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Your opinions / experiences on escitalopram for acute anxiety

Posted , 3 users are following.

gillian62018
gillian62018

Three weeks ago I suffered a bout of chronic insomnia that caused quite a severe decline in my mental health (hallucinating and all sorts). Eventually I have managed to get stable in that a combination of Zopiclone or 50mg Phenergen (anti histimine) is sending me to sleep - at least I assume it is, because I don't recall being awake, but I still don't refreshed in the morning.

The difficulty I am facing is that I am now suffering with severe mental exhaustion and anxiety as a result of the insomnia trauma and from not being able to get even a moment of natural sleep. My brain has got caught in a loop of total mental/nervous exhaustion and being unable to switch off / always being in fight or flight mode. I can't relax for even a second and am spending the whole time lying on the sofa shaking / crying uncontrollably.

My psychiatrist has given me the option of either taking Mirtazipine or Escitalopram starting tomorrow. I had felt I needed a sedative type of antidepressant - I have taken Sertraline so I know what an SSRI feels like and don't feel this kind of "happy" pill is what I need right now, I need something to calm my hyper exhausted mind out. But the psychiatrist says Mirtazipine is generally better for depression and Escitalopram is an excellent drug for anxiety. I'm nervous though, because it's just another SSRI. Aren't they roughly all the same? I would love to hear from anyone who has taken Escitalopram for anxiety or panic disorder and whether it has helped or not (and how quickly). Thank you so much

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • monna93589
    monna93589 gillian62018

    Posted

    dear gillian

    i would suggest both cipralex and mirtazapine. Not sure why your psych has not recommended that?

    Cipralex is great for anxiety and Mirtazapine is great for sleep and as an augment to the cipralex as it will make the cipralex work faster AND will put you soundly to sleep ♥

    • gillian62018
      gillian62018 monna93589

      Posted

      He did actually suggest that was another option! perhaps that's what I should try, as I really do feel like I need some sort of sedating thing - I'm terrified of relying on this valium even at a low dose of 2mg. have you had experience of using both drugs? i'd love to hear from anyone who has

    • monna93589
      monna93589 gillian62018

      Posted

      Yes, I have been on both - that is why I suggested it - the two work perfectly together. I understand your wish for something more sedating (although I would not worry about 2 mg Diazepam) and Mirtazapin is just that to begin with.

      Feel free to pm me with your name if you want to chat on Facebook. It is impossible to write on this forum on the phone so my answers gets really short 😃

  • matts4912
    matts4912 gillian62018

    Posted

    Gillian...

    I am sorry to hear of your recent issues. First up, Zopilcone will leave you with a groggy feeling the next day - these drugs do not allow you to enter a rem-sleep cycle so you will feel exhausted. This is totally normal - as is everything that has been going on afterwards.

    Whilst I don't want to ruffle Monna feathers, I am not a fan of throwing more drugs at a situation as soon as there is a hurdle. The issue is sleep. The result of you not sleeping is the mental health issues. Am I right?

    If it were the other way around, yes, treat the mental health to restore the sleep, but if you were able to cope with your mental health before the sleep issue, then this is what needs to be fixed. And for this, I would recommend you talking to your GP about extended release Melatonin. This will send you to sleep, and keep you asleep and will not make you feel bad in the morning. It will take time for you to recover from what has happened, but it will come.

    Don't put yourself through all the start-up effects, wait a good 8-12 weeks for it to work... and then put yourself through withdrawal unless you really have to. Escitalopram/Lexapro is a drug well known for anxiety, but it is powerful and effects can be tough. The withdrawal also needs to be done very carefully. I speak from a lot of experience of SSRI's and SNRI's.

    Mirtazapine is a tetra drug and should only be considered when others have not worked - either on its own, or to augment as monna said. But don't go rushing in to find a quick solution with these drugs because it won't be quick.

    Please discuss/research melatonin XR and give it a try. It will work right off, so you will know in a couple of days if it will work for you. Give it a couple of weeks and see how you fair. You have nothing to loose.

    God Bless,

    Matt

    • gillian62018
      gillian62018 matts4912

      Posted

      Thank you for your message Matt, I really appreciate it. You are 100% right that the mental health issues were brought on my the severe insomnia - 4 weeks ago I was absolutely fine. Although I have had what I would describe as low level anxiety issues (nothing like this) for years which is why I've been on Sertraline in the past. Most of the anxiety issues revolve around sleeping as insomnia has plagued and dominated my entire adult life in one way or another.

      I have actually bought but not yet tried some 10mg XR melatonin (from overseas) so maybe I'll give that a go tonight and see how I get on.

      I appear to be sleeping on the zopiclone but my mind still feels completely exhausted the next day, I don't understand it. And last night I woke up at 3am and ended up having to take another diazepam 2mg to get back to sleep (loads of dreams). My body and brain are just in such a mess. But I know I wouldn't get a wink of sleep without anything at the moment as my brain is on this permanent state of high alert that I can't switch off - before the zopiclone I didn't sleep for 3 days straight and then only got 2 hours.

      I'll give the melatonin a go for sure but I do suspect that I've got myself into this horrible anxiety loop now that probably needs extra help to break.

      I really appreciate your comments - it helps to not feel totally alone

    • matts4912
      matts4912 gillian62018

      Posted

      Sounds like you have got yourself in a bit of a mess with sleep - my wife is going through the exact same thing at the moment, but the melatonin is helping her. Will be interested to hear how you get on with it yourself.

      Z-drugs are not good... at all. They really should be a last resort, but as I said, they are hypnotics and as such they will knock you out but will not induce your normal circadian rhythm of sleep cycles which is why you feel groggy. This is also a side effect of many z-drugs, so don't feel bad because this is how you feel. I went through the same thing and couldn't stand the drugs any more. Fortunately it was a start up effect of the SSRI I was on and it played out over the course of 2-3 weeks.

      If you still have issues after the melatonin, it might be time to consider a sleep study. Anxiety can sure stop you sleeping well, but if you have an underlying issue undiagnosed, this will only compound your problems.

      Again, sincere wishing the best for you Gillian.

  • gillian62018
    gillian62018

    Posted

    Thanks Matt- you are right I've got myself in a mess! I didn't know that about circadian rhythms and Z drugs... but that is exactly how it feels, that I'm being knocked out but not actually getting refreshing sleep. I started on Mirtazapine last night and it sounds like I'm the only person in the whole world who it didn't make sleep! The Melatonin is definitely worth a try. thanks for your reply x

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