Insomnia

[miffy]

I have bouts of not being able to stay awake and being up all night. Alot depends on how i am feeling about work, if i am tackling a tricky issue at school my brain just won't switch off.
I was told by my doc to keep my routine the same, i.e bath, hot chocolate, read a book then bed. This establishes a constant routine and can help your brain to think o.k i've done all those things next step is sleep. Worst thing to do obviously before thinking about going to bed is to be up working late but in education very often it is only in the wee small hours that you have the time to do that! Hope you get some shut eye soon guys.

[coreopsis]

I can't sleep.
Finished the nightshift yesterday morning,college today,then running in the city,got home after 8pm,absolutely shattered.Went to bed at 9,and now OH went to bed and I'm awake

[SarzWix]

Morning Coreopsis I'm still awake too, but hopefully not for long! Just waiting for my pills to kick in, ankle's aching quite a lot tonight

[coreopsis]

Ouch-I have nothing to complain about then-hope the pain will be gone soon.
I'll get a ban tomorow as I go to every corner of this forum and scatter my rubbish everywhere.

[Two_Sheds]

his Snore Ring*... seems to have done the trick.

I've bumped this with an update: the Snore Ring stopped working (probably because he's still putting on weight). I stopped taking the zopiclone (it leaves a nasty bitter taste in your mouth, and it's addictive). I'm now on 25mg of amitriptyline which is giving me a good night's sleep at last (but I do have dry mouth & dizziness side effects)

[rustylady]

I'm usually awake as soon as it starts getting light, but am getting used to it. This week has been horrendous though - grandson has been ill and I really think the more tired you are the less you seem able to sleep.

[selfraising]

I've had a terrible week sleeping, or not, as the case may be. I also suffer from restless leg which doesn't help at all. I can lie there for hours awake. This morning it must have been around 4.30 when I finally got to sleep but got woken up at 8.00 by next doors children. Definitely got worse as I've got older. How I wish for a decent nights sleep which would leave me feeling refreshed in the morning, can't remember the last time I felt like that.

[selfraising]

I've bumped this with an update: the Snore Ring stopped working (probably because he's still putting on weight). I stopped taking the zopiclone (it leaves a nasty bitter taste in your mouth, and it's addictive). I'm now on 25mg of amitriptyline which is giving me a good night's sleep at last (but I do have dry mouth & dizziness side effects)

Did you find the zopiclone worked cos mind seem t be doing nothing?

[Two_Sheds]

I had to take two, SR

[Buleste]

I used to have periods of insomnia and very light sleep (the sound of a gnat farting would wake me up) and I was getting so cranky people were hiding sharp implements away from me. I'd tried everything over the counter and all the herbal tablets. I thought all the teas tasted little better than urine and had no effect. Sleeping pills made me feel worse because I couldn't think or do anything the following day.

As a last resort I tried the first the Hops pillow which whilst it didn't help me get more sleep it helped me get a more restful and deeper sleep but does smell a little (and make you want to drink your pillow). So now I have hops and lavender pillows which smells a little better and it would take a bomb to wake me up. Even my mothers snoring from the next room which can be measured on the Richter scale doesn't bother me. Like I say I don't get more sleep I just sleep deeper. I know it will not help everyone but I thought I'd let you know my experience.

[bramble]

Since I stopped the HRT, a few years ago now, I haven't been able to sleep.
Last year I went to GP and he prescribed Zimovane. I take one every night and get about 7 hours sleep.
They don,t appear to have any side effects and I wake up every morning feeling I've had a good nights sleep.
They are 7.5mg. if anyone is interested.

[Two_Sheds]

GP ... prescribed Zimovane. I take one every night

It's the brand name for zopliclone: I have to take 2 for them to work, one has no effect. It did help me break the insomnia cycle for a while, but I'm happier with amitriptyline now

[kirsty b]

I was on zopiclone briefly last year and they turned me into a zombie!! One tab had me slurring my words and woozy within 10 minutes and I would be woozy/staggering about the next morning. Went down to half a tab and still found them frighteningly effective.
Never again...

[selfraising]

I had to take two, SR

Will try two tonight. The problem is I'm now in a cycle where I am not getting to sleep before 3 or 4 Do you have to get the amotryptolene on prescription?

[SarzWix]

I was on amitriptyline for a while when my back was really bad, they apparently work to block pain signals from nerves? Did nowt for me except a load of 'orrible side-effects, but they were actually designed to be an anti-depressant, although at higher doses than I was prescribed.