Been prescribed Citalopram for anxiety over insomnia
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hi all,
I have been reading in this forum and it has really helped, thank you everyone.
At the begining of January I started waking in the middle of the night with stomach pain, trapped wind, I would have to get up and take Gaviscon to help relieve it and would have to sit downstairs for 1-2 hours whilst it passed before going back to bed.
This severley disrupted my sleep and I began to worry about it. After 2-3 weeks this got better but I had developed so much anxiety over my sleep that my sleep actually began to get worse. For the last 2-3 weeks I have had terrible problems sleeping, I go to bed my usual time between 10-11 but do not get any sleep until around 4am and sleep for 1-2 hours.
I have been given some Zopiclone which worked well to begin with, now when I use it I get 2-3 hours deep sleep before waking and struggling to get back to sleep.
I am going to CBT sessions to help me deal with my anxiety but this is going to last 6 weeks and I really struggle with the idea of not sleeping well for this long. I worry about my sleep all day and its really getting me down, I seem to have had constant heart palputations for the last 2 weeks due to the anxiety.
I have been to the GP a few times and they have now suggested using Citalopram to help with the anxiety, which in turn will hopefully help me sleep. I have never really suffered from anxiety or depression before (although I do get quite anxious about my health sometimes) so its not like this is an on-going situation.
I have been reading a lot today about Citalopram and its side effects. One of the most prominent seems to be insomnia which is the thing I am trying to solve! What are your thoughts on this? I feel I should listen to the GP and take Citalopram but after reading on this forum it makes me question it.
0 likes, 17 replies
sue32707 nigel93673
Posted
I have been on citalopram for 8 weeks I suffered with anxiety and insomnia for half of last year.i have been sleeping well for the last 6 weeks so stick with it, it does work
regards sue x
nigel93673 sue32707
Posted
Thank you very much for the response, this has given me a lot of faith that taking Citalopram is a good idea. I was just unsure as I have always been a decent sleeper (although always worried about not getting enough) but this has developed only recently and only a few weeks ago. I thought it would sort itself out but my anxiety has just been increasing and I feel like I will struggle to beat it without any medical help.
Do you take yours in the morning or evening? Was your anxiety related to your lack of sleep or was it over other things?
Thanks, Nigel
sue32707 nigel93673
Posted
nigel93673 sue32707
Posted
brian81913 nigel93673
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nigel93673 brian81913
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wizard36 nigel93673
Posted
Reading your takes me back to this thine last, reading it sounds exactly like my problem last year. Mine started by me having back pain and thinking it was something really bad wrong with me, started by waking up at 5 then 4 until I was sleeping 1 hour a night. This went on for 6 weeks until I went to the doctors and they gave Me citalopram. I started taking it and didn't sleep for three nights, I rang dr he said keep taking at. I stopped taking it and rang a private psychiatrist I saw him the next day. He prescribed mirtazapine and quetiapine the first night I slept eight hours, I stopped the quetiapine after 3 weeks as didn't need it any more.and have been taking 15 mg mirtazapine since and been skeeping like a baby. I now coming of it as feel I am ready. You will hear good and bad about all antidepressants on here. But when you need to sleep what can you do. I also have taken anything like this before.
I hope this helps
nigel93673 wizard36
Posted
Thank you for your help. I have heard about Mirtazapine and have heard that it can help you sleep. I wonder why my GP prescribed Citalopram instead, I guess I have to put faith in the GP. I just want something to help me sleep, once I have a few days of good sleep I think my anxiety will decrease a lot and it will help me sleep naturally. I guess I have to give Citalopram a go and see how effective it is.
Thanks, Nigel
nigel93673 wizard36
Posted
loxie nigel93673
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nigel93673 loxie
Posted
Thank you for your help. I'm glad the Citalopram helped your sleep, it gives me confidence that it will help mine.
Thank you for the breathing technique, I have tried different things but haven't tried this yet. I will give this a go tonight.
Thanks, Nigel
dave2002 nigel93673
Posted
Reading your post i think you are wise to question the use of Cit. For many is appears to work though most appear to suffer a very slow transition back to life without Cit or severe withdrawal (my case after a short 6 week period on the drug).
I think you should consult the GP about the initial cause of the stomach and at the same time seek other avenues which could reduce the stress be it tranquelisers of beata blockers which could give the relief form anxiety without the possible side effects of Cit.
Having said that people have been on Cit including a female friend of mine where she was on it for six months found that it did not help her so stopped (not sure how she stopped i.e. cold turkey) but she experienced no side effects at any time as do others. It is wheter you feel it is worth the risk for you!!
I hope this helps
laura86158 nigel93673
Posted
sarah70627 nigel93673
Posted
Hi Nigel. You posted this a year ago but I have the exact same issue.
I wondered if this worked for you?
I've had insomnia for a month and my
dr prescribed me this instead of the other sedating ADs.
I'm scared to take my first pill in fear of making my insomnia worse.
Hope you can help!
loxie sarah70627
Posted
I had a serious issue with insomnia for some time and also spates of severe 'night terrors' ie where I would be violently active fighting in my dreams. My doctor suggested low dose citalopram (10mg) and I queried why she thought an SSRI was necessary. She told me that low dose anti anxiety meds reduce REM sleep and thus reduce the severity of dreams so that my sleep would be more restful and beneficial. It did work for the sleep issues but unfortunately I had an allergic reaction to citalopram so had to stop taking them. If they dont cause you any allergy problems, they are quite affective for sleep issues but I believe only in a low dose.