Not sleeping on Citralopram - any advice please?

[greatscott81]

I've been taking Citralopram for a month now and my sleep has been gradually deteriorating over that time. I realise that difficulty sleeping is one of the side affects but it's becoming a real problem. I have been awake since 4.30 this morning and it took me a long time to get to sleep. I have a 2.5 year old and it's just the two of us and I feel exhausted which isn't fair on her. Has anyone else experienced this and is there anything you've done to help? I'm wary of taking sleeping pills as I don't want to fall into such a deep sleep I can't hear my DD if she wakes. She woke a couple of times last night - once talking in her sleep which was really cute - but it does mean that any sleep I do manage is massively disturbed. Should I talk to the Dr about coming off the pills? I have felt better since I've been on them but maybe I would have felt better naturally? Sorry if this is a bit jumbled and thank you for any advice!

If try another one. It can take a whole to find the right one for you

Thank you. I'll try to speak to my Dr and see if I can switch

Definitely not sleeping pills - I found they put me to sleep but didn't keep me there, so I just woke up early and groggy. What time of day do you take the pills? If evening, switch to morning - can make a difference. Otherwise, definitely see about switching. Great that you feel better but that is absolutely because of the pills so I wouldn't think coming off so soon would be a good idea. Hope you can find a better one.

Do you take them consistently at the same time every day? It may help to change the time you take them. For example, I take a similar tablet that is a slow-release type-- so I take it just before I go to sleep and it kicks in by about 6am and wakes me up.

Others have a faster release time, and those are easier to take in the morning so that they keep you going during the day and wane off towards bedtime.

If you don't have any luck varying the time you take it, you can also look at the dosage or just try a different med.

Thank you, I take them in the morning but it's still really affecting my sleep. Hopefully another one will have less of an impact on my sleep

That's an interesting idea - I've already taken today's pill but I might try taking it at night time tomorrow to see if it has a different affect. Would be nice to feel that awake in the day time for once!

Definitely try taking it at night. I've been on citalapram & took it at night on the advice from the GP. He always said to take at night. Hope it works OP and you start to get some much needed decent zzzzz's

Thank you so much. The lack of sleep is making everything else so much harder!! Thanks all for your advice xx