Sleeping Issue For The Past 6 Months I Work Day Shift Now And At Work, Sleep Won't Let Me Concentrate What How Get Rid Of It?

Posted on Fri, 3 Aug 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 3 Aug 2018 Answered on

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been having some sleeping issue for the past 6 months, I really do not want to take any pill to make me sleep, I use to sleep well before and I'm sure something must have gone wrong before I'm having this problem.
I worked night shift 12hrs shift from July of 2017, t0 February of 2018, after that I started having some problems sleeping, went to the ER, and to my PCP got some priscription of some the pills they believe and strongest, took them and they did not help. And I don't even like the pills cos the make me feel unconfortable. Now my gastrointerologist priscribed Amitripteline, and so far it has been of great help, but for the past one week, it's not been effective as it use to.

I work day shift now and at work, sleep won't let me concerntrate, but at night it's all gone, please help me with ideas on how to tackle this, I now have sunken under eye and grey hair coming out almost on my entire head only at the age of 40. I know something is wrong somewhere, I really need help

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
What is the dose of Amitriptyline?

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I can understand your problem. Amitriptyline is a good drug for sleep. The drug doesn’t cause dependence and also has not much negative effects on sleep architecture.

Please provide me details about the dose of drug you are taking?

Altered sleep rhythm after night shifts could be the cause of the problem you are having.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (20 minutes later)

Thanks for your prompt response Dr. Seikhoo, I take one daily 2hrs before going to bed. I'm at work now and cannot tell much about how many mg.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
The dose can be increased.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

If the dose is 10 mg then the dose can be increased to 25 mg which will help in improvement of sleep and will help in making rhythm better. If you have 25 mg dose then that can be increased to 35 mg (25+10).

If that doesn’t help then drugs like Melatonin or Ramelteon can be used. The drugs are safe to use, doesn’t cause sedation and have no abuse potential. You can talk with your doctor for this too.

Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T