I've tried everything for my insomnia..?!

You would do well by seeing a different GP and, ideally, a psychiatrist.

Some doctors have extremely harsh opinions and overly conservative prescribing practices with hypnotics. Frankly, the UK is famous for its typically harsh view of hypnotic use.

There is a lot of data showing the efficacy and safety of long-term use of hypnotics (granted it is something to try to avoid but still an option). Zopiclone, for example, has been shown in multiple large, high quality studies to be effective, without incidence of abuse, for at least a year (the duration of the study).

In addition addiction to hypnotics is really rather rare and human and animal studies have found hypnotics to have a low addiction potential. Often physical dependence, which is more common (about 1/3 of people after 2 years) from chronic use of hypnotics, is mistaken as addiction. However addiction is psychological dependence, physical dependence is a normal reaction the body has to long term use (at least in some people).

More and more evidence shows the importance of treating insomnia as well as how significant an impact sleep disruption can have on the body (ie., causing increased death rate, increased risk of developing diabetes). Typically, in medicine, there is a belief that not prescribing something only because of the potential for addiction is not a reason to refuse to prescribe it. If you were showing significant indications of hypnotic abuse or you had a history of Heroin addiction it would be a different story.

GPs really are not trained to properly diagnose and treat chronic insomnia. In addition you are falling into the same pattern many fall into where, since the insomnia is so bad, you are self-medicating. You really do need to get help because you are at increased risk of alcoholism not to mention that alcohol very literally disrupts and destroys normal sleep architecture (brain waves when sleeping). You will find your use of alcohol will lead to a low quality of sleep and a great reduction in deep sleep (stage N3). Also things like Sominex, containing the antihistamine diphenhydramine, are not at all recommended, especially past a few days.

My point is simply that it sounds like you really do need help with your sleep and you are at a place where, without help, you could find things only get worse.

Don't bother with melatonin. There is more/less nothing to show it is effective for insomnia. The reason it was approved in Europe is because when used with a specific age group (55+, like you said), for a short duration, and for a specific type of insomnia there was a modest benefit scene. However the reason it was approved (this is not my opinion, it is said in black and white) is primarily because it is very safe, at least for short-term use. If it had similar side effects to other hypnotics- even paracetamol- it never would have been approved. And its not a sedative, certainly not in the way you think of a sedative largely because it does not work.

I really recommend you be proactive and find a doctor willing to help you because if left to do what you are now doing I can't imagine it will work out well. A good doctor should also be able to refer you for cognitive behavioural therapy, a specific type of therapy (nothing like most people picture therapy) that if typically very effective for insomnia. But in the end there are people who need to be on hypnotics long-term.

M.D., C.M. psychiatry, internal medicine (Québec)
Hons. BSc pharmacology

The Canadian Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association (APA)
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
The American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
The Australian Prescriber
L'Agence Fran?aise de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé (AFSSAPS)
Le Collège des médecins du Québec
L'Association des médecins psychiatres du Québec
Le Collège québécois des médecins de famille

In order to get over your insomnia, I think you may try auto-suggestions instead of medicine. You may try out this link in this connection: http://www.mindmaster.tv/hypnosis.php

http://www.mindmaster.tv

I use melatonin all the time I find it helps a alot even after taking it for afewdays then quitting and it gives your really cool dreams, and you can buy at any drug store pretty much, I get mine from walmart

Here... http://popfilm.info/stay

http://popfilm.info/stay

See if you can get some medicinal marijuana. It always helps put me to sleep

I've struggled through the same thing and still. I am currently on ambian and it seems to do the trick. But I do feel as though I'm going to be miserable if I ever get off. Have you ever tried that? Or try a different dr. I have tried everything too. But the meds with "benadryl" in them make me itch so I can't try those. I did stop ambian after my son was born (bc why waste a pill for 3 hours) and tried the highest dose of melatonin. It helped a little relaxation and sometimes I went to sleep but I had a newborn of course I'm exhausted. There is also a sleep aid that has little dependency called sonata. You can take one and wake up in the middle of the night and take another if you're wide awake. I've never tried any others. I would try a different dr maybe to a psychiatrist to find out the underlying problems why you can't sleep. They will give you a pill most likely to suit your needs. Hope any if this helps. And hope you sleep well soon. I know the feeling.

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