Haven’t slept properly for weeks now

Good luck! I sympathise

Lizzie72

Melatonin does not mix well with some prescription meds - a friend of mine was told by her doctor not to use it, as she takes BP meds

I will of course discuss with my doctor but the only medication I take is omaprozal (?) I do take a vitamin D supplement a multivitamin,magnesium supplement and vitamin B12…

Melatonin does not mix well with some prescription meds - a friend of mine was told by her doctor not to use it, as she takes BP meds

nanna8

Shinamae

nanna8

They just took it off the prescription list here because it is not considered harmful. You have to be over the age of 55 to get it and it is chemist only so you can’t get it in supermarkets etc. My chemist said the first day they took it off prescription she had queues going out of the door ! It is fairly mild and you don’t get a hangover that you sometimes get with sleeping pills. It helps you get to sleep but it won’t put you asleep for the whole night.

Nanna8 are you in England?

No I’m in Australia and they are usually super fussy about what can be sold without a prescription . Panadeine is off the agenda, for example but they say melatonin is fairly harmless. Airline staff used to take it to deal with time zones.

Okay Nanna8,thank you..?

Shinamae

nanna8

They just took it off the prescription list here because it is not considered harmful. You have to be over the age of 55 to get it and it is chemist only so you can’t get it in supermarkets etc. My chemist said the first day they took it off prescription she had queues going out of the door ! It is fairly mild and you don’t get a hangover that you sometimes get with sleeping pills. It helps you get to sleep but it won’t put you asleep for the whole night.

Nanna8 are you in England?

No I’m in Australia and they are usually super fussy about what can be sold without a prescription . Panadeine is off the agenda, for example but they say melatonin is fairly harmless. Airline staff used to take it to deal with time zones.

Solgar are a good brand and this site has Melatonin at a reasonable price -
bargainshopuk.co.uk/solgar-5-htp-l-5-hydroxytryptophan-complex-vegetable-capsules-pack-of-90/

You can buy it for about half that price, but I always feel it’s worth paying for good quality supplements?

I sleep badly too, and have tried Melatonin - as others say, it helps you get to sleep, but doesn’t ensure a good length of sleep.

Esspee

JaneJudge

Try to get your GP to prescribe melatonin (it is called circadin) you only have to take it for a couple of weeks to get back into routine, I find and it isn't a drug as such

Nooooo! Melatonin is a hormone and is only available on prescription in the U.K. because it can interact with other medication.
Always consult a doctor before taking it.

Esspee, I did say try to get your GP to prescribe it

nanna8

They just took it off the prescription list here because it is not considered harmful. You have to be over the age of 55 to get it and it is chemist only so you can’t get it in supermarkets etc. My chemist said the first day they took it off prescription she had queues going out of the door ! It is fairly mild and you don’t get a hangover that you sometimes get with sleeping pills. It helps you get to sleep but it won’t put you asleep for the whole night.

Nanna8 are you in England?

They just took it off the prescription list here because it is not considered harmful. You have to be over the age of 55 to get it and it is chemist only so you can’t get it in supermarkets etc. My chemist said the first day they took it off prescription she had queues going out of the door ! It is fairly mild and you don’t get a hangover that you sometimes get with sleeping pills. It helps you get to sleep but it won’t put you asleep for the whole night.

JaneJudge

Try to get your GP to prescribe melatonin (it is called circadin) you only have to take it for a couple of weeks to get back into routine, I find and it isn't a drug as such

Nooooo! Melatonin is a hormone and is only available on prescription in the U.K. because it can interact with other medication.
Always consult a doctor before taking it.

I'm in your club, too!

I don't want to use sleeping tablets (I tried one when in hospital before having my first baby but just lay awake all night, dropping off to sleep just as everyone else was waking up, not the right idea at all!).

I do admit that on some nights, in desperation, using Piriton antihistamine tablets. These make me sleepy about 20 minutes after ingestion.

I tried the Sleepio CBT course but it didn't work for me. I struggled with the bit where one has to rise very very early, no matter how much sleep, so it's probably my fault and not that of the course. It could work for others.

I have heard that Melatonin works but of course it is not available otc here. I may ask next time I see or speak to my GP.

Thanks everyone for the advice given, I will try some of the other suggestions.

As an afterthought... I remember being in infant school and going into the school hall for a nap. Forty little canvas beds were ready for us and I watched as every child quickly fell asleep, leaving me wide awake. I then remember being rudely shaken awake by a teacher as I had fallen asleep just before 'wake-up' time. My point is that even aged four, I was already having problems with sleep!

Not sleeping is horrible. I had the same problem a few years ago - menopausal wakefulness I think it was called. Anyway, started on HRT and have slept well ever since, even though only taking the HRT for a couple of years. Broke the cycle I guess. Hope you find an answer.

Painkillers help me to sleep too, Shinamae, but as you say you can't use them every time. I'm fed up being awake most of the night. Going to look at ASMR myself. (Although I'll be taking paracetamol tonight as I have ear infection.)
I hope you have a good night.

Yes, it's worth a try

JaneJudge

Try to get your GP to prescribe melatonin (it is called circadin) you only have to take it for a couple of weeks to get back into routine, I find and it isn't a drug as such

Yes I did ring the doctor and I have got a call next Wednesday so hopefully they will prescribe it, I would rather be on that then zopiclone

Try to get your GP to prescribe melatonin (it is called circadin) you only have to take it for a couple of weeks to get back into routine, I find and it isn't a drug as such

Ashcombe

My DH has used ASMR You Tube clips for several years and finds them very effective. He has a few favourite contributors to whom he returns regularly. They involve mundane tasks such as a receptionist's conversation or a lady sorting out a considerable collection of nail varnish bottles. The same person posts regularly and within a week a new video from her may well gather half a million views, according to You Tube statistics!

Is that GentleWhispering, Ashcombe? I don't like all of her uploads but her voice and some of the crinkle sounds have me asleep in minutes. I also like WhispersRed and TheWaterWhispers (who no longer uploads anything) but her old Zentangle videos are very relaxing to listen to.

I didn’t actually use it last night because I had to take codeine for my aching legs and that always makes me dozy but I can’t take that every night so I will probably try that tonight. Thanks for asking??

How did it go Shinamae

Okay, this is the one I’m going to try tonight, fingers crossed ?

Ashcombe

My DH has used ASMR You Tube clips for several years and finds them very effective. He has a few favourite contributors to whom he returns regularly. They involve mundane tasks such as a receptionist's conversation or a lady sorting out a considerable collection of nail varnish bottles. The same person posts regularly and within a week a new video from her may well gather half a million views, according to You Tube statistics!

Think I would try this,thank you so much… I really need to do something I’m getting quite desperate now

My DH has used ASMR You Tube clips for several years and finds them very effective. He has a few favourite contributors to whom he returns regularly. They involve mundane tasks such as a receptionist's conversation or a lady sorting out a considerable collection of nail varnish bottles. The same person posts regularly and within a week a new video from her may well gather half a million views, according to You Tube statistics!

Greenfinch

I believe she is in Australia .

Ahhhh that explains it then, thank you greenfinch ?

I believe she is in Australia .

nanna8

I’m another insomniac and it gets boring not being able to sleep when everyone else is snoring away. I find it goes in cycles - a few bad nights then a better one. I haven’t slept through the night for many years but I just accept that now. I have found anti histamines are good which I sometimes have to take anyway for hay fever. Also melatonin tablets help you actually fall asleep but they are expensive here. You don’t need a prescription for them and my doctor tells me they are better than sleeping tablets from a health point of view.

Are you in UK nanna8?