Anyone had experience with Normison?

[KillKenny]

Suffering intermiently from sever lack of sleep, usually in cycles lasting 4-5 days.

Always been a light sleeper, but sleeping cycles have become more irratic since a relationship breakup about 18 months ago.

Visited GP about it on a couple of occasions and not having success with natural techniques so medication is the next logical step.

I am told that Normison is the drug of chose that doesn't raise the heekles of the CAA too much.

Anyone any experience Normison care to comment, or any other pertainant comments to make?

[G.Khan]

As one, who when flying, (retired now), took pills for eighteen years think very carefully about going down the pill road.. .Normison is a trade name for Tamazapam, the CAA did once approve of small doses but after the experiences of some RAF pilots during the Falklands conflict they withdrew their approval, too long still in ones system I believe.. .The pill currently approved has a trade name of Zimovane(spl?) and contains Zopiclone(spl?)- but you should check it out with your doctor.. .Even after seven months without pills I can't get a decent nights sleep, so beware pills of any sort. FWIIW. <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

[ 23 February 2002: Message edited by: G.Khan ]</p>

[Flatspin Fumble]

KillKenny. .About 6 months ago, I had a very sore shoulder which was causing me a very disturbed sleep pattern. I realise you don't have a sore shoulder, but the point is this. I bought a wrist magnet, and put it on my right wrist ( that being the affected shoulder ) the discomfort went away after a few days, and I enjoyed a good nights sleep. I have found now that when I am tired and unable to sleep,I slip this magnet on and I really do get an excellent night's sleep.This fashion accessory, available from health shops, looks like a watch and costs anything from £20 - £40 in the UK. It worked for me, for what ever reason. Why not try it ?. .Good luck

[Flatspin Fumble]

Who KillKenny or me ?. .Don't we know each other, after all, we work for the same firm, but you are right, excercise helps, and cutting down the booze also helps, no doubt about that. So how's life in EGPE these days?. .Flatspin. . <img src="cool.gif" border="0"> <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[aztruck]

20 years ago I was given a couple of Normison to take on a transatlantic flight to help me sleep. It was economy on an American Airlines 747!!Thats how long ago it was....(747's long gone). .Didnt sleep a wink and felt awful at the other end- totally spaced out. Never touched a sleeping pill since. However....whilst getting involved in home childbirth I did get involved in techniques of self hypnosis to allay pain in my wife. I had an amazing session with an obstetrician who was also a hypnotherapist. She helped my wife with a way of controlling her own pain without drugs etc., and seeing as I was in the room she wondered if I wanted to share in the technique.. .It worked, and not only did natural childbirth happen willy nilly, but I retained the ability to drop off to sleep/relax under most circumstances simply by recalling and visualising the images remembered from the initial sessions.. .loads better than pills.

[Don D Cake]

Not from my own experience but a close relative's....

Tamazapam is nasty, evil stuff that you should only consider as a last resort and then think again. Exhaust every alternative before going down the drug route.

[Prince of Dzun]

Flatspin Fumble:. .Would it be stretching the friendship to ask if you would be kind enough to let me know the name and address of a health food organisation in the UK that sells the wrist magnet you mentioned. They don't seem to be available here in the southland and I would like to give it a try. (specifically the forty pounds model). I agree with your suggestion about "why not give it a try" and I'd like to do just that. Thanks for what could be a nice piece of info. . .Regards,

Prince of Dzun

P.S.If you prefer here is my fax: +61-3-9842 0254

[ 02 March 2002: Message edited by: Prince of Dzun ]</p>

[Flatspin Fumble]

Prince of Dzun.. .I would be delighted to get you the details, it wont be until the early part of next week as my next days off are Mon to Wed, so shall get the info and either fax it or stick it on here, if I am able to get a fact sheet, then shall fax it to you. Shall get back to you on Monday or Tuesday. .Regards. .Flatspin

[Bird Strike]

Both my husband and I find that Normison (or any Temazepam, which is the generic name of it) does not work so well to help us sleep. In particular I find that it does not help me go to sleep and it makes me feel more tired the next day than I would have been without it.

Zolpidem Tartrate, which I believe is called Stilnoct in the UK, works better and neither of us need the full dose. He and I only ever take half of the normal dose (10 mg is the normal dose). I do not know what UK CAA's position is on this med, but I was told that CASA (Australia) approves of its use by flight crew. The half life is very short, and it is not supposed to leave you drowsy the next day. However I must point that I personally feel that it slows down my already-slow brain somewhat the next morning. If you take this one, make sure that you can get to bed quickly, as it can start to work rapidly.

Another option that I came across in this forum was called Sonata (Zaleplon). I have not personally tried this one as I do not believe it is available over here, although I think it is in the UK. It is said to be the shortest acting sleeping pill currently available.

So, you may want to check out Stilnoct and Sonata.

However as others said, try other methods of helping your sleep before you resort to medications. You say that your sleep has become more erratic since a relationship break-up. This suggests that there may well be a psychological cause to your sleep problem that may need to be addressed. I find that if I am well and truly stressed, no medicine will help me sleep. Also remember that sleeping pills do not solve the underlying cause of the problem and should not be used long term. However, it can gently help you back into a proper sleeping pattern and get you out of ‘non-sleeping’ habit.

One very important thing is to remember that the more stressed you feel about not being able to sleep, the less you sleep!!

Good luck, and if you want more information about any of the meds mentioned, I’m happy to post some links.

[Rob_L]

There are herbal preparations which can help you sleep, and are perfectly 'legal'. Example is "Calms".. .Be aware that temazepam is a tranquilliser in the same group as valium ("mother's little helper"). Not only do legitimate users become addicted to it, but it is used by drug addicts - and not approved for flying. Moreover, temazepam is even more sought after by "druggies" - you must have heard of "jellies"!

[Dockjock]

A natural remedy is to try Valerian Root capsules. Valerian root is a herb that reduces anxiety and can help you sleep on a short term basis- not really to be used more than a few days at a time.. .. .Have you consulted a Naturopathic doctor? They can offer more wholistic solutions to your problem without resorting to drugs.

[Dockjock]

Short description at <a href="http://www.allsands.com/Health/Alternative/valerianrootex_syg_gn.htm" target="_blank">http://www.allsands.com/Health/Alternative/valerianrootex_syg_gn.htm</a>.. .. .Cheers

[Bird Strike]

Rob-L. .. .I think "legitimate users become addicted to it" is an over-statement. It should be "legitimate users CAN become addicted to it". At the end of the day, people can get addicted to all sorts, from cigarettes to cough medicine, but not all of us do! Also, I thought the durg users tended to inject themselves with Temazepam, not ingesting it like the legitimate users do? (I do not think it was ever designed to be injected, but the gel form makes it easier to do so than the tablt form???). .. .Dockjock,. .. .Unfortunately Valerian is the worst herbal preparation I've ever tried for any purpose. Not only did it fail to help me sleep, it left me so groggy and grumpy the next day that I might as well have gone without any sleep. The preparation with Passiflora was much better, with it being reasonably effective and not having any adverse effect the next day.