Insomnia

[hutch82]

I recently started a new job working shifts.  I was having trouble sleeping during the day while on midnights.  I went to my PCP and was prescribed ambien and leaxapro.  Is this considered a mental health condition ?

[chicagopsy]

The Ambien should help ease the sleep transition from one shift to another on a short term basis.

As a doctor, I'm puzzled by the inclusion of Lexapro.  Was your doctor under the impression that you could not sleep because of emotional disturbance?  

If your suffering from anxiety as a result of work or otherwise; the combination of Ambien and Lexapro is still very unusual, unless the Lexapro is the reason you are taking the Ambien in the first place but even that is an uncommon combination.   Many patients who take Lexapro feel more energetic, or even more anxious at least at the begining of treatment.

How are you sleeping now with the meds?

[hutch82]

I am sleeping well.  I only take the ambien when on midnights to help me sleep during the day.  When I first started backshifts I was very anxious because I couldn't fall asleep.  I was like a zombie.  I did have some anxiety because of the lack of sleep.  Would you consider this a mental health condition ?  A job that I am in the process of applying for wants to know if you have ever seeked medical attention for a mental health condition and thats the reason im asking.

[RWG]

I have been an insomniac for at least 25 yrs.  I have tried everything from biofeedback to melatonin.  I had a prescription for flurazapam for years but about a year ago stopped taking it and finally slept on my own. Back in July I went on a cruise, came back and the insomnia hit again worse than ever.  I went to a sleep clinic where I slept for 40 minutes in 8 hours. ( I don't remember sleeping at all) They said I have sleep apnea and gave me a CPAP machine.  There is no way I can fall asleep wearing that, and the doctor wanted to stop giving me anything to help sleep.  Now I have gone to a psychiatrist that specializes in sleep.  He gave me 50mg of Seroquel and Ambien.  I'm afraid I am sliding a slippery slope into too much medication.  He prescribed 15 mg. Ambien per night, and the pharmacy said they can't put that much on the label.  They can't get the doc to call them back, so now I can't get anything.  The Seroquel isn't doing anything, and I am at wits end.  Any suggestions PLEASE.  I go as long as 4 days without sleep, and then I have to take something to knock me out.