Hey guys
So I have some form of generalised anxiety disorder / night time panic which really limits my ability to sleep, I fall asleep ok but I wake early in the night (after about 4 hours) and cannot return to sleep, I have done and do all the sleep hygiene measures and CBT, please do not mention these.
I tried Pregabalin but found that the effectiveness was not long enough, and my fingers swelled up. Mirtazapine for a few days, but this stuff zombified my daytime, made me feel very unnormal.
Re Anxiety medication, I have tried escitalopram, got up to 20mg for 6 months, it really made anxiety disappear in the daytime, but did nothing for my night time/sleep issues, so I still felt exhausted.
Now I changed to Duloxetine, Cymbalta, started at 30mg for 3 weeks, instantly my sleep improved, I would still wake in the night, but I could return to some sleep but often waking, tossing turning etc, still, it is not as I would wish. I have now been on 60mg for a further 3 weeks, and to be honest, I didn't feel much change in the effectiveness. I have read that more than 60mg is not shown to be any more effective. I do take my medication in the mornings, and I have tried experimenting with trying just before bed and splitting doses, it doesn't make any difference.
I am not sure what to try next...