Does citalopram improve sleep longer term?

Treatment and medication
1

Hi there...

A question for longer term citalopram users - has citalopram improved your sleep longer term? And if so, how long did it take?

I started developing sleep problems 12 months ago which heightened some existing 'moderate' anxiety and depression.

I know that when I sleep well both the anxiety and depression are so much easier to manage. 

My problem is waking in the night then anxiety creeping in because I think I won't get back to sleep. Some nights that's the only thing keeping me awake. other nights it may be a non-sleep issue but often it's just the not being able to drop off again that wakes me up!

Drives me crazy. Anyway I'm 3 weeks into citalopram 10mg and just wondering what peoples' experiences of it were for sleeping longer term. I know it will take 3-6 months to kick in.

 

2

Hi David

Ive taken Cit for around 15 years, on and off, and though I didn't have a problem with sleeping at all before taking them, I did initially when first on the medication.  It stopped me sleeping, kept waking up etc., but eventually it sorted itself out and don't have a problem with my sleep anymore.

You might find eventually that you'll feel quite tired on these, so sleep might come more easily.  Yes, it does take a long time for things to settle, so fingers crossed it'll get easier for you.

K x

3

David,

My doctor tells me that Citalopram will help my sleep. after nearly 4 weeks, im yet to see this benefit. Like you im keen to hear from longer term users.

take care.

4

It took me 5 weeks to get my sleeping back.  I splet well before I start the med.  So the insomnia is from the med.  At week 4, I start the meditation, and meditation music when I am on bed.  It worked well, though not sure the improvment of sleeping is due to the meditation, music or it is simply it is due to the timing of side effects at week 5.  Good luck

5

David, I'm no expert but feel your pain here I have only been on Citalopram for a few weeks however its sounds like the sleep waking may not be the meds? Maybe when you wake try taking a hot shower to help relax distract your mind as much as possible once you feel you wont get back to sleep have a routine that works I have a last alternative drug to sleep that I never take because I seem to feel relaxed knwoing there is a silver bullet if all else fails bad pun I know but if you can find that speciual something that will by default convince you to sleep. I hope that works out buddy!  

6

Hi David

I haven't been on here a while. That's because I'm much better and sadly most people that are better no longer feel the need to come on here.

I started citalopram for the exact same reason as you. I had a few sleepless night for whatever reason and suddenly it turned into being scared of not going to sleep. I fed my anxiety so much that I had one night with ZERO sleep. No exaggeration - I had not a moments sleep, my anxiety was on fire.

Anyway cut a long story short I was out on xitalopram. For a good 4 or 5 weeks o was terrified it wouldn't work, that I would never sleep again. That was last August and I haven't looked back since. Yes there are some nights (rare) where I might struggle to stay asleep but I just don't worry about it anymore. Even if I think about it while I'm lying there a little bit, I forget by the next day.

Seriously David - you will be fine - I wanted to reach out to you as I was desperate for good news last year

X

7

Great news Holly you are winning the battle!! David will win his as well !! I'm lucky I dont have any insomnia at the moment if or when I do I will focus on sleeping and exercise the tips Hang in there David this is just a bump in the road and great news Holly I'm really happy for you!

1 Like
8

The initial effects will settle down and I found I didn't wake up during the night.

Unfortunately whilst taking them I found it was difficult to get to sleep which made me feel like crap in the mornings. I tried various things from alcohol and cannabis to zopiclone sleeping tablets from the doctor and antihistamines like nytol from chemist, the most effective without side effects was circadin (melatonin) tablets.

 

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I'm reading this post as I'm downing my 3rd large glass of wine in the hope it might help me sleep better tonight. Unfortunately I have realised already I need to get really p*ssed for the booze to help me sleep. I didnt drink regularly during the week till I started the citalopram. The first week or 2 the booze did help me sleep. Now that too has worn off. I think I need to focus on a less drastic and more long term solution.

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My reply to this post has been sent for moderation. I said pi$$€d when referring to alcohol. Ops. (Without the exclamations obviously).

11

Wow ELR I said the word Bitch referring to Anxiety being a bitch and that went through maybe I'm allowed to be a rebel ;0 

12

I once posted a link (in code) and it got posted but had my knuckles rapped lol.  It was only to help people, not advertising.  

Yes, Mr Meanie Moderator will seek you out lol. :-)

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Hi ELR, 

Alcohol stimulates the brain in early stages of sleep so you don’t get a quality sleep and most people sleep briefly and wake often? I would avoid the alcohol and see your doc about a last alternative sleeping pill? Just to take the anxiety away about sleeping work on a sleep ritual, read before bed, avoid scary movies TV before sleep maybe listen to soothing music to help relax generally keep yourself calm you will feel way better for it! I know that sound hard but I did and I sleep about 5-6 hours a night at best but its decent sleep. Maybe some magnesium before bed can also help. Look after yourself

 

 

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Understood Stevo. Today is a booze free day. I find it heightens the side effects the following day too. Tonight I'm increasing from 10mg to 20 on the Citalopram, so I'm expecting a few off days over the next couple of days. 

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Yeah take care mate! definately wont help side effects but going up to 20mg may not give you more or any side effects just depends really? I didnt get any upping the dosage just when I first started ? you might be fine focus on the benefits thats what I do

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I agree that drinking is not a long term solution but sometimes I would try anything as not being able to sleep is horrible and makes it hard to cope with things. Sometimes relaxation exercises can help, but when the insomnia is caused by the citalopram then they are not enough.

I used to stay on the sofa with the TV on, which doesn't help getting to sleep but stopped things from going round in my mind. It is a real low point around 4am when all the channels have gone to teleshopping and you finally get to sleep only to have a couple of hours before having to get up.

I found my sleep cycles got out of sync, especially during the winter with lack of sunlight, and the circadin tablets I bought online originally for jet lag helped.

The GP gave me zopiclone sleeping tablets before and they helped me get to sleep, but the effect seemed to continue into the next day and depending on my anxiety sometimes I felt more relaxed sometimes I felt like a zombie.

I realise a lot of the things I did and sometimes still do don't help overall and simple things like getting enough physical exercise, avoiding caffeine and sugary food can help.

Hope your sleep improves soon, if it doesn't then consider if the citalopram is having an overall positive effect on your health. It took me a long time to realise it wasn't for me and I tried to come off it a few times before succeeding.

17

Thanks all for your replies...

It's probably 'the' most difficult thing I've had to face being honest. I know to some people it may trivial but it's having a real negative impact on my life in lots of ways. I feel like I need a live-in psychiatrist some days.

The worst thing about it is that some nights I'll wake up with nothing hugely worrying on my mind. I'll pop to the bathroom very sleepy then bam! - the thought of not going back to sleep hits me, then my stomach starts churning. Then I'm so awake I cannot get back to sleep.

I then get up (like this morning) and sit downstairs pondering what the hell to do and who to talk to and some crazy hour. It's so depressing.

I've been on 10mg citalopram for over 3 weeks but need to up it to 20mg I think. May be even higher. I've been taking some 15mg Mirtazapine before bed too and they help unless I'm really stressing in the night.

I thought I'd got over this a few months ago. I seemed to have a 4-5 month better stretch when I was on fluoxetine and amitriptyline then I changed meds.

I'm not changing again though, I'm pretty confident citalopram is the best for anxiety longer-term and Holly your story gives me some confidence.

I pretty much know why it's happening. Since childhood I seem to move from one 'issue' to the next that gives me great difficulty - ordinary situations that I dwell upon 24/7 l- ike presenting to groups (something which when I'm over the initial few minutes I enjoy doing) but for years they would keep me awake at night. Now it's a fear of a lack of sleep. I have to say for a 38 year old man I feel quite pathetic but it's something that was ingrained in me and still is but I'm trying to break it down.

I have some underlying depression and anxiety, but these are so much milder when I sleep, it's like I morph back into my old self again and am 100 mph at work, exercising and doing normal things.

I somehow need to convince my sub-conscious that I don't need to keep feeding these problems that I've dealt with all my life. It's almost as if I have to find another problem to replace the old one and it's ruining my life. Can anyone identify with that? Does citalopram help with negative thoughts like this? God I hope so.

In the last 12 months I've been to an anxiety workshop,  mindfulness group and am currently using a daily meditation app called Headspace. All of these have helped but when I wake up in the night (like last night) I can't seem to stop the juggernaught - the terrible habit.

12 months ago I would sleep quite well 80% of the time and had nothing like this around my neck.

Anyway my plan over the next few weeks is to:

- Stick with 20mg citalopram

- Meditate daily for 20 mins

- Try and relax as much as possible

​Any other suggestions welcome!

18

Hi Holly - thanks for your reply that gives me some confidence - your stroy does sound similar to mine. I didn't have this problem 12 months ago now it's become an albatross. My main reply is at the bottom of the thread - see what you think. Glad you're feeling better now x

19

Sounds like you are very smart about how your body & mind is dealing with these issues some of which I think are normal anxiety levels but perhaps you push the anxiety up regarding the sleep which is very common too and a problem! I had shocking sleep then I tried some Cognitive behaviour therapy around it and made a sleep ritual, tips to get off to sleep as that was my biggest issue once asleep would wake a few times but after some time I accept I sleep enough so thats good enough for me! I force myself to block anxious thoughts before bed and focus solely on relaxing whichever way possible, I do a load of exercise now too which is great for stress which is a trigger for the damn anxiety so knowing the triggers is key also. Take care buddy glad the cita is working although it takes time so make sure you give it a good go champ!

20

Hi David!

Pretty similar story to mine, have things got any better for you?

Laura