I'm a first responder with a private/instrument rating.
Last July I went back to night shift on a permanent basis after having not worked night shift in about a decade.
I had trouble adjusting to the sleep schedule (now 40 years old). After a couple months of struggling to sleep, I went to the doctor. We tried a few different prescription sleep aids. Ambien and Lunesta. They kind of worked, but I still struggled to sleep and the stress from the fatigue and schedule change was only making this worse.
My Doc put me on sertraline, thinking it may help with the stress and anxiety from the situation. I took the medication for 3 months, before discontinuing. It didn't help, infact I think it made it worse! (insomnia is a side effect of ssri)
I've been off the sertraline for three months, still on night shift, and I've NEVER had an issue with anxiety or depression in my life.
I still take Lunesta up to twice a week, but not every week to help with my sleep schedule. I work 4 shifts on overnights with 3 days off. So my sleep schedule is all jacked because of the constant back and forth day v. night sleep schedule. If I can get back to a more normal day schedule then I won't need the sleep aids at all.
I'm at 150 hrs and want to start getting ready for commercial training stuff, but I also want to get my class 2 medical. Should I wait until I can get off the sleep aids completely before going for my class 2, or will I be okay going for it now.? I'm not sure whay the best route is. I'd like to avoid a deferment if possible. Any advise or experience here? Thanks!
Last July I went back to night shift on a permanent basis after having not worked night shift in about a decade.
I had trouble adjusting to the sleep schedule (now 40 years old). After a couple months of struggling to sleep, I went to the doctor. We tried a few different prescription sleep aids. Ambien and Lunesta. They kind of worked, but I still struggled to sleep and the stress from the fatigue and schedule change was only making this worse.
My Doc put me on sertraline, thinking it may help with the stress and anxiety from the situation. I took the medication for 3 months, before discontinuing. It didn't help, infact I think it made it worse! (insomnia is a side effect of ssri)
I've been off the sertraline for three months, still on night shift, and I've NEVER had an issue with anxiety or depression in my life.
I still take Lunesta up to twice a week, but not every week to help with my sleep schedule. I work 4 shifts on overnights with 3 days off. So my sleep schedule is all jacked because of the constant back and forth day v. night sleep schedule. If I can get back to a more normal day schedule then I won't need the sleep aids at all.
I'm at 150 hrs and want to start getting ready for commercial training stuff, but I also want to get my class 2 medical. Should I wait until I can get off the sleep aids completely before going for my class 2, or will I be okay going for it now.? I'm not sure whay the best route is. I'd like to avoid a deferment if possible. Any advise or experience here? Thanks!