Citalopram & Zopiclone

[UnluckySeaUrchin]

I've just been prescribed Citalopram (20mg) and Zopiclone (3.75mg). I picked up the prescription today and am wondering what people's experiences have been in terms of when to take these? The dr has said to take the Zopiclone just for 3 days then see how I'm going. I already suffer from awful insomnia, so am wondering if I should take the Citalopram in the morning and the Zopiclone (obviously!) in the evening to avoid exacerbating the insomnia? Or should I take both in the evening to minimise possible side effects of Citalopram during the day? I'm quite nervous to start taking Citalopram due to possible side effects but desperately want to feel better. Any words of encouragement gratefully received.

Citalopram keeps me awake at night. The side effects are tricky for the first few weeks (for me it was mostly nausea) but the lack of sleep was far worse if I took the tablets after mid afternoon.

@Darthwazette thank you for the reply. Have you ever been prescribed sleeping tablets (which is what the Zopiclone is) to counteract the insomnia? And if so, does it work if you take both at the same time in the evenings? I stupidly didn't ask the dr when I had the consultation..

Citalopram when I first started made me sleepy so personally I'd take it at night

@GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough that's interesting! I really hope it does the same for me... my insomnia is awful at the moment and I don't think I can cope with anything that makes it worse.. I'm going to try taking both at night then.

I've been on it 7 years and I can take it anytime now. It made me feel quite foggy to begin with. Just remember to persevere with it as it takes a little while to get in the system and you may feel worse before you feel better but it will pass

I've taken this combination before. I took the anti depressant in the morning and the zopiclone in the evening. I would say that it's a pretty small dose of zopiclone so I'd manage your expectations. When I take it, I take double that and it's still not brilliant. I had no side effects from the citalopram other than lots of nervous energy for the first couple of weeks so I definitely couldn't have taken it in the evening. It might be worth considering another kind of anti depressant in the long term though as zopiclone is generally only prescribed for a short period. I'm now on trazodone which has been really helpful for my sleep.

Just to say I had a few months of insomnia when I started on Citalopram, OP, despite trying it both morning and night. The type where you go to sleep ok for 3 or 4 hours, but then wake for 2-3 hours in the night, so just be aware of that.... It doesn't really sound to me as if the gp has prepared you very well for what could happen and it often takes a good 6-8 weeks to feel ANY benefit AT ALL from Citalopram, so I'm not really sure why you were given sleeping tablets for short-term use.

@CremeEggThief I was kind of worried about this... it was an after-hours phone appointment and the GP seemed quite rushed. I was also quite overwhelmed (a general feeling at the moment) and so didn't ask the right questions. She did say it would take a few weeks for the Citalopram to kick in, but she seemed to indicate the sleeping tablets would help in the meantime.. as another PP has said, however, they are a really low dose and I'm not convinced they are going to do much in terms of helping me to sleep... I've tried quite a few things in the past, and it takes a fair bit to knock me out (wehereas DP only has to smell a herbal sleeping supplement and he's out for 12 hours and "feeling groggy" the next morning...!) I'm really worried about side effects and feeling worse before feeling better as I just don't think I can cope with anything else right now.

I would ask for a follow-up appointment if I were you, UnluckySeaUrchin. Why not write down all of your concerns in bullet point form before your next appointment just to jog your memory when you're there?

I just don't really feel as if a lot of gps give enough information and help to manage expectations as well. Take care.

@CremeEggThief I think that's a good idea. Do you think I should hold off on taking the medications until the follow up appointment?

Hi @UnluckySeaUrchin I know this is an old post but just wondered how you are getting on ? What happened with the zopiclone int he end ? Did it help ? I've got both and already have awful insomnia ( for a physical reason as well ) and feeling awful . Any advice useful