Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi all,
I’m new to this AD, only had two days on it. Taking 37.5mg in the morning only but already struggling to sleep. I’m not the best of sleepers anyway and just concerned this drug might make it worse.
ANY advice?
0 likes, 2 replies
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tammy76379 Nixy
Posted
Hi. Any of us anxiety sufferers will tell you that sleep is always a difficulty. 37.5 is a low dose and you'll probably be bumped up to 75 after a few weeks. You might have some sleep disturbances, you might not. Don't fixate on that!!! This is a very good medicine for anxiety and depression. Eventually, you'll begin to feel better and better. Sleep won't be a problem after about 6 weeks.
In the meantime there are several things that you can do to prepare yourself for sleep. Cut out all caffeine and all sugar. Easy to say hard to do but definitely worth it. Unplug all of your electronics at least 2 hours before you go to bed. All of that flipping through social media does not give our brain a rest. Watch something lighthearted on TV. Personally I have a hot cup of tea or a hot cup of milk before I go to bed. And I recently started taking a hot shower and stretching. Don't do any vigorous exercise before you go to bed. And don't eat a heavy meal right before you go to bed. There is an app that you can use that I like...."calm". It's free for limited use but very effective in controlling your breathing and learning how to relax. If you want to explore the whole app you would have to pay for it which I think is about $50.
Anyway, staying busy, vigorous exercise like a fast walk, in the middle of the day and all of the above stuff I mentioned should help you sleep. And there's always sleep aids that are not addictive. Lorazepam (Ativan) helps too. But it's a benzoate and addictive. I use it occasionally if I'm having a bad anxious day, usually just a quarter tab.
So I wish you well, God bless you!! And remember, God is with you always, hand all of your cares and worries to him, he can handle it. 😊
joanna1904 Nixy
Posted
I support everything that Tammy has said in their reply. I take a much higher dose of this drug for chronic pain as well as anxiety and depression. I found some useful relaxation tools on youtube. I was sceptical at first but kept with it and found they do help. There is a bit of a knack to meditation but it does help. I too also take 10 mg of amitriptyline at night to help with sleep. I could take more but choose not to. Issues with sleep are very common and going with it rather than it causing you anxiety is the best way but in my case that was easier said than done. However, over time things are better than they were. I am currently reading a book called the upward spiral. Really informative book about the neuroscience of the brain when suffering with anxiety and depression. It is really easy reading and well worth dipping in to. As time passes I know you will find what works for you.