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Suggest Sleeping Aids In A Person With Depression And Anxiety Disorder
Question: Hi there. I suffer from depression/OCD/anxiety disorder, which is relatively well contolled with Cipramil. However, I still have a lot of trouble initiating (and frequently, maintaining), sleep. I have seen a sleep specialist, who thought my condition too severe to use a sleep monitoring device (I could definitely not sleep with equipment attached to me) and he prescribed Stilnox. Bliss!
My question is what would you recommend as a periodic sleeping aid that does not make me drowsy in the morning. Stilnox does not leave me drowsy, nor do I have any of the bad effects of this medication, but I probably need to take it more often than having to consult a doctor every six months or so for a script. Any suggestions?
My question is what would you recommend as a periodic sleeping aid that does not make me drowsy in the morning. Stilnox does not leave me drowsy, nor do I have any of the bad effects of this medication, but I probably need to take it more often than having to consult a doctor every six months or so for a script. Any suggestions?
Brief Answer:
Reducing the dose of Stilnox or use of some other SSRI can help in sleep
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for choosing HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. You have depression, OCD and anxiety disorder and are taking Cipramil or Citalopram for that. You also have trouble in initiating and maintaining sleep. You have been advised to take Stilnox or Zolpidem for that.
Stilnoct is a Z-drug and in my opinion the drug should not be used regularly for long time or should be used on SOS basis because of development of tolerance with this drug and risk of dependence with this drug. Citalopram is a SSRI drug and the drug is a good drug for OCD, anxiety and depression. In my opinion other SSRIs especially Paroxetine can be used in your case. You can discuss with your doctor regarding this drug and this will also prevent any need to visit doctor regularly. Paroxetine has almost same efficacy when compared to Citalopram in anxiety and depression. The drug is relatively safer drug and is well tolerated. The drug helps in good sleep and this drug doesn't cause next morning drowsiness in most patients.
Apart from this other option for you is to use Stilnox in lower doses which would cause initiation of sleep and this will also not cause next morning drowsiness. Zopiclone is other drug similar to stilnox that is relatively better tolerated and doesnt cause much drowsiness in morning. The drug can be used on periodic basis as sleep aid.
Clomipramine is a TCA drug that is found to be very helpful in OCD and anxiety conditions. The drug is also known to induce good sleep.
You can visit your doctor and can discuss regarding the options I have mentioned. These will help you in good sleep.
Thanks, I hope this helps you. Please dont hesitate to ask again for more doubts.
Reducing the dose of Stilnox or use of some other SSRI can help in sleep
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for choosing HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. You have depression, OCD and anxiety disorder and are taking Cipramil or Citalopram for that. You also have trouble in initiating and maintaining sleep. You have been advised to take Stilnox or Zolpidem for that.
Stilnoct is a Z-drug and in my opinion the drug should not be used regularly for long time or should be used on SOS basis because of development of tolerance with this drug and risk of dependence with this drug. Citalopram is a SSRI drug and the drug is a good drug for OCD, anxiety and depression. In my opinion other SSRIs especially Paroxetine can be used in your case. You can discuss with your doctor regarding this drug and this will also prevent any need to visit doctor regularly. Paroxetine has almost same efficacy when compared to Citalopram in anxiety and depression. The drug is relatively safer drug and is well tolerated. The drug helps in good sleep and this drug doesn't cause next morning drowsiness in most patients.
Apart from this other option for you is to use Stilnox in lower doses which would cause initiation of sleep and this will also not cause next morning drowsiness. Zopiclone is other drug similar to stilnox that is relatively better tolerated and doesnt cause much drowsiness in morning. The drug can be used on periodic basis as sleep aid.
Clomipramine is a TCA drug that is found to be very helpful in OCD and anxiety conditions. The drug is also known to induce good sleep.
You can visit your doctor and can discuss regarding the options I have mentioned. These will help you in good sleep.
Thanks, I hope this helps you. Please dont hesitate to ask again for more doubts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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