Anti depressants for Insomnia

I take Mirtazapine for anxiety - been on 30mg for about 2 years. Common side effects are sleepiness and weight gain - well - I still have nights when I cannot sleep - and when I do, I have the most horrible nightmares - I think they occur just before waking in the morning. The weight gain is certainly true - as to the sleepiness - don't think so. I went on the web to find out more and many folk were mentioning the nightmares. I have emergency 3.5 zopiclone sleeping pills which I cut in half (bless the man who invented a pill cutter as they are so tiny) If I am awake and restless past 12.30am - then I take a half. I sleep. I only seem to need to do this about once in 14 days or so - and to be honest, just having the pills by my bedside is a panacea - knowing there is a remedy at hand generally offsets the need to use it.
It seems insomnia is par for the course as we get older - although my DH sleeps like the dead - so maybe it effects women more.
I do spray my pillow with lavender - and even go to sleep clutching a lavender bag sometimes which seems to help along with deep even breaths (bit of yoga here!!)

I took very low dose of Amitryptilline for stress induced headaches for about 18 months They reduced me to zombie like state in the daytime til I got the doseage right. Didn't help with insommnia but didnt cause weight gain and I didn't get nightmares The only thing to touch the pain except betablockers which I'd taken previously but reduced my blood pressure too much

I've been an insomniac for-ooh it must be 40 years or so. I can't say you get used to it but, somehow you have to accommodate it I've found. If I read one more list of tips for a good night's sleep. . . . If only it were that easy to get a good night's sleep.
I honestly feel I'm in a complete habit now and perhaps something like cognitive behaviour therapy or the like would really be the only answer to, sort of, break the habit.
I found your comment Genevieve interesting that you were told to take Amitriptyline 12 hours before you need to get up because lately I have have been in quite a deep sleep at getting up time so will try altering the time I take it.
It's amazing how many folks you speak to have this problem but it does seem the loneliest problem on earth in the middle of the l-o-n-g night.

It might be worth asking your GP to be referred to the Sleepio online programme if it is offered in your area through the NHS. It's an online programme using a CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy approach which is very effective in helping people improve their sleep. You can find out more about it from www.sleepio.com or via the NHS website. Good luck

Many thanks for all your responses. Lots of helpful information to think about - it's very much appreciated and I wish you all the very best for achieving quality sleep - however you manage to get it

I know this might sound very obvious, but if you are chronically insomniac, it sometimes helps to have a good think about what it is that keeps you awake.
In our age group it's often pain, but there are so many other causes. It may be easy to address some of the factors which are keeping you sleepless, like maybe eating a large meal too late, being cold or too hot, having an uncomfy bed - I could go on for yards!
Anyway, some of the causes of insomnia require medication , others clearly do not, so have a good thinking session and make a decision based on your personal circumstances.
Here's wishing everyone the peaceful sleep they deserve

ThaT's interesting mentioning the Sleepio programme Riley dog. I had seen it a while ago and wondered about it.
I am thoroughly sick of checking out things on endless lists about sleep, room temp, bed, darkness, no gizmos, meals/drinks, drugs of different types.
Last night I finally went to bed about 1.30, tossed and turned til about 3.30. Am now more tired than when I went to bed and this is not unusual.
Am sipping tea now, will get up shortly and press on with my day. Mercifully I no longer go out to full time work which was dreadful when I was so tired.
Keep fit at 11am. Will have (my only) cup of coffee at 10.30. No doubt after lunch I am likely to close my eyes but only for less than half an hour. Collect DGC at 3 which will keep me awake til Daddy collects them at4.30. After evening meal, if it's not raining will have a walk around outside and then, hey ho, may start it all over again-or not!-it's very erratic
All the best to anyone else who suffers like this.

Oh how I feel for you all, I think I'd go mad if I didn't sleep well. I fortunately have no health problems so don't need medication and enjoy a few glasses of wine of an evening and sleep like a log. Left alone I'd sleep about 10 hours per night but still have to get up for work - must plan retirement one of these days.
Do hope you all find a solution that suits you without some of the awful side effects some of you have suffered

I find I get to sleep quickly if I watch a really boring TV show in bed. Something American with teenagers, or currently Big Brother. Half a mug of a warm drink (not one with caffeine) and only half a mug so that I don't wake up wanting a pee.

Sleep experts always say don't have a TV in the bedroom but that's poppycock. Nothing is quite so mind numbing and soporific late at night.

If your problem is waking up in the middle of the night watch an old rerun of a bossy American woman showings us 'Brits' how to do up our houses for sale. Most channels in the upper numbers are suitable, some amazingly boring shopping sites, but if they are too dreadful they become funny and watchable.

I can recommend the House of Lords when it is on the politics channel, 130 on my TV. Even the Lords and Ladies there can't keep awake.

Keep the volume low and just let it run on when sleep takes you.

I tend to put the radio on and press snooze. DH hard of hearing without his hearing aids in. Trouble is you have to get past the blooming bongs of Big Ben then some music at 1am (radio 4/world service). Waking early I HATE the shipping forecast-I know how valuable it must be to those who need it!
And you do tend to get in a loop with the same old news. Sometimes I sort of "dream" about what I've heard during the night too.
Am thinking about Sleepio. Have done their survey and it agrees I'm a poor sleeper-nothing new there then. £200! That will keep me awake!

Light therapy can be helpful for sleep problems. My daughter has suffered from M.E for over 15 years which used to affect her sleep pattern. Her body worked on a 25 hour cycle which made life extremely difficult. She was given a Lumie Bodyclock alarm which has regularised her sleep pattern and made a huge difference to her life. It works by simulating dusk & dawn. It's something worth looking. If you buy direct from Lumie they offer a 45 day money back guarantee so you haven't wasted your money if it doesn't work. www.lumie.com/pages/45-day-trial

thatbags
Sorry, I have to disagree, I only take Amitriptyline when I absolutely have to for my leg and foot pain, perhaps once every two to three weeks and I know without a shadow of a doubt that it makes me sleep.
Having said that, two paracetamol tablets make me sleepy too, although my DS is prescribed Amitriptyline for knee pain (sports injury) and he doesn't like using it as it knocks him out for up to ten hours. He occasionally takes one tablet on a Saturday night, not on a regular basis, but they still make him sleep!

Amitryptylene (or however it is spelled) made me sleep but I woke with a bad headache and drowsiness which lasted all day. I tried it for 6 months at a very low dose hoping the side effects would settle down but they didn`t .It suits some people and not others. The other problem is that you have to take it regularly for it to work unlike traditional sleeping tablets which you can take as and when you need them .

Well last night I tried taking the Amitriptyline at about 8pm. I then sat and watched Mamma Mia cos I've just booked tickets to go to see show in B'ham. I knew that would keep me awake?
I came up to bed at about 11pm and slept reasonably well for me! It's likely though that I would have slept well having had such a bad night the night before so will see how it goes over the weekend. I only go to GP once a year (for annual blood test) so will mention sleepio next time I go-as they prevaricate referring you for anything (except physio on the premises) I think it's something I'll have to pay for myself so will have a think about it.
Shan't post any more as it will degenerate into a sleep diary and then we'll ALL feel rotten?

I take Amitriptylene at night, 1 tablet an hour before going to bed. It does help me sleep, but the side effects are a very dry mouth during the night.
I think they are addictive, as if I haven't taken one, I don't sleep.
I don't suffer nasty dreams and don't feel heavy headed the next day.
I was initially prescribed them for a bad back as a muscle relaxant.
Alcohol does not make me sleep, in fact it makes me stay awake for hours.
I have tried Valerian and that doesn't work.
it is comforting knowing that other people are the same as me, with difficulty in getting a good night's sleep!

Amitriptylene seems to be the new cure all. I am prescribed it as a migraine preventative, but GP said it would help with my insomnia and , of course, it's prime roll I understand is as an anti depressant!

Its not it's ..stupid autocorrect.

Huh! Despite taking Amitriptyline early enough last night didn't sleep well at all-seemed to toss and true most of the night although I accept you sleep more than you think you do.
So taking tabs now in the hope that, being extra tired today, I'll sleep better tonight.
Haven't nodded off at all during the day which is remarkable. I felt sleepy this afternoon but had to walk round to school to collect DGC (leaving DH snoozing-he had worked in the garden this morning) so stayed awake.
After eating this evening walked round to visit elderly neighbour-in a poor state but won't accept help from carers and refuses to go into nursing home.
Home now and catching up on Tour de France.
I hate going to bed. . . . .

What do you mean by "taking Amitriptylline early enough", newquay? It doesn't work like aspirin or paracetamol, within a certain time of taking a one off dose. Its effect on pain is accumulative; you have to take it every day.

I understand newquay takes it as a sleep aid, tb

I also have a problem with sleep, and my doctor won't prescribe anything like the above. I do take a Piriton tablet occasionally though. Took one last night at about 2am. It worked but I'm still feeling bombed out.
I worry about driving when in this state - not going out today though.

Yes, that's what I understood too, Bnonna. I think the same taking regular approach applies whatever it is taken for. When I first started taking it for pain, I thought just taking it when my other painkillers weren't sufficient would be enough, but when I mentioned this to my GP, he said that it needs to be taken every day to be effective.

My sleeping pattern has improved as well, so I'm getting two beneficial results from it. Still have a lot of pain but it is less intrusive than it was.

Good luck, newquay. I actually take some in the morning and a smaller dose at bedtime. Used to be the other way round (small dose in the morning and a slightly larger dose at night) but I was waking up with a hangover type headache so shifted the pattern. Seems to have worked.

Thanks that bags-I was prescribed it to help both so sleep problems but mainly arthritic pain. I understood from an earlier post you have to take it regularly and a doctor had said to someone to take it 12 hours before you want to get up. I was finding I was sleepier one morning-probably because I had had so little sleep-so I started to take it about 8pm.
Rubbish night last night again. Had DGS here today, not well so off school. He had a cough which had disturbed his sleep last night so we had lunch and then both stretched out on our bed listening to his audio book (the faraway tree since you ask) so we both had about 1 1/2 hours. Did keep fit today so you would thinki'd sleep well. . . .

Depending what dose was recommended, newquay, perhaps you could up it a bit if it's not being effective. I asked my GP if I could do that and he said yes, no prob. I've settled at 40mg in the morning and 25mg at night after some months of experimenting.

I'm on 10mg amitriptyline per night for headaches, used to get days when headache would wake me up and no painkillers helped. Still get the odd one, but much better now. It also helps me sleep better, but I do know some people have a bad reaction to it.