Insomnia - waking up at 3.45am - 4.30am EVERY morning.
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi All, looking for more advice - sorry. I've been on 30mg for 4 weeks now, and 20mg for 6 weeks before, and my morning anxiety (upon waking) has finally subsided to either non-existent or very mild - which i can live with.
HOWEVER i am STILL waking up at 3.45-4.30am every morning (recently 3.45am) and i CANNOT get back to sleep.
My question is - Does this (what i assume is a) side effect of the citalopram dose change - every go away?
I am sick to death of getting broken and frankly not enough sleep!
Any experiences on this - greatfully appreciated - Neil
0 likes, 8 replies
beckylili MediumNeil
Posted
I am sorry to hear that you are still not sleeping through. Have you tried meditating when you wake up? I find that helps me. I use the insight timer app or do mindfulness.
How are you generally throughout the day? I am taking Magnesium morning and night so shattered all the time and back at work but it is a struggle. Are you working?
MediumNeil beckylili
Posted
Originally i was getting the morning anxiety happening at 4.30am - but now thats subsided im waking up at 3.45am - its happened for the last week or so - but i havent slept properly for probably 10 weeks since i upped to 20mg then 30mg.
im ok during the day because im sort of used to having no sleep - luckily i have a desk job - i also take magnesium tablets at night only.
I just wish i could sleep more.
sarah48603 MediumNeil
Posted
MediumNeil sarah48603
Posted
liz61542 MediumNeil
Posted
Hi Neil
Beta blockers gave me severe insomnia. I'm still not over it but am taking half a zopiclone at about 130 when I wake up. Beta blockers are useful until the meds work and then I'm going to wean off. You might want to consider doing that and see if there's a difference? They're supposed to settle down after a few weeks of taking them but they didn't for me.
Also I tried nytol
Myself non herbal
Because I'm allergic to valerian ( it can have the opposite effect and wake you up and make you edgy) and though they worked they made me feel terrible the next day. I was going to use them every other day with the zopiclone but in the end I just decided to cut down the zopiclone and take for another couple of weeks until the morning anxiety rush recedes then tough it out using exercise to tire me out. Luckily I work from home and I can make up
Sleep when I don't get it. Currently I go to actual
Sleep at about 830 pm , wake about 130 when I can't get back to sleep , take 3.5 zopiclone and sleep until 5 ish which does actually give me enough sleep
Now but not all at one time or with great quality in the second half. But it's much better than the sleep pattern I was in before. And I don't feel completely deranged anymore. Zopiclone can be habit forming and you can develop a tolerance. My dr gives them in small amounts.
Someone else on a different form recommended night nurse ( not sure if this is opiate based) or phenergan ( this definitely isn't and children over 5 can take it as it's relatively safe).
I totally sympathise with you Neil. I think my anxiety and depression is actually from sleep deprivation as I had an accident in January and had to sleep sitting up for ten weeks. It was a total nightmare and I Almost went insane eventually crying all the time and being anxious about every little thing.
I'm not sure what else could help you but apparently your sleep
Pattern comes back eventually when the meds are working. I would seriously consider getting off the bbs though when you feel able to.
Best wishes
MediumNeil liz61542
Posted
Hi Liz - thanks for the reply - i think you might be right it could well be the Beta Blockers - i think i'll try and cut down / taper over the next few days and see if A) my morning / waking anxiety returns - and B) i can actually get any proper sleep.
I don't really want to be on beta blockers at all because they are interfering with my exercise and gym and swimming - as i simply do not have enough energy to do enough exercise at the moment. I'm only able to complete about half the distance i usually do in the pool for example.
liz61542 MediumNeil
Posted
Hi Neil
I found it useful going onto the propranolol discussion forum on this site. I started to wean off but did it too quickly so decided to stay on until my citalopram is established and god knows when that will be as only in the 2nd week of an increase to 30 after a number of years on 20. I was prescribed the propranolol originally just after my accident because I was anxious with no guidance or warnings from my gp about insomnia even though she knew I was having it. I took 2x40 fir most of the time increasing to x3 when feeling extra anxious. I think it's all really confusing tbh. If you do taper off I would be really interested to hear of the impact on your health. Best wishes.
MediumNeil liz61542
Posted
Hi Liz - i've just posted on there - thanks for the advice. I hope i can cut down - ideally i don't want to be on the tablets AT ALL!