Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What Is The Treatment For Insomnia?

Hello. I have been experiencing insomnia for the past year or so to the point where I am now missing work. I am a 30 year old female dental hygienist and have a lot of pain which doesn t help in the falling asleep process, I then snowball more stress onto that when I start panicking that I am not sleeping and I have to get up to go to work in the morning. My parents both have sleep issues, and I am wondering if my problem is related to pain or anxiety, and what I can do to try to fix it. My mind will not shut off at night, I was prescribed zopiclone and of course it works, but then I get dependant on it and I think it also gives me anxiety arrhythmias as a a side effect. I tried taking nothing for a month, and still will lay awake until 5am or 6am not sleeping and just thinking ALL night 2-3 times a week. On the weekends I can sleep better, still waking up quite often, not sure why perhaps its the pain. I need some help I am getting very stressed out over it. Wondering if I should just continue taking zopiclone until I can change my career, which won t be for a few years unfortunately as I have too many bills to pay. Valerian root, skull cap, and melatonin don t do anything, I am at my wits end.
Thu, 6 Oct 2016
Report Abuse
Neurologist,  's  Response
Hello, i have read your question carefully. Insomnia is more prevalent in women. Some people are more predisposed to insomnia, because of underlying anxiety or depression, those who works on shifts, high consume of stimulants during the day (like coffee, tea, chocolate,or drugs like contraceptives, betablockers or steroids), family history of insomnia.
In your case you might have chronic insomnia, since it lasted for more than 1 month. As told by you you have some underlying predispositions. Anxiety and depression can be a cause of insomnia, but also a consequence. I would highly recommend for you to see a psychiatrist to exclude or if it is present to treat carefully any of these two conditions.
For the treatment i would suggest to try and have a regular daily regime, to go to sleep and to awake in the same time everyday, make a hot bath before sleeping, eat dinner early (at least 3 hours before going to sleep), avoid the us eof coffee and other stimulants during the day, avoid to sleep or even lay down during the day. Instead of zopiclone i would suggest zolpidem, since it seems that you have more of a sleep onset problem, or even mirtazapine or amytriptilin.
I truly hope i have been of help.
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Insomnia


Loading Online Doctors....
What Is The Treatment For Insomnia?

Hello, i have read your question carefully. Insomnia is more prevalent in women. Some people are more predisposed to insomnia, because of underlying anxiety or depression, those who works on shifts, high consume of stimulants during the day (like coffee, tea, chocolate,or drugs like contraceptives, betablockers or steroids), family history of insomnia. In your case you might have chronic insomnia, since it lasted for more than 1 month. As told by you you have some underlying predispositions. Anxiety and depression can be a cause of insomnia, but also a consequence. I would highly recommend for you to see a psychiatrist to exclude or if it is present to treat carefully any of these two conditions. For the treatment i would suggest to try and have a regular daily regime, to go to sleep and to awake in the same time everyday, make a hot bath before sleeping, eat dinner early (at least 3 hours before going to sleep), avoid the us eof coffee and other stimulants during the day, avoid to sleep or even lay down during the day. Instead of zopiclone i would suggest zolpidem, since it seems that you have more of a sleep onset problem, or even mirtazapine or amytriptilin. I truly hope i have been of help.