Hello, I currently taking Lexapro 10 mg and todayarks a week. I can see a slight improvement with my depression and anxiety. When i first started the medication it made me more depressed and anxious, but everyone said to keep taking it and stick it out. Today i see this has lofted however i am having trouble falling asleep. Does anyone know how long this typically last? I took a unisome pill which has helped me calm down but not fall asleep.
Does insomnia last long on lexapro?
- Asked
- 4 Oct 2015 by Btaylor2012
- Updated
- 10 days ago
- Topics
- lexapro, depression, anxiety, insomnia, generalized anxiety disorder, medication
Responses (6)
Yea the night before last i slept pretty well but last night was a fail again. Has your sleep improved since you last posted?
Unfortunately no. Am going to give it a good two months though before I do something about it.
Btaylor2012; morning if this just started its possible it well go away in a short time but if not many people have to take as someone else said seroquil,or trazodone to help with the sleep but they also seem to help with the lexapro give it a week or so still problems check with your doctor.But remember you still need to rest so lay down like your going to sleep read or whatever and rest the body and mind while your medication adjust itself. Have a good day. Chuck1957
Finally, After 2- 4 weeks on lexapro my insomnia ceased 2 nights ago... I was ony getting 2- 4 hours sleep a night... I had tried Lunest 9 do not EVER use Lunesta --- they hook you and the pills do not work, it made my sweating and insomnia WORSE)... I used benadryl, finally on monday night and starting wed night my insomnia lifted... I slept 10 hours last night --- its interrupted slepp but I fall right back off... I almost gave up on the lexapro the initial side effects included anxiety attacks and flushing with great heat and sweating... but the worst was the insomnia ... thank god thats over / feeling better mentally and physically... best of luck ! p.s I stopped the benadryl/ sleeping wihtout add. drugs
I’ve been on Lexapro for about a month next week. Started at 5mg and last week upped my dose to 10mg. Definitely experiencing imsomnia. It’s like tossing and turning and having vivid thoughts but not deep sleeping. Every couple days I’ll take a gravol before bed to help me sleep. Great except for the grogginess. I was taking this for panic attacks and GAD and oh my goodness has it helped me i am so grateful to have found this medication. Although sometimes i feel as though i have too much energy. This still may be initial side effects of the drug since I’ve only increased a week ago.
I have been on Lexapro for almost 7 weeks. I started at 5mg, was on it for 4 weeks. Increased to 7.5mg for 2 weeks, and just increased to 10mg 4 days ago. I feel like my insomnia is getting worse the more I increase the dose. I have been taking Xanax (0.25mg-0.5mg) every night to sleep. I lay there for hours awake if I don’t take it. I’ve even been up all nigh on several occasions. My Dr just stopped the Xanax & gave me Hydroxyzine. I haven’t tried it yet. Will this insomnia go away? Have anyone taken Hydroxyzine? Help please!
I'm currently taking 10 mg of Hydroxyzine and it hasn't been bad at all. It has been a year. For me, the only side effect really is drowsiness and sometimes it makes me feel a bit high, even at that small dose. It does help with sleep but I'm taking it on an AS NEEDED basis. If you take it before bed, you just might get some rest. I've done it a few times and slept through the night. But today is my first day on Lexapro so using them together will be a first for me. I say try it, you need some sleep. Hope this helped a little.

Further Information
- Lexapro Information for Consumers
- Lexapro Information for Healthcare Professionals (includes dosage details)
- Side Effects of Lexapro (detailed)
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I am so glad I found this forum. I have been taking ten mg of the generic lex., escitalopram, for over a year with mild insomnia. My doc upped dosage to twenty on Thursday last; ten a.m. and ten mg p.m. I react quickly to meds so my insomnia is significantly more severe. This is a problem for me since I can cycle rapidly up into mania. I was planning on going to work Monday, LOL, but I don't go to work sick. Thankfully I am now aware of this problem with my escitalopram. I think I'll give it another day. For Real; I can't do this and function.