sleeping pills on citalopram (anti depressants)

[dcgc]

I'm taking anti depressants (citalopram) at the moment and have been having real problems sleeping at night. This has been going on for a few weeks and a friend suggested asking the docs for sleeping tablets. Just wondered if anyone else had experienced this and how taking sleeping pills worked for them? Think I'm just scared of turning into a walking medicine cabinet, feel like I need pills for everything at the moment.

[peggotty]

Have you been taking citalopram for long? I had some trouble sleeping when I was on it but it did come and go a bit. It was nearer the beginning of when I was taking it.

[dcgc]

Only been taking it two weeks but feel like I have insomnia! Tend to be getting around 3 -4 hours sleep a night. Did it settle down after a while?

[GetDownYouWillFall]

I was prescribed zopiclone and citalopram together. Zopiclone is a sleeping tab. They will only give you a maximum of two weeks worth to stop you getting dependent. They may well help you through this difficult few weeks whilst you adjust to the medication.

Don't rely on them though, they lose their effectiveness very quickly.

[peggotty]

It's still early days then, although you may find you have periods of sleep problems on citalopram on and off at a later stage too. The initial symptoms you are having will all settle down after a few more weeks.

[dcgc]

Thanks for the advice, will speak to docs I think as feel like I'm going mad with sleep deprivation (as well as everything else).

[QueenofWhatever]

I'm on citalopram and sleeping tablets as I have complex PTSD. I'm switching now between zopiclone and temazepam, as it's coming up for a year that I've been taking them. Depression is hard enough to deal with and combining it with sleep deprivation amkes it that much more difficult. It has literally enabled me to keep my life going with DD, being a lone parent and working.

[dcgc]

Thanks QueenofWhatever, it's true, everything looks so much better after a decent nights kip and when you're not even getting that it can be pretty bleak.

[ellenjames]

when i started citalopram i was prescribed a mild dose of diazapam to help me sleep and basically chill out, was given 2 weeks worth as not to become dependant. Sleep is soo important when you suffer from depression! x

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

I also was given diazepam with citalopram as a 'sleeping pil' as the non sleeping was caused by anxiousness anyway. I self medicated abit with them, some nights I took none as just the knowledge they were there to help if I needed it was enough to relax me, some nights I took double dose if I was having a really rough time with it. I was off them again quite quickly but they helped me sooo much through a bad patch. If you have enough 'self control' to not become dependant, I think they can be great TBH, but I can see how it would become easy to depend on them every night and they aren't a long term solution. Have you tried other things like hot smelly bubble bath, warm milky/horlicks drink , calming CDs etc? I don't suggest that lightly, I find these can work wonders for me and I have had very very bad insomnia/anxiety/PTSD flashbacks etc.

[dcgc]

Thanks everyone, funnily enough the last couple of nights have been quite good so maybe it was just a case of letting the medication kick in. I will definately try a bath at bedtime and some relaxation CD's as well. It's so rubbish feeling like this, have forgotten what it's like to feel "normal".

[zippy5784]

hello
I have ordered Zopiclone online from pharmacy-weightloss.net , I have been prescribed this for my depression and insommia. Yes, now I feel much more better...

[lucifer0000666]

Hi ive been on antidepressants for nearly twenty years now at first fluxotine then seroxat and im now currently taking citalopram 40mg every day .Just recently i have been taking zopiclone to help me sleep and have suffered severe toothache so was taking cocodamol and tramadol to help with the pain could this mix effect my memory at all