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My meds make me an insomniac!

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 7/21/2018 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, all. I’ e been on a starting (30 mg daily) dose of Cymbalta for the last eight weeks to treat my generalized anxiety. It’s the latest one doctors have tried for me: I’ve spent the last eight years going from Lexapro to Paxil, then Zoloft, then Remeron, and now this. Cymbalta works great. Except that I have horrible insomnia that shows no sign of quitting.

For now, I’m also taking Trazodone. If I don’t take a Trazodone when I go to bed, I just wont sleep. So I’m now taking it every single night. That’s worked okay for the last few days, but I’ve been told that Trazodone often loses its effectiveness if taken like this for the long term.

I could just wait and see if that happens to me. If it does, I’m stuck. So I’m seriously considering dropping Cymbalta now and focusing on natural, non-pharma solutions to my anxiety.

If you were me, what would you do?
Posted 7/21/2018 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
I currently take Zoloft for my GAD (25 mg) and need to take trazadone as well in order to sleep. I only take 50 mg of T which does the trick, and really lets me sleep 6-7 hours. I have taken 100 mg before but the hangover effect is too much to tolerate the next day. My doc says I can take T for as long as I want given it is benign and easy to come off of. I have taken it for 5 months now and it still is effective at that dose unless a placebo is at work.
Posted 7/21/2018 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
Oops, forgot to answer your question. I guess if the cymbalta is working for you, I would try a higher dose of T to see if it can get you some sleep. Sleep is essential to coping with anything let along anxiety. I like the zoloft and what it is doing, so don't want to give that up since the T helps me sleep. A good combination for me.
Posted 7/22/2018 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Trazodone DOES work in the long run.

I've been taking the same dosage (300 mg) for over 12 years and I sleep well every night, with no hangover. I've noticed no changes at all in it's effectiveness.

If I don't take it, I don't sleep, just like before it was prescribed. And if you do take it, and get a hangover, reduce your dosage.
Posted 7/23/2018 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
I've taken trazadone for well I'm don't remember how long. Probably 5 yrs or so. I haven't had a problem with it. As a matter of fact it's one of the few that doesn't leave my dazed all day when I wake up.

Another idea is to check any prescriptions you might take for drowsiness. If you take a med in the morning that makes you sleepy check with your Dr. about taking it at night instead. When my Dr. started doing that I at least got some sleep.

Wish you well and I hope your sleep gets better.
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