Beta blockers & sleep

[tinkerbell23]

Its well known here about my sleep issue.

I take a beta blocker before bed but recent the panic has worsened and despite the beta i now physically tremble whilst in bed! Its totaly adrenalin! Its horrid. Its even been leading to nightmares. Ill see doc asap. I wind down before bed.

Do you think i need to take the bblocker more regularly ir even up the dose?

Scared to sleep but oh so tired - anyonelse had this trembling?

[boxtops]

How do you mean, tinks, "more regularly"? You should take it every day if that's what the doc prescribed - perhaps you should take it earlier so it takes effect before you try to go to bed? Don't up the dose before you see the doc.

[boxtops]

PS has the doc suggested anything else, mild antidepressant etc?

[emmie]

yes, but not from beta blockers, from anxiety. I take something else now, but in very small dose, and so sleep better, it's what makes everything so unbearable, when you can't sleep it all seems awful. Suggest that beta blockers is not the answer, i knew someone who took them every time she had an important meeting, the anxiety got the better of her, i am sure it didn't help.

[tinkerbell23]

I take it before bed.

I was told to take @ "stressfull situations"- eg bedtime!!

But can have upto 3x a day. Will probs have to do that.

What about the trembling? You had or heard of that? X

[tinkerbell23]

Just so busy i havent been to docs. Will have to.

The BBs definately take the edge off but not enough now xx

[tonyav]

tinks, why is going to bed so stressful ?

[emmie]

tinks, one suggestion is to seek counselling, maybe they can unravel what the cause is, the adrenaline thing is vile i know, it kept me awake night after night, but with the right help and not so much the medication, things are starting to get back to normal.

[tinkerbell23]

Ive completed counselling em :0/

Tony i dunno for sure? Its when i think my silliest things and panic. Plus i had a massive panic attack right out of a deep sleep once and i think i always think it will happeh again or that i won t wake up x

[boxtops]

I don't think a bedtime dose is what was intended. Have you thought about a sleep counsellor? I know nighttimes are your bad times. often for Children but I don't see why adults can't consult them too http://www.sleepscotland.org/sleepc.php

[tinkerbell23]

Ill read that boxy.

I used to take mid morning, late noon and before bed if itook it too early id have the adrenalin thing in bed and not able to take any more tablets! Now its so strong its as if im seriously trembling x

[tonyav]

I would give those a try if I were you tinks, those on boxy's link.

[boxtops]

what happens if you don't take them, tinks, is it any worse than if you DO take them?

[emmie]

tinks, think of it as a hamster on a wheel, stress, worry, bad adrenaline kicks in, thinking all the while i won't get a decent nights sleep, round and round, so you have horrible broken sleep, that is if you get much at all, makes the stress, anxiety much worse. so on you go, round and round, i am talking from experience. You have to break the cycle, and honestly i do not think you have been well advised to take beta blockers, there are better medicines out there and not sleeping pills.
Counselling is a good start, and better anti anxiety, depression medication, combined they can really help. I know about the trembling, heart seeming to be going haywire, it's is truly awful.

[emmie]

counselling isn't finished, go back even for a time, there is some underlying cause of this, your anxiety is ruling you, and will continue to do so until you get it under control - sadly i do know about all this, been in this again just recently, it's a very bad state because the thoughts, feelings never seem to go, but they can and will with more help, and better medication.

[tinkerbell23]

My heart pounds like anything and the adrenaline runs through its awful!

Ill ask doc abt sleep counselling - not sure the counselling i had worked much- i enjoyed offloading but theres no change really.

At first i was taking the BBs like clockwork boxy but began to tail them off a bit as didnt want or need as many. If im not alone i usually dont need a bb but On my own i NEED one ....been so busy iv ran out and borrowed a pack from a mate!! Failing that, its nightnurse sometimes :0/

Thanks for understanding x

[boxtops]

well said em - and for all of us, the gremlins are so much worse in the small hours of the morning, when the human body is at its lowest ebb.

Tinks, prioritise going to the doc - nothing is more important than your health, nothing at all.

[emmie]

you don't need sleep counselling, the anxiety is causing your sleep problems, one thing i have learned the hard way is what you feel, sense in your body is just part of you, and that what seems to be pounding heart may not be the case. This may sound like a load of new age
b ollocks, but you are what you think. What you think makes your body respond, and that in turn makes you think the worse, heart racing, palpitations, heart attack do you see where this is going.
I have every sympathy believe me, but break this downward cycle, beta blockers are wrong, as i said this can be got under control. Get a more sympathetic doctor, explain exactly what happens, and counselling is a vital tool in recovery.
take a tip from Auntie Em, she knows what you are going through.

[tinkerbell23]

Thanks all. Seriously!!

Ill try for doc monday morn xx

[anneasquith]

tink, it seems you didnt have many councelling sessions, was a diagnosis given or coping mechanisms to address your sleep issues and anxiety ?

[tinkerbell23]

Hi anne. I had 6 sessions. The sleep wasnt really picked up on- i did mention it.

Breathing for the anxiety- dosent work really- dosent stop the silly thoughts or the adrenaline rush!!! Betas help a bit but obviously not enough.

Working tomorrow- didnt make doc today will try for wed x