anxiety, depersonalization

Hello,
I have been prescribed Xanax XR 1 mg, once a day and Zoloft 100 mg. I take Zoloft regularly every morning but I try to take as less of Xanax as possible. I was also prescribed Ambien 10 mg for insomnia. I have been on Ambien for 4 months already. I cannot fall asleep without the medication. If I skip taking it, I frequently wake up through the night and sometimes I even have nightmares. Sometimes, even, when I do take it, I will get up in the middle of the night and start eating.
I have a really hard time waking up in the morning. Up until 4 pm, I don't feel like myself. I lose things, I am very clumsy and forgetful. Sometimes, I can't even focus and I feel lost. I am very cranky and get irritated so easily.
I am not a smoker, but I do use Skoal tabacco pouches. Sometimes I can't focus on anything and then I  take 1/4 of Xanax and feel better.
Do you think that the reason that I might be feeling like this is due to medication? I remember once I skipped Zoloft and had the worst headache and my body was in cramps.
Please, help!

[DonnaLe]

I think that all of the meds you take can cause all of those eymptoms.  Even the part about getting up in the middle of the night. My doctor told me that most of these "mood"  medicines have the side affect of making you hungry. When you say that taking part of the xanax makes you feel better it is probably because you are so anxious that you can't keep your thoughts straight. That happens with me too.

At one time I was taking a heavier dosage of my antidressants and sleeping pills and they both caused me to have that hangover feeling...just as you described. When I went to a smaller dose I still felt thoughs things but not as bad.  I guess folks like you and me have to weigh the side effects of the meds to the symptoms of being without them, you know?

Take care. Donna

[PenelopeAnn]

Sleeping pills like Ambien aren't really helpful for insomnia, because when you use them you don't go through the stages of sleep you need to, and therefore, don't get the benefit of sleep. You are basically only unconscious rather than asleep. They should only be used for short term. Your body becomes dependent on them and then you can't produce the sleep inducing chemicals on your own. They just relieve the unbearable stress of being up all night unable to sleep. They also give you what is called a hangover, leaving you groggy through the day. They also have an amnesia type effect when you wake up. Some people have reported night time eating with antidepressants, especially Paxil, but Zoloft is in the same family. As far as getting back into the cycle of falling asleep on your own, it will take time and will probably be uncomfortable until your body starts making those chemicals on its own.

I have the same problem with my antipsychotic; I can't fall asleep on my own anymore, but in my case I need it for other reasons too.

[MrGreen]

Now if you told your doctor about the sleeping till 4pm I have no doubt he would lower the amount of one of your medications. As you can't sleep he would probably leave the night time drug alone. Lower the Zoloft maybe. Most of these things would make you want to sleep. Make you feel whacked out of it for sure. Medications can cause nightmares too. I am on one form of anti-depressant that gives some amazing nightmares. But it does warm you of that on the leaflet that comes with the medication. Anti-depressants can knock you out. But I find I wake after a few hours. It is just a case of not getting worked up about it. That will only make it worse. Even if you got out of bed and done some exercises. May sound silly. But it would help to relax you some and get rid of any tension that is there. Finally. Skipping medication is not a good thing to do. I would suggest a doctor's visit and have it sorted out. As I said a lower dose of one or the other. That might be all it takes.