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Hi Kari, Just curious: what dosage of Trazadone were you on? Maybe it wasn't high enough? I personally take 150mg, which is rather high considering it's usually prescribed at 50mg for sleep, but I require 150mg and it only works while I am taking my antidepressant since it appears my insomnia is a result of depression. When I began it I didn't like the way it made me feel the next day, but as your body gets used to it, at least in my experience the hangover feeling goes away. My counselor, who is pretty anti-medication is pro-trazodone because she says (and my psychiatrist says) it is not addicting whereas a lot of anxiety meds like xanax, colonopin, valium, etc. are addicting. I have gone off trazadone in the past with absolutely no problem. Just wanted to share my experience with you. Good luck! Nicole
'kromeoc' wrote on '01:Hi everyone! My name is Kari and I'm from Minnesota. I've been dealing with insomnia and anxiety for a couple of months now. Each of them fuels the other – the more I can't sleep, the more anxious I am, and the more anxious I am, the more I can't sleep! It's like my own bed has turned against me and now acts as a trigger for the anxious feelings when I lay down. To be fair, some nights are better than others. Friday and Saturday nights in particular are fine, since I don't have to get up for anything the next day. I've been seeing a sleep psychologist for a couple of weeks, so I'm hoping he will be able to help me. I went to a family practice doctor initially who prescribed me trazodone. It helped a little, but I didn't like how it made me feel the next day. I was also worried about dependency. I was thinking about looking into anti-anxiety medication, but I also worry about dependency, as well as side effects.
I look forward to reading posts from people who get what I'm dealing with! Despite the support I've gotten from family and friends, it's been a lonely couple of months.
I tried Celexa in the past, but stopped after it gave me a constant mild headache. I should have stuck with it longer since most side effects go away after the body is accustomed to the new med, but at the time I didn't have patience. Both my parents are on celexa and they are both happy with it. Almost all antidepressants list insomnia as a side effect, but I personally don't sleep at all without being on an antidepressant! I think it is a good idea to try the celexa. My advice is give it enough time (at least 4 weeks) for it to kick in and remember side effects if you have any usually go away. And if celexa doesn't work for you try another one! I have been on numerous different antidepressants unfortunately! Sometimes you have to try until you get the right one. Depression causes insomnia so if you treat the depression with meds, the insomnia should go away too! Good luck to you!
'jayinsf' wrote on '23:I have been seeing a sleep specialist for the past year, who generally has been working with me on CBT approaches. I have had sleep/fatigue issues all my life, mainly involving waking up too early and never feeling refreshed, but they got a lot worse last year when I switched to a new job and was having a lot of stress and having sleepless nights, or waking up at 2 or 3 and not falling back to sleep. Generally these issues have gotten better, now I am generally able to sleep till at least 5 after going to be around 10, though frequently I still find myself waking up at 4:30. Anyway, I am constantly feeling tired and fatigued even when sleeping longer during the weekends (I know, CBT says to wake up at the same time every day, but I take the opportunity to sleep an extra hour or two on weekends; my problem is not that I have trouble falling asleep, just staying asleep). So now I have been prescribed Citalopram (Celexa), which I'm going to try for six weeks. It's an antidepressant but the thought is maybe it will help improve my mood and energy level, decrease anxiety and maybe either allow me to sleep a little more or feel better. I'm a little leery as one of the side effects is insomnia! When I tried Trazadone, that just kept me awake all night with weird dreams, I was falling asleep and then waking up all through the night.
Anyone have any experience with Citalopram/Celesta? Thanks!
Hi Nikki, I feel really bad for what you are going through. You are right that unless someone experiences chronic insomnia, they will not understand. With my insomnia, it appears it is caused by my depression. Once on antidepressants it gets better, but never goes fully away unfortunately. A lot of people say that since they don't feel sad then depression isn't causing their insomnia. This can be very wrong since depression can sometimes only manifest itself with physical symptoms such as insomnia or loss of appetite. Have you talked to your doctor about your sleep? Have you seen a sleep specialist? I also take trazodone at night. This is an old type of antidepressant that is safe and a lot of people take for insomnia, even people who do not suffer from depression. At low doses it works more as a sleep aid than as an antidepressant. Interestingly, it does nothing for my sleep unless I am also on my depression med. Combined they work. I know it is tough having to work and care for a child while exhausted. I work full-time and have a little girl. I feel your pain and can just say hang in there. Nicole
'Nikki' wrote on '18:Hi everyone, my name is Nikki and I am a 32 year old woman living in Henderson Nevada, right outside Las Vegas. I moved here with my family about 4 years ago. I have a husband and a 13 year old son. I currently work as a cocktail waitress at nights and am starting school to get my nursing degree.
I have had insomnia since I was about 8 years old. I had this dream that it would get better as I got older but instead it seems to be getting worse. On most days I get 3 or 4 hours but I can have days where I go without any. I have tried almost every sleeping med, OTC and prescription, and most traditonal and non traditonal methods to help me sleep. Nothing works. I won't get go into tons of details but suffice to say, I am physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.
I am hoping that this forum will give me some conatct with people who truly understand. My family is supportive but I don't believe anyone who hasn't gone through insomnia can actually understand. I am hoping to be able to find and give support to people like me.
Thanks for listening and its nice to meet you all 🙂
I'm glad to report that my sleep is getting better. I am able to sleep from 9-5 with several brief awakenings where I immediately fall back to sleep. I used to be able to sleep from 10-7 with no awakenings, but hey I'll take what I can get and it is a lot better that 3-4 hours of sleep like before. I think the trick was waiting for the cymbalta to kick in for the depression. It has been almost 3 weeks that I have been on it and it started helping on day 5. I also take 150mg trazodone at night, which did nothing for me before taking the cymbalta. I just recommend to people that they screen for depression because disturbed sleep is a common symptom of depression. Even if you don't have the sad feelings you can still suffer from depression like me with biological symptoms such as insomnia and no appetite. I will still go for the sleep study on Oct. 22nd to see if there is a physical reason I keep waking up through the night. Good luck to everyone.
'sleeplessinky' wrote on '22:Hi Nicole…..I'm interested in learning the results of your sleep study when you have it. Our symptoms are so similiar. Waking up throughout the night is the story of my life. Yes, I do think that depression is part of my problem but for some reason I'm reluctant to take anti-depressants. When I looked up on the internet the med that was prescribed for me, it listed insomnia as one of the side effects I definitely won't take that one but I am trying to decide whether to ask for something else. I hope that the Cymbalta starts working for you. Good luck on the sleep study as well.
Unfortunately, most antidepressants except for Remeron and some of the older tricilycs have insomnia as a side effect!! I've been on so many!!! I understand your reluctance. If it were not for not sleeping or eating, I would try my hardest to stay off of them, but unfortunately I cannot function without them 🙁 Good luck to you. I understand your battle. My suggestion is finding a good psychiatrist since they know their meds. A primary doc does not have that expertise.
Hi. That's a bummer that the mask is not helping with the insomnia that was thought to be a result of sleep apnea. I went to a sleep specialist and am going for a sleep study next month to see why I keep waking up throughout the night. I just also started Cymbalta to treat my depression with the hopes that with the depression treated my sleep will go back to normal. Only time will tell!! Could depression be the cause of your insomnia? Do you have any other biological symptoms of depression like loss of appetite or GI problems? Insomnia is a very common symptom of depression. Just a thought!
Hello, went to the sleep specialist and she is sending me for a sleep study next month to see if there is a physical reason that I am such a light sleeper like sleep apnea or periodic limb movement. I am praying for a physical cause since that is easier to treat than a psychological cause!! I finally gave in and am going to start the seroquel tonight. The sleep specialist (a nurse practitioner) and my psychiatrist both said that was fine, but I went to a clinical social worker today for some counseling and she made me feel like a crumb for going with the seroquel saying she thought it was too soon to be “pulling out the big guns” and instead that I should wait for my Cymbalta to kick in and stay out of work if I can't deal with the sleep deprivation. I was so upset. Thanks for all the concern.
Ok so the doxepin didn't work. I am desperate and feeling awful. My psychiatrist prescribed Cymbalta with the hopes that if my depression is treated then the insomnia will go away. The remeron just wasn't cutting it andI haven't been eating in addition to not sleeping. I have finally given in and agreed to 5mg Zyprexa at night to see if this works for the insomnia. Hopefully it will work and if it does hopefully it will just be until the Cymbalta kicks in and helps the depression. I was on effexor in the past and took Trazodone at the same time to help my insomnia and it worked so hopefully the cymbalta will work and I will just need trazadone for sleep. Any positive experiences with Zyprexa?
Has anyone tried doxepin? I think it is the same thing as the sleeping pill Silenor. I tried 20mg last night and though it didn't work completely I think it may have helped a little? I'm wondering if I keep taking it if the sleep will continue to get better or if last night is the best I am going to get? Anyone have experiences?
curious, how did the seroquel work for you? My psychiatrist mentioned it, but I was reluctant because I was on Abilify, another anti-psychotic, before as add on treatment for depression and it made me fat and withdrawn. I've tried a lot of different pills and nothing is working so thinking of trying the seroquel, but scared to.
Trazadone 150mg along with another anti-depressant worked great for me after trying Ambien, Ambien CR, and lorazepan with no luck. The problem is it stopped working after a couple years. My friend has been taking 100mg for several years and it still works for her. The hung over feeling does go away after a week or so so give it time. Good luck!
