Stress, Citalopram and Benzos!

[cultus007]

Unable to sleep, suffering from Stress and Anxiety . Hi All , currently suffering from anxiety, GP has prescribed Citalopram 10 ng which recently started . I hace a chronic sleep problem. I was taking lorazepam for sleeping and presently trying both combinations.

Getting bad hangover, ubable to sleep in the middle of night wgen I get up . Getting CBT and counselling done. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Have used Calm App as well !

[welly10]

Try sleepstation it's doctor referral.its a course online about better sleep v good I was on zopiclone for 8 weeks totally off them now.

[kaliska0]

First I'd question if the medications are actually helpful. Feeling hungover the next day and waking up in the night is a red flag to me that there is a possible problem there. I've taken dozens of meds for insomnia over the years and I've learned that sometimes you end up trading one problem for another without even realizing it.

One main thing that can interfere with feeling rested and alert is that practically all psychiatric medications including those specifically for sleep are also known to alter sleep architecture. The pattern of sleep stages. Your brain goes through 4-5 stages throughout the night and it needs a certain percentage of that to be rem (dreaming) and deep sleep stages. Benzos and ssri's, along with most everything else, can make it seem like you slept but get you stuck with only light sleep(stage 1-2 sleep). You may wake up easier or for no reason during the night and then feel hungover, unmotivated, unable to concentrate, forgetful, and might experience headaches the next day. Remembering a lot of your dreams can also be a sign that rem is being frequently interrupted by light sleep.

These things are a sign of poor sleep quality even if you are getting more sleep. It's commonly a side effect of a med, supplement, or excessive caffeine intake. If it isn't then at minimum it is less commonly helped by prescription medications or the more typical supplements such as melatonin that are recommended for sleep. If you see reason to be concerned your meds are actually harming your sleep quality or your ability to feel awake the next day you need to discuss it with your doctor. Poor sleep quality is usually best solved by relying less on medications and finding alternatives to deal with the causes of sleep problems.

There are a few calming supplements better known for improving sleep instead of merely getting you to sleep. Magnesium, especially magnesium glycinate, and phosphatidylserine are 2 that frequently leave people feeling more rested instead of just laying in bed unaware for longer. B vitamins and omega fatty acids are less predictable and generally used when restless sleep is caused by something like ADHD but they do sometimes improve sleep for others. As well as often being good for reducing that foggy headed hungover feeling the next day.

[cultus007 in reply to kaliska0]

thanks for the info, appreciate it

[LaPainting]

I have same problem and taking Ziplocone but anxiety cancels it out and awake listening to my heart for so many nights.its going on so long I have tried App but no good.I am waiting for counseling but I dread going to bed .. feeling very anxious.x

[cultus007 in reply to LaPainting]

Hi, so what have you tried now?

[LaPainting in reply to cultus007]

Nothing more.. just put up with it.. don't know what else to do.x