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How Long Does Lexapro Take To Show Effect?
Question: Hello! Started lexapro 5 mg 2 days ago to help with anxiety and insomnia due to anxiety and my insomnia is now unbearable. I took 15mg of restoril and .5 of clonazepam and only slept 2 hours. Should I continue taking lexapro and give it a chance? The purpose of lexapro was to discontinue taking .5 of clonazepam at night for sleep but nothing is working and the lack of sleep is getting to me.
Brief Answer:
Continue lexapro and visit your doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXXXXX thanks for writing, I have understood your concerns.
So you have been recently diagnosed and suffering from anxiety and insomnia. the lexapro is a SSRI antidepressant drug which causes changes in brain neurochemicals and relieve anxiety from the root. It will start showing its effects after 10 to 15 days. It is not given to you for sleep. It does not produce sleep [ it is not a hypnotic drug].
You are given clonazepam 0.5 mg and restoril 15 mg. These both are benzodiazepines which are given to you for immediate control of anxiety and producing sleep.
If I would be your treating psychiatrist , I will give you lexapro in higher dosage at night. I would give you only one benzodiazepine instead of two, for control of anxiety like lower dose of clonazepam twice daily. For sleep I would rather prescribe zolpidem or zopiclone or would give higher dose of clonazepam at night.
Discuss these issues with your treating psychiatrist and don't make change in the drug dosage without his/her permission. continue taking lexapro.
I hope this will be helpful to you. If you have further queries feel free to ask..best of luck..
Continue lexapro and visit your doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXXXXX thanks for writing, I have understood your concerns.
So you have been recently diagnosed and suffering from anxiety and insomnia. the lexapro is a SSRI antidepressant drug which causes changes in brain neurochemicals and relieve anxiety from the root. It will start showing its effects after 10 to 15 days. It is not given to you for sleep. It does not produce sleep [ it is not a hypnotic drug].
You are given clonazepam 0.5 mg and restoril 15 mg. These both are benzodiazepines which are given to you for immediate control of anxiety and producing sleep.
If I would be your treating psychiatrist , I will give you lexapro in higher dosage at night. I would give you only one benzodiazepine instead of two, for control of anxiety like lower dose of clonazepam twice daily. For sleep I would rather prescribe zolpidem or zopiclone or would give higher dose of clonazepam at night.
Discuss these issues with your treating psychiatrist and don't make change in the drug dosage without his/her permission. continue taking lexapro.
I hope this will be helpful to you. If you have further queries feel free to ask..best of luck..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
My dr prescribed the clonazepam prn snd told me to take it as needed while i had start up effects. (The whole purpose was to get off benzos completely I initially went to her because my anxiety at night was not allowing me to sleep. Now my sleep is much worse. 1-2 hours if that since starting lexapro. I dont feel anxious during the day, should i still take clonazepam 2 times daily? My only issue is making sure I get a good nights sleep.)
Brief Answer:
Can take higher dosage at night after discussion
Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXXXXX thanks for writing again.
Your doctor has given benzodiazepine with purpose of controlling the initial anxiety with lexapro.
If you are not getting enough sleep then your anxiety will worsen. For a good night sleep, benzos should be taken initially, they can be taper down later on when your anxiety has resolved.
So, if you are not getting enough sleep then option here is either high dose of clonazepam at night [avoid during day time as your anxiety is particularly at night] or other drugs like zolpidem or eszopiclone which are good at inducing sleep.
Continue taking lexapro and can increase the dosage. all these issues should be discussed with your treating psychiatrist and follow her advice. Breathing techniques are also helpful.
Also read the tips, how to follow sleep hygiene that will be also be beneficial. Do not take any activating drink after evening. Avoid alcohol completely.
I hope, your doubt must be cleared now. wishing you a good health.
Can take higher dosage at night after discussion
Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXXXXX thanks for writing again.
Your doctor has given benzodiazepine with purpose of controlling the initial anxiety with lexapro.
If you are not getting enough sleep then your anxiety will worsen. For a good night sleep, benzos should be taken initially, they can be taper down later on when your anxiety has resolved.
So, if you are not getting enough sleep then option here is either high dose of clonazepam at night [avoid during day time as your anxiety is particularly at night] or other drugs like zolpidem or eszopiclone which are good at inducing sleep.
Continue taking lexapro and can increase the dosage. all these issues should be discussed with your treating psychiatrist and follow her advice. Breathing techniques are also helpful.
Also read the tips, how to follow sleep hygiene that will be also be beneficial. Do not take any activating drink after evening. Avoid alcohol completely.
I hope, your doubt must be cleared now. wishing you a good health.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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