Posted by Wildman on January 25, 2004, at 9:19:02
In reply to Re: Just started Lexapro..., posted by Brown eyed girl on January 24, 2004, at 18:53:22
> I have been on lex for 5 days and my insomnia has gotten worse. pdoc prescribed trazodone to help but it is not working. It helps me to fall asleep but does not keep me asleep. Is there anything that can help with the insomnia. Any help would be greatly appreciated/
I have experienced some occasional insomnia while on Lex. I'm in week 7 now, and would say that I've had insomnia perhaps two nights per week.
When confronted with insomnia (usually I can tell that it's coming in that I'll still be wide awake around 9:30 or 10:00PM, when I'm usually ready to hit the bed), I'll take 25mg of Seroquel.
The Seroquel makes me very drowsy within 30 minutes or so. If I watch TV it seems to take longer as the TV holds my interest, but if I'm reading in bed (less stimulation than TV) then I get sleepy faster.
I've also found that if I take the Seroquel more than two nights in a row that I am really flat the next day - so I really try to limit the Seroquel to when I'm really having trouble sleeping.
If you decide to try Seroquel as an occasional sleep aid, try a 1/2 25mg tab at first. My first night on 25 mg Seroquel was not a good one at all. It really sedated me that first morning (think Rohypnol) and had a psychedelic effect on how everything looked the next morning, which was disconcerting (and I used to _love_ psychedelics many years ago).
After that initial first bad experience, I tried it again (I was desperate) and had a _much_ better experience and was able to wake up and function normally (thank goodness).
I also have Doxepin on hand for my sleep, but can't take it (or any other tri-cyclic) while on Lex (the manufacturer of Lex specifically warns against this on their website).
Hang in there, the insomnia will improve. I've found it helpful also to have Tylenol PM around, as it works too. Both the Seroquel and the Tylenol PM make me drowsy, but Seroquel has the added advantage of helping me to get back to sleep if I am awakened during the night (I have three kids, 5, 3, and 10 months) and somebody is _always_ getting up at night.
poster:Wildman
thread:299560
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040122/msgs/305281.html