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Xanax for Sleep with Lexapro??

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Posted 12/16/2014 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

Just needing some information and possibly a little reassurance. I take Lexapro at night (10mg) and it seems to give me racing thoughts and also some insomnia middle of the night.

Just recently I began to bite off a little piece of Xanax each night before bed. I've been doing this for about two weeks now. The whole pill is only .25mg. I bite off just less than half and it seems to help me go to sleep and keep me asleep during the evening.

I certainly do not want to form an addiction to Xanax at any point , ever. Being that this is such a small amount am I okay or is there anything I should be worried about?

Also, the mind racing on Lexapro is really a pain. I get imagined of weird shapes and colors. If I cut back to 5mg with doctor permission could that possibly tame this side effect down?
Thanks!!
Posted 12/17/2014 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
I can't help with Lexapro but i used xanax for years to rest and also get through the work day, like you i
never took more than half a pill, several years later i used it to get off it, just carrying it with me gave me
the knowledge that i could shut down panic if i needed to, i started using benadryl at bed time and it did
the same thing when i quit the xanax it was not noticed i carried them for two more years then just forgot
them. It takes all kind of people to make up this world but i dont believe i know anyone who became addicted to xanax if they followed doctors orders, Peace

Larry ***
Posted 12/17/2014 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
I never had those symptoms with lexapro but Effexor, forget about it. As long as your doc tells you it's alrght I would not worry about becoming addicted. It sounds like your taking a small dose anyways.

Sometimes if I have trouble sleeping I will take melatonin.
Posted 12/17/2014 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there! How long have you been taking lexapro? I only ask because I started lexapro 10 weeks ago and had to take the whole .25 of xanax every night for the first 8 weeks (had the same racing thoughts and frequent 2 am waking) . I was terrified to take xanax at first but my doc assured me I would be fine if taken as instructed. Sure enough, the last two weeks I haven't needed xanax at all. I'm sleeping much better now.... just needed more time than most to adjust to the med. Not sure if this helps... but wanted to share my story. I took .25 to .50 xanax every day with my lexapro for two months straight and stopped the xanax randomly one day with no issues. I wouldn't stress about the xanax on such a lose dose. :)
Posted 12/17/2014 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
PD.,

Good input above...just a reminder to always take your meds as prescribed by your doctor, and make any adjustments with consulting him/her first.

I am guessing that your doctor did not prescribe the Xanax for sleeping specifically, but PRN for anxiety...

...so speaking to him/her about an alternate sleep aid until you adjust to your Lexapro might be a good idea.:)

Wishing you the best...keep posting!

S.C.
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