Lexapro Increase, now no sleep

[MyLittle1]

Hi there, I've been on Lexapro for a little over a month now. Since I've increased to the 10 mlg, I can't sleep. My anxiety is more under control, and I'm eating better. I feel better other than no being able to sleep. I feel fatigued and tired at work and find it difficult to stay focussed. My Dr. gave me Ambien to sleep now, I drank a half of pill last night and still found it difficult to sleep. I just think and think all night long. I'm afraid of taking a whole pill and waking up natious or something. I've never taken Ambien before. What can I do to sleep, I feel like I haven't slept in a month.. I appreciat your advice. Thanks in advance.

[lynn57]

What your explaining seems like I was.  My anxiety was better with the SSRI, but never gone.  The only time I sleep well, have no trembles or mind racing is when I take the Klonopin.  I take it regularly as it is the best benzo for long-term use.  I would be very restless while sleeping .  I also got up in the middle of the night to "calm" down.  I would watch TV and try to get interested so my mind would settle down.  The Klonopin takes care of all this.  Hope you do better.  Nobody should have to fight anxiety and insomnia all the time.

[MyLittle1]

Thanks Lynn57, that helps to know. I am still having anxiety even on the 10mlg of Lexapro. I can still feel them come on and off, it just takes that hard edge off of them when they come on. I'm taking a bit more than a half of Ambien at night and that seems to be working for these past 2 days. Let's see if that will do, if not I'll definitely ask my Dr. for Klonopin. Thanks again. I know exactly how you felt too. I wonder why at night is when it hits our minds. My husband even says that I sometimes shake alot like I'm having comboltions or something. Is that normal? Is it the anxiety or panic attacks that I get while I sleep? Maybe..

[lynn57]

I had the same problem with Lexapro and Effexor.  My mind worked overtime at night.  I felt great as far as mood and anxiety went but I had insomnia.  I tried ambien and trazedone to no avail.  Trazedone left me awake feeling like I had to bricks on my eyelids.  I finally started taking Klonopin .25 at night and that helped.  Then my doctor put me on it AM and PM.  Somehow I still had some residual anxiety that left my mind in overdrive.  Neurontin can help with sleep also.  Klonopin would be a last resort if your doctor still thought your anxiety wasn't being controlled.