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Chronic anxious insomnia - will citalopram help eventually?

Posted , 4 users are following.

holly_t
holly_t

Hi there

I was on citalopram years ago for anxiety and it really helped, I was on it for a long time. Lately I started feeling anxious again, which has now heightened to severe at night time - when I go to bed it feels like my heart might explode in my chest. There is just no way of relaxing, except when I take 1 zopiclone. I don't want to take these forever I know they're addictive, but I'm wondering if anyone has had this experience? I'm hoping once the citalopram kicks back in I'll feel strong and if I don't sleep I'll be able to cope, just at the moment feeling anxious in bed all night sets me up for a terrible day the next day.

I used to sleep fine when I was on citalopram (20mg and even 10mg) but I didn't really have sleeping problems before then.

Can anyone help?

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • elizabeth20203
    elizabeth20203 holly_t

    Posted

    Hi Holly, I am on Citalopram 10mg and sleep better now, it took a while. I was like you and didn't sleep well for years before, so hopefully you will start to sleep better. Good luck.
    • holly_t
      holly_t elizabeth20203

      Posted

      Hi Elizabeth

      Thanks for your help. I went to the doctor this morning and she prescribed a weeks worth of Zopiclone but I'm terrified if I keep taking them I'll become dependent and my sleep will get even worse, but then I constantly worry about not sleeping. Rock/hard place. Did you have any experience with this?

      Holly

    • elizabeth20203
      elizabeth20203 holly_t

      Posted

      Hi you will get back into a routine has Griffin has also said, it will take acouple of weeks. Take tablet at same time each day and you will not become addicted on the Zopiclone on a short course. Just try and relax before bed, i read before i sleep and don't drink coffe late either. 
  • Griffin2187
    Griffin2187 holly_t

    Posted

    You'll be fine when the Citalopram kicks back in. It's really horrible not being able to sleep but it certainly helped me. It just took a couple of weeks. If you do take Zopiclone for a week you should take it at the same time every night and try to get your body back into a routine of sleep.
    • Griffin2187
      Griffin2187 holly_t

      Posted

      I was actually given temazepam and that was the instruction I was given by the doctor. If you struggle to sleep, establishing a routine can be really helpful. Also, having a bath in the eveing helped.
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