Nurses with insomnia- anyone tried Indiplon?

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2004

This may sound silly, but I resently tried those breathe right strips at bedtime and I have been getting the most wonderful deep sleep! I have been suprised, I suffer from insomina frequently, and I have to be up at 0500 ready to perform as an RN! Really bites when I don't get any sleep!

I have been worried about taking ambien now, I forgot it shows up pos on drug screens and I know my admin..they will not take that well! So I have been using benadryl if I need it, but the breath right strips have helped me tremendously..and nice hot tea an hour before bed! (helps that I have a nurses bladder! LOL).

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 7, 2004

this may sound silly, but i resently tried those breathe right strips at bedtime and i have been getting the most wonderful deep sleep! i have been suprised, i suffer from insomina frequently, and i have to be up at 0500 ready to perform as an rn! really bites when i don't get any sleep!
i have been worried about taking ambien now, i forgot it shows up pos on drug screens and i know my admin..they will not take that well! so i have been using benadryl if i need it, but the breath right strips have helped me tremendously..and nice hot tea an hour before bed! (helps that i have a nurses bladder! lol).

i guess i need to try those breathe-right strips! they look so silly, though, i'm afraid hubby will laugh me right out of bed!

if you have a script for ambien, why should your administration object? it seems that they'd be happy to have a well-rested nurse rather than a psychotic, sleep deprived one! (i say this because i get psychotic when i don't sleep for a few days running!) i have a script for ambien and use it 2x a week when i'm working nights. even two nights (or days, as the case may be) of sleep is enough to keep me sane and mentating enough to work.

mattsmom81 · Nov 7, 2004

Its always involves some risk when nurses take any controlled substances IMO. Some employers and coworkers are more understanding than others. I'm in an employment at will state, so little rights...we can be eliminated for whatever whim and controlled subs are a pretty touchy subject here even with a RX.

If coworkers/employers know, (and they will after a drug screen, right?) seems you're the nurse looked at with suspicion (hasn't happened to me, because I take nothing controlled longterm for this very reason) I have friends who have suffered suspicion from peers....plus I hear the staff gossipping..that 'so and so uses Xanax, Vicodin, etc ya know, so watch her')

No it is really none of their beeswax but in reality I know how nurses can be to each other...

We just have to weigh the pros and cons and make the best decision for ourselves, but know the risk we take. Believe me, if I couldn't sleep without Ambien, I would likely use it as well. So far Tylenol PM and a warm bath works.

rn29306 · Nov 7, 2004

Alot of patients used to come into the ICU and tell that they have been using Tylenol PM just for sleep purposes for many years/months/whatever. For those of you that use Tylenol PM simply for sleep purposes, I would urge you to switch to Benadryl as the active sleep aid in both drugs is diphenhydramine 25mg. If you don't need the extra strength acetaminophen, then it would be wise as to not take it Tylenol PM. If you prefer, Tylenol makes Simply Sleep, which contains only the diphenhydramine component, as does Benadryl. Some people, myself included, find that a tolerance builds after a while to diphenhydramine, and that the side effects (dry mouth, eyes, hangover) are not worth the dosages needed for sleep. Hello Ambien.

Happy dreams.

rn29306

lifeisbeautiful · Nov 7, 2004

I have also been told that Sonata is a good one. It is short acting and doesn't give people a hang-over feeling. I think it is used more for people that can get to sleep, but then wake up in the middle of sleep, but can't get back to sleep.

Note: I never, ever discuss my prescription medications with my coworkers. It just takes that one person to over hear that you are taking something prescribed and then it is totally blown out of proportion. It will always come back to haunt you.

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2004

Alot of patients used to come into the ICU and tell that they have been using Tylenol PM just for sleep purposes for many years/months/whatever. For those of you that use Tylenol PM simply for sleep purposes, I would urge you to switch to Benadryl as the active sleep aid in both drugs is diphenhydramine 25mg. If you don't need the extra strength acetaminophen, then it would be wise as to not take it Tylenol PM. If you prefer, Tylenol makes Simply Sleep, which contains only the diphenhydramine component, as does Benadryl. Some people, myself included, find that a tolerance builds after a while to diphenhydramine, and that the side effects (dry mouth, eyes, hangover) are not worth the dosages needed for sleep. Hello Ambien.
Happy dreams.
rn29306

Thanks for mentioning that. I use Tylenol PM about once a week, so I can go to sleep early the night before clinicals. It knocks me right out. I'll have to check out the Simply Sleep though, since I only need it for the sleep aid. Thanks!

Monica RN,BSN · Nov 8, 2004

No employer can hold a failed drug test against you as long as you do in fact have a precription to back it up. The only thing I am against is someone coming to work on pain meds, even if prescribed.. may be ok for the drug screen, but not ok for patients and co workers.