Lexapro, Day 15 Insomnia!?

HI Janiebme! Thanks for your prompt response. Wow, how did you ride it out for two months? I'm a mess after three days. I'm glad you found a solution that works for you. I just spoke with my Dr's office (open on Sat). They offered Seroquel 25-50mg at bedtime to assist with sleep. An antipsychotic, for depression and anxiety! I did a little research; it can cause hallucinations in non-psychotic people. I feel, like, I just entered the psychotropic hamster wheel. If not too personal a question, did you take anything for sleep while taking the lexapro? Thanks for your well wishes, and same to you.

Hi Blessed-
I have not found a solution to the anxiety and depression. I am taking generic Wellbutrin and struggling with the increased anxiety and lack of quality sleep. Entering the psychotropic hamster wheel is no fun. I was given Ativan for sleep, but rarely use it due to fears of addiction and tolerance. I had taken Trazadone for sleep before but it stop working, it is not a benzo. Anything that causes nightmares is out for me. Many people really like the Seroquel but be careful it is a benzo.
Have you tried Buspar for your anxiety? It is non-addicting and has little side effects.

Hi Blessed-
I stand corrected Seroquel is not a benzo. It is an antipsychotic. You may only have to take it until the Lexapro settles down and you can get back into a regular sleep pattern.
Let me know how the Seroquel and Lexapro are doing. I will add you as a friend on this site if you want to converse privately.

Hi Janiebme. Yes, please add me to your friends list. I would like to continue communicating. I have severe reservations about taking an anti-psychotic for sleep. Where I live they're hesitant to prescribe Z-drugs. They worry about the link between Benzos, Z-drugs and cognitive impairment. I have had 10 hours sleep in three days and its starting to wear on me. Thanks again, TTYL.

I took a small amount of seroquel until the lexapro did its thing. It gave me the best sleep ever! Give 25mg a try... you will only need to use it for a few weeks.

Thanks Cherrub! My nerves got the best of me and I used the Clonazepam I had. I would prefer not but, the insomnia is unbearable. My Dr had begun a Lexapro taper. This is the second SSRI to cause insomnia, headaches, and loss of appetite. I am at a lost and feeling hopeless.

Hi Blessed-
I understand the feeling of lost and loosing hope. Try to remember that just because 2 SSRIs did not work due to side effects does not mean there is not something out there to help you. There are other antidepressants. There are also the SNRIs.
I have bad side effects to the SSRIs. You asked how I stayed on the Lexapro for 2 months with the bad side effects... it was not easy. I really wanted the Lexapro to work. I lost too much weight to continue with the Lexapro.
Let me know what your doctor suggest.

Hi Janiebme! I can only imagine what those two months must have been like for you. My Dr tapered me off the Lexapro. I am currently taking Clonazepam 0.5mg to sleep and to assist with the anxiety. He is considering Effexor and Remeron or "California Rocket Fuel." You mentioned taking Wellbutrin but, I get the impression it is not as effective as you were hoping. I'm leaning toward natural supplements. 5HT, SamE, or St. John's Wort. Taking one medication to counteract the side effect of another, just does not sit well with me. Honestly, I feel better now that, I have been off the Lexapro for five days. He will switch the Clonazepam to Trazodone next week. I'm nervous as nightmares are a side-effect that seems common on this website.

Hi Blessed-
The WB is not working well at all for me. It is causing my anxiety to be high and insomnia.
I could not take Effexor made me very ill. Remeron is known for weight gain no matter how little you eat. Causes sugar and carb cravings. Both of these meds can have withdrawals that are not fun if you have to stop them. Is your doc a GP or a psychiatrist? I know how it feels to not want to take any more meds. You can try 5-htp, Sam-e and or St. Johns Wort to see if it helps you. I heard the Valarian root can work for anxiety, but you have to stop it for a month and then go back on it.
If you add me as a friend we can go to the private conversation.
Let me know what you are going to do.

Hi Janiebme! I have added you as a friend but do not know where to begin the conversation.

Hi Blessed-
You click on my icon and then you type in the' ask me a question' box.