Need some help

[himarksinsf]

Hello.

About a month ago, several things happened.

I suffer from chronic prostatitis and I had an outbreak.  My 10 year old son went to visit relatives overseas.  It was the first time he was away from home.  Finally, my cousin died of cancer.

The prostatits made me very uncomfortable but I was coping with it.  The inclusion of the other events resulted in severe anxiety.  I started taking 25 mg. Zoloft about three weeks ago.

It is now a month later.  I have good and bad days with the prostatitis which is an improvement.  The Zoloft is helping as far as being more engaged at work and with my family.  The stressors are going away - my son came back safe and sound.

However, I am still having lots of problems with sleep.

Urologist #1 prescribed 2 mg. Lorazepam.  It put me to sleep but I woke up very depressed.

Urologist #2 prescribed Lunestra.  I would go to sleep but wake up several times a night.

Therapist #1 doesn't advocate medicine.  His philosophy is let my body determine when it wants to sleep.

What I have been doing is all three strategies.  One night I take a Lorazepam, the next night I try a Lunestra and then I try cold turkey.

My sleep patterns are so messed up.  I don't know if it is from anxiety, sleep deprevation, side effect from the Zoloft or playing with the various recommendations.

I finally made an appointment with my primary next week to try and figure out one direction.

However, in the meantime, I am going a little nuts (last night, I did the cold turkey strategy and got to sleep at 5 a.m.).  I could use some support as to how other people got through this period.  Things are better than they were but I am terribly afraid of drug addiction and not having a normal sleep cycle.

Thanks for listening.

[jurplesman]

All the diverse symptoms (except prostatitis) seem to be interrelated. Both anxiety and depression can cause insomnia, as they are related to the production of serotonin.

Please read:

The Biochemistry of Insomnia at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/insomnia.html

Depression is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/depression_disorder.html

Beating Anxietiy and Phobias at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/beating_anxiety.html

See also:
http://www.hastingspress.co.uk/hypo/
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/hypoglycemia.htm

[himarksinsf]

Thank you for the feedback.  Very helpful.

As nighttime approaches, I am getting a little apprehensive.

My appointment is on Tuesday.

However, I am not sure what to do in the meantime.

Take the Lorazepam or Lunestra or tough it out.  I think switching from one strategy to another is not helping and probably not healthy.

Thanks again.

[xanweaner]

I get excellent sleep from Ambien 10 mg. I don't know much about Ativan, but I believe the anxiety meds should be reserved for the treatment of anxiety. And, if you were waking up depressed, it would be best to avoid taking it.

I'm not a big fan of Zoloft, but as long as you are beginning to get good results with it, ask for another sleep aid to replace the Lunestra. I'd contact my Urologist #2 who rx'ed it and ask for a new rx for Ambien 10 mg. Many people get good results from the Ambien CR, too.....(long-acting Ambien).

I understand your therapist's recommendation, but when you're suffering from extreme sleep deprivation, esp. if it's caused by an energizing SSRI like Zoloft, a sleep aid can save the day (or night).

Good luck with your prostatitis, too...
-xan-

[fuzzy882]

I understand how you feel about the sleep deprivation.  I went for week's on a few hrs. of sleep. That's part of the depression/anxiety. Give the zoloft a little more time, sleep will come, try not dwelling on it. When your body has had enough, believe me, sleep will come