New here. Stumbled on this site while contemplating an OD

[Puchichay]

Hi. I'm a 26 year old girl who was never really addicted to any drugs, but I quite have a history of pill-popping which has started from my teenage years. I've always had difficulty sleeping and a friend recommended taking antihistamines. There was a time when I got really frustrated and I ended up taking 20 tabs of antihistamine (chlorphenamine). I just fell asleep and nothing else happened. On another day, I took 6 tabs of valium and I just fell asleep, too. After those experiences, I assumed it was ok.

It didn't really form into a habit but after several years, I happened to have more medicines in my hand and still having difficulty sleeping, I started to experiment. I drank an entire 100ml bottle of cough syrup (promethazine) and I ended up sleeping for 36 hours straight. I was still very drowsy even when I finally woke up and I felt so heavy, I couldn't move my body. I didn't know much about that drug at that time but I felt that what I did was dangerous.

There was another instance when I tried to concoct a speedball cocktail. I took four tabs of pseudoephedrine, two tabs of salbutamol and a can of Red Bull. The effect was amazing and scary at the same time. I fell in and out of sleep with constant jitters and swirly vision for about 7 hours. Til now, I still don't know how dangerous that was and I'm not willing to do that again.

But right now, as I write this post, I am tempted to finish a bottle of promethazine syrup again because I can't sleep. I'm trying to research how much will be safe to drink, that's why I ended up on this site. There's a thread that says 60-75ml should still be ok so I guess I'll be fine. I do hope I wouldn't have to do this again though...

I'm not sure about that, so I'm looking forward to become more educated through this website... And probably help with research, too, someday

 

[needanswersnow]

This site was a lifesaver for me after my ex BF OD 4/23/15.... I can relate to the not being able to sleep. I have dealt with it for years. Been on ambien for 5 years now. I hope you find what you are looking for here. No matter what you go through please remember that you are important....

 

[Felonious Monk]

I hope can too. I have some suggestions as I used to suffer pretty badly trying to fall asleep as well, it would take me over an hour most nights. But today, thanks to good sleep hygiene, practice, and some better selected drugs, I can usually fall asleep in 30 minutes or less.

If you google you'll find a better definition but for me it's trying to do relaxing things before bed. This comes down to not eating right before bed (but not being hungry either), NO TV BEFORE BED--including cell phone, laptop, anything with a lit screen; and trying to do some relaxing right before bed, such as meditating or reading a book. Meditating before bed really helps me.

I also find cannabis incredibly helpful. A strong indica before bed helps me sleep. If medical cannabis isn't available in your state, you could talk to your doctor about a drug like Lunesta or Ambien, but they are an occasional (or short term) solution ONLY. They will lose their effectiveness very quickly and you'll be back where you started. Before I got serious about making changes for myself I got on so many pills but could never sleep well (xanax, valium, temazepam and more).

 

[Puchichay]

I hope can too. I have some suggestions as I used to suffer pretty badly trying to fall asleep as well, it would take me over an hour most nights. But today, thanks to good sleep hygiene, practice, and some better selected drugs, I can usually fall asleep in 30 minutes or less.

If you google you'll find a better definition but for me it's trying to do relaxing things before bed. This comes down to not eating right before bed (but not being hungry either), NO TV BEFORE BED--including cell phone, laptop, anything with a lit screen; and trying to do some relaxing right before bed, such as meditating or reading a book. Meditating before bed really helps me.

I also find cannabis incredibly helpful. A strong indica before bed helps me sleep. If medical cannabis isn't available in your state, you could talk to your doctor about a drug like Lunesta or Ambien, but they are an occasional (or short term) solution ONLY. They will lose their effectiveness very quickly and you'll be back where you started. Before I got serious about making changes for myself I got on so many pills but could never sleep well (xanax, valium, temazepam and more).

thanks a lot for these tips! Totally agree with avoiding anything with a lit screen before bed. I've read somewhere that you should only use the bed for sleeping and sex, and nothing else. Never tried meditation though; I'll give it a shot!

 

[Puchichay]

This site was a lifesaver for me after my ex BF OD 4/23/15.... I can relate to the not being able to sleep. I have dealt with it for years. Been on ambien for 5 years now. I hope you find what you are looking for here. No matter what you go through please remember that you are important....

Sorry to hear about your ex bf... And thank you for your encouragement
I remember some period in my life when I didn't have any trouble sleeping, and those were times when my mind was actually at peace. I am hoping the same for you (and for me right now) so that we won't need to depend on medication anymore

 

[Felonious Monk]

thanks a lot for these tips! Totally agree with avoiding anything with a lit screen before bed. I've read somewhere that you should only use the bed for sleeping and sex, and nothing else. Never tried meditation though; I'll give it a shot!

I totally agree with that, nothing but sleep and sex in bed, or lying down with the intention of resting, but no reading, computer, eating, etc..

Meditation is easy, a good way to start is to just sit down, close your eyes, and concentrate on your breathing. Just count your breathes, take a 4-count to inhale, then a 4-count to exhale. Try doing it until you're comfortably focused on only your breathing (or just 10-20 inhale/exhale cycles, it doesn't have to be a long time, it will calm you down incrementally over time, plus immediately).

 

[Captain.Heroin]

welcome to BL!

it's advisable you pursue normal anti-insomnia activities (exercise, proper diet, etc.) before taking such high doses of antihistamines.

However, I also have insomnia and know how little the natural things can help. Stay strong