citalopram insomnia! help please?

Hi all,

Im on cit for anxiety. It got so bad. Mor.ING anxiety was the worst for me. I started on 10mg, survived the first week amd as the nausea wore off I went up to 15mg. The main problems I have right now are the morning anxiety which is dreadful! I get better as the day goes on and the insomnia is wretched! An hour or two each night unless I take a sleeping tablet. I take my cit at 7.30 every morning and will be on day 14 tomorrow. Any advice on the insomnia really as I'm hanging. I heard.piriton was good as I can't keep taking zoplicone forever. When does the insomnia go? Also if and when I up to 20mg.Will it make insomnia worse again?

Any help most gratefully accepted. I write this as I lay on the sofa watching tv unable to keep still...Can't keep my feet or legs still but then I had that before pills due to anxiety gggrrrrrrrrrrr.

Much love.

X

Hi hun , I take 40mg a day in the morn between 7.30-8.30 , i started approx 3 weeks ago , i did a few days on 20mg straight off then 40mg thereafter - i take for anxiety and depression. 

I have found the last few days the anxiety is awful , my chest feels like its being crushed / cant get a breath and palpitations , and the insomnia is awful . Im knackered all day but then wide awake at night , just cant switch off , i have tomorrow off work and my first thought is ohh i can go bk to bed after sch run but i know it wont help me ,  maybe ask your gp first x

Hi Sarah, thanks for taking the time to respond. Wow 40mg is a lot after such a short space of time no? Perhaps it's just too much for you at the.moment.

My insomnia gone at week 5. Terrible at first 4 weeks. Wake up every 1-2 hours. You will be fine soon.

Thanks Joe! Did you get morning anxiety too?

oh i should of said its because i came off 225mg venalfaxine due to a rare side effect , so couldnt wean off it was an immediete stop, so had to go straight on a high dose . I have gp thurs and will mention the sleep issue , be nice to just get 2 good night a week xx  I had insomnia with sertraline , and venlafaxine too. only thing that helped was mirtazipne but i gained weight on it which dont help my anxiety . 

Yes. For the first three weeks, From wake up to about 2 pm, anxiety and restless. After that to bed time, feels great. This problem lasted about three weeks along with other side effects (lots of them) then slowly got better. At end of four weeks, mood is much better, except the insomnia. Insomnia gone at 5th week.

Thanks Joe. Very informative. Did you take anything for the insomnia?

For insomnia in the first week, I took Seroqual one hour before bed time.  Then I stop take it because of the concern of physical dependency.  By reading the post on this forum, I know the insomnia will be gone at certain time.  I slept well before my axniety attack diagnosis.  So I am sure my insomnia is due to the medicine.  

I also do meditation, play sleeping music while on bed and excerise.