have a lot of dealings with the family and the grandkids . lm sorry you have sleep problems Dawn , that's not good , but you can only do your best and have a nap when you can , I do have occasions like that but not often , hope you have a good weekend too! Watching strictly tonight , love it , lots of love and hugs to you xxxxxxxxxx

Hiya Pam , I had my 18mth old grandson stay over for the first time last nite, bloody hard work that was, Iv got back ach, neck ach, and sooooo tied now, hard chasing him around the house as he’s in to every thing, none stop touching lol.. so glad Iv dropped him back to us mum and dad, I’ll need weekend to recover now 🤣... I don’t thing my daughter realise that I’m not a spring chicken any more like her, and I do struggle, after a while with him, love him to bits, but just find it hard at is age😩..

Hope your ok any way, yes them days are bad when you get one, like you said think your body is prob just letting us know why we take this med, but other then that all is fine, big hug 🤗xx

Yes. Dawn , they do wear me out too! Double trouble twins !!, .I'm fine today had a great day with them I had my great granddaughter last sat night who's 5, good girl but tiring !! I'm greteful for the days when I'm good , then I love life and am actually greatful for everything being normal Dawn .What's your Xmas going to be like ? Lovely I hope xxxxxx

Hi Pam glad your having a good day, it’s great when you do must admit... I’m chilling now after grandson 😌.. because I’m on my own, my daughter always invites me  around to hers Xmas day, so that’s good, other then that I’m chilling, up to two years ago I would of been out with friends all through Xmas enjoying life, but having blood clots on my lungs put a stop to that, as can’t walk far as get out of breath ease now, so not been out since then... but ha ho that’s life for you, we never know what’s around the corner, I didn’t exspect to be like I am now, throught I’d be partying for life🤣... how’s your Xmas going to be ? Can’t beleave its so close to the big day, where on earth does time go.. big hug 🤗xx

Hi dom. Thanks. I actually finally got some sleep last night. I think on a snow off 6 hours. So major improvement. But the moment I wake up extreme panic takes over with chest tightening. It seemed to have increased once I started taking Prozac again. Stupid meds. But I can’t give up. Ugh. How about you? 

Yes I had all these symptoms before Prozac but they got worse a week after I steered using the them . I tried going a day without the Xanax and my doctors nurse told me that I should really take it every day. The problem is my anxiety Ian so great I end up using a lot. But I know/I hope it’s temporsry. I try breathing , reading, journaling, those things only work when I’m not super anxious. 

WHEN I first used Prozac I remember it took SEVEREL week so to work and even then I still had s little big of a difficult time especially eating. So doctor put me on a second med called doxepin. It was really a life savor. So I’m thinking of going back on it. I fact I called my doctor to ask if I could/ he agreed so they put an order in. Can’t get it till Monday tho.  Usually -usually people who struggle with depression /anxiety using 2 medications is much more helpful. Not ideal but worth it. We’ll see I guess. I’m havinf a hard time right now. At least I slept but my heart is jiterry, my mind doesn’t feel clear, my whole body feels under attack. I’m trying to eat but can’t, drinking ginger tea . I’m gonna take some Xanax later but they say not to wait too long cuz tour adrenal can go so far that meds don’t work. 

Wow I just read up on doxepin and that looks promising. I didn't know adrenalin affected meds. That might explain why I didn't even sleep on the 2nd go of Zopiclone which I am now avoiding as it was useless. You are so lucky having that kind of access to a doctor. Mine is rarely available and you have to ring at 8am on the day in the hope that 1) she is there and 2) nobody else has beaten you to all the appointments.

However she did say last time that she was out of her depth with me and would get my a psychiatrist - but takes forever in the UK.

You're not 2 weeks in yet are you, so at least you know you'll soon be on the road to recovery.

Yeah eating is tough. I've been eating bowls of oat flakes and seeds as I heard that helped with creating serotonin ... but I grasp at any idea that might help at the moment.

I hope you get some sleep tonight. Don't give up.

Hi Dom

I notice you live in the UK. I lost over a stone in the first few weeks after starting prozac due to lack of appetite and I normally eat anything going. So I bought packs of those healthy shake powders that you add milk too. Quick and easy to drink and they contain 200 calories so they're a good way to stop the weight loss when you don't feel like eating anything.

Good luck.

Wow Kirk, me too! However I do appreciate the weight loss. My BMI is now great which is the only saving grace. Knowing that your insomnia passed after a few weeks is reassuring. Are you on Prozac for the first time? The first time I had no side effects. It is surreal this time around.

Did you use anything to help you sleep during the insomnia?

Nope this is my 3rd time on the stuff but the previous two times I had no side effects and felt better after a couple of weeks. This time round it was the opposite. All the side effects and took till week 8 to start feeling better. Forums like this helped me out a lot cos it was a bit of a battle.

I bought some over the counter sleeping pills which helped me nod off but didn't stop me waking up way too early. That's without doubt the worst side effect for me - think i can handle most things if I can get a decent night's kip.

I'm the same Kirk - sleep is everything. I am now using OTC sleep aids too. Doc gave me Zopiclone and it didn't even work the first time which just shows how bad these side effects can be. The second time I got 2 hours off it and won't be using it again. Will you be staying on Prozac for good this time if it keeps working? I know that I will.

Yep I think I'll be staying on it although really need to address the underlying issue with cbt or something. When prozac's working I'm fine but whenever I stop I'm feeling down again within 12 months. And the start up this time was terrible - in the past it was a piece of cake and I thought people who spoke about side effects were making it up!

Hi Dom, I have been on Prozac for nearly 6 weeks now and have had great difficulty sleeping. My doctor told me to take Phenergan 10mg and could take 20mg if 10 didn't help. Its an anti sickness tablet. They did help and its okay to take them alongside Prozac. I am now having to come off my Flu due to my liver count now being high from it! I also think it has made my hiatus hernia worse too. So my 6 weeks has been wasted unfortunately.

Hello Julie,

I am sorry it didn't work out for you on Prozac. What will you try next? It doesn't seem to be working out for me this time either. The insomnia is crippling. I'll check out the Phenergan. I am on day 30 and it sucks.

Hi Dom.. my doc has put me on beta blockers which I must say worked fab when I took one this morn.. i took one at 5.30 am as my anxiety was playing havoc and within 20 mins it had gone and I managed to stay in bed til 8! I was a fab sleeper til I started on the flu 😔.. not had my Prozac today but will have one tom then every other day til I get over Xmas period. Mine is purely anxiety tho.. fortunately I’m not suffering from depression. My daughter swears by her citalopram and she is bloody fab! Horrible getting into your system but works very quick .. I noticed a diff within 2 weeks but again my liver count went up and I was having horrendous headaches with it.. I really really feel for you .. it’s bloody awful x

Wow so you don't need an AD and can just have beta blockers Julie? Do they last 24 hours? I've been given benzos for my anxiety until the Prozac kicks in ... still waiting I slept great too. So you are just weaning off the Prozac now?

I'll make a note of Citalopram. I have a long list of alternatives if Prozac doesn't work out this time, but it worked so well before.

Yeah I just can't deal with these side effects. Feeling pathetic x

Oh I know.. bloody awful and tbh you shouldn’t have to put yourself thro this and I’m fortunate that I have a good doc... you can actually take them 3 x a day or as and when you need them and also tweak the dose to suit.. obv within certain limits lol... the insomnia as you know is awful.. head/brain zaps when I managed to doze off and my body jumping started my anxiety off too 😱. Along with feeling crap in other ways. If u don’t suffer with depression it’s certainly worth considering beta blockers? Yes I’m weaning myself off.. every other day for a week then il decide from there if il go cold turkey. I’ve not been on them long enough really to be well bad coming off them but im frightened of taking the risk of more horrendous side effects! I only took the lowest dose at 5.30 am and not needed anymore today. I think it’s a massive help knowing that there is a tablet there that will take my anxiety away within half hour and lasts for 8 hours 🙏 . I took 10mg propranolol.. there’s more good feedback than bad about them . You can also take them alongside flu so that’s good to know too x

So were you sleeping by week 8 Kirk? What week are you on now? I feel utterly foolish for quitting Prozac. Friends told me I didn't need it but that just shows how well it was working. How were weeks 4 and 5 for you?

I'll address the underlying issues too if I can get back to where I was. I read threads that it doesn't work for some the 2nd time but I don't see why it wouldn't.

Your certainly not pathetic!! I felt like admitting myself into physcho hospital at times cos I felt that bad and out of control of my body at times.. absolutely awful .. x

Sadly I need an anti-depressant Julie. Fab that you don't and that you found a solution. Prozac has such a long half lfe that you should be fine and come off them easily. When I came off it I just had the brain zaps really and they weren't horrible, just weird. I bet you are thinking "good riddance" x

 

Julie that is exactly how I have felt at times. I'm on week 5 so am hoping that phase is behind me. Cannot believe how bad this med has made me feel at times. Unreal x

Yes I am Dom... I’m actually looking forward to going to bed tonight and I’m not clock watching. It’s so hard to believe isn’t it that when people suffer from this illness that tabs can make you feel so dreadful until it kicks in.. my daughter was well bad .. I tho she was going round the bend honestly.. she obv got worse when she went on citalopram but within 2/3 weeks she was fab. She’s been on them over 12 months now.. she’s happy.. she sleeps and she enjoys a drink and life! Good luck but I’m sure we will be keeping one another updated! Hope you manage to start sleeping x

I am so in awe of your new found sleeping ability Julie

2/3 weeks to kick in sounds like a walk in the park compared to Prozac which is a living nightmare.

I know all about clock watching. For the first 3 weeks I always went to bed optimistic that I would sleep but then didn't

Hey good luck to you too and I'm sure we will too. What a fab place this is x

Ha well let’s see how tonight goes lol! If u did decide to change to citalopram I would start off on the lowest dose 10mg.. I felt shocking for days but after a week I did start to feel better and that was only on 10! Speak to you soon and stay strong... you are not on your own 😏 x

Hi Julie, 

What is citalpram ? 

Tina . 

Hi Tina.. it’s an anti depressant x