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Suggest Treatment For Insomnia While Having Depression
Question: I was on trazodone for 15 years and now find myself depressed. I asked my doctor to put me on something stronger or better for depression, but cannot take SSRIs, so I am put on imipramine plus Xanax. I find that the imipramine is not sedating and I use Xanax to sleep. Well, then I wake up as the Xanax doesn't keep me asleep all night so use more Xanax. Is there anything that can be added to imipramine for sleep? It is not sedating to me. Of course, I just started it and on 100 mg but will graduate to 150.
Brief Answer:
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
Xanax is not a good medication for sleep, because it exits the system in a couple of hours and leads to waking up and rebound insomnia. There are a couple solutions. First, as imipramine doses are increased, it will get more sedating, so this should help. But in the meantime I would abandon Xanax and instead use something like melatonin, Ambien, or Seroquel at low doses to aid in sleep.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private web address below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private web address: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
Xanax is not a good medication for sleep, because it exits the system in a couple of hours and leads to waking up and rebound insomnia. There are a couple solutions. First, as imipramine doses are increased, it will get more sedating, so this should help. But in the meantime I would abandon Xanax and instead use something like melatonin, Ambien, or Seroquel at low doses to aid in sleep.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private web address below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private web address: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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