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What Causes Insomnia Followed By Depression?

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Posted on Wed, 18 Mar 2015
Question: Suddenly I got insomnia 3weeks ago. I got Amben but still got 3 hr sleep. Feeling tired and hopeless, an extreme anxiety exploded in me 4 days ago. Now I am in the cycle of bad sleep and depression/anxiety everyday which is very torturing. Need advice.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (13 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
take clonazepam - sleep & start anti depressant

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

According to your symptoms there was insomnia first followed by depression and anxiety. Many times the depressive disorder starts with sleeping problems and not sadness or anxiety..so, this can be the starting of a depressive / anxiety episode.

You have not mentioned if there was any stressor which could have lead to insomnia- anything at home or work??the presence of a stressor has a role in future prognosis of the illness and managment.

If ambien is not helping you with sleep, I recommend lorazepam or clonazepam in such cases. You can take it with ambien for initial few days. Once the problem of sleep gets better,the sedatives can be tapered and stopped.
Non medicated steps- avoid tea,coffee and alcohol ( if you use it).
Take more water
--and donot take a nap in daytime ( even when you couldnot sleep the last night): this will accumulate sleep for next night..

take a brisk walk outside in evening and take light dinner. All of these are helpful in sleeping.

I feel that you should start an anti anxiety medicine like sertraline or escitalopram.

Donot worry,this can be managed..it is a very common presentation in daily clinical practice and you will surely get out of it.

Wish you a speedy recovery.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Manisha Gopal (13 minutes later)
Thank you for your quick reply.
I was detected low on Vitamin D then my doctor started me on one dose 50000IU vitamin D weekly which might have triggered the insomnia.
i am on day 4 of anxiety/depression. Is there still chance to have a quick recover? can antidepressant quick get the situation in control?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
though uncommon but vit d can ↓sleep

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The vit D dosage usually does not lead to insomnia but in rare case it may..Here, in your case also we we can see a temporal relation between the dose and starting of sleep problem.

I think it will be good if your doctor gives you a lower dosage of vit D, like 10K and not 50K weekly...and you can take for more weeks..in this way the deficiency can also be solved without further increasing the problem.

As for now you should take something to help your sleep: clonazepam 1mg or lorazepam 2mg ( which ever is available- you can discuss this with your doctor if you want to).

The symptoms of anxiety and depression are just 4 days old..we can wait and see if only by improving sleep these go back or not. If they donot return then it will be wise to start anti depressant drug.

Any how, you will surely get better, so, no need to add stress to your mind...relax and change sleeping meds.

good luck.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Manisha Gopal (35 hours later)
My doctor wants me to try new sleep medicines. I took hydrOXYzine HCL 50mg at 11:30pm but I was still awake at 1:30am. Then I took zaleplon but still could not fall asleep. Before 5am, I could lay on bed without too much anxiety. After 5am, I feel very anxious. So I had another sleepless night.

These days, my anxiety/depression appears to be most intense in the morning (because I fail to see improvement in sleep) and then getting better into afternoon. At night after 9pm, I feel I am mostly normal and become not sleepy. When I take sleep medicine, they seems to be not effective to me.

How do I break the cycle?




doctor
Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
discuss lorazepam with doctor, dont sleep in day

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I dont prefer using the chemicals which your doctor is giving you right now, espically in such situation of yours. These meds are unlikely to be helpful as already evident.

Its better we try a proper time tested medicine to make your sleep routine back to normal. Zalpelon would have not helped as you already took ambien and couldnot sleep well.
For breaking the reversed sleep cylce, the main thing is - no matter what, donot sleep in day time, do not even lie down...even when you were unable to sleep last night.

Take the sleeping pill by 8-9pm (please discuss lorazepam with your doctor) and sleep. If you find it more sedative -you can reduce the dosage from next night & if it gives less sleep -increase the doaage in next night.

If you feel sleepy in day time- take apple juice or eat an apple, take a light walk and be with someone..but donot sleep..ok.
At around early evening hours- get a brisk walk and later have dinner (keep it light)..

I dont think you will have any problem in sleeping then!

Good luck.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Manisha Gopal

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 947 Questions

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What Causes Insomnia Followed By Depression?

Brief Answer: take clonazepam - sleep & start anti depressant Detailed Answer: Hello, According to your symptoms there was insomnia first followed by depression and anxiety. Many times the depressive disorder starts with sleeping problems and not sadness or anxiety..so, this can be the starting of a depressive / anxiety episode. You have not mentioned if there was any stressor which could have lead to insomnia- anything at home or work??the presence of a stressor has a role in future prognosis of the illness and managment. If ambien is not helping you with sleep, I recommend lorazepam or clonazepam in such cases. You can take it with ambien for initial few days. Once the problem of sleep gets better,the sedatives can be tapered and stopped. Non medicated steps- avoid tea,coffee and alcohol ( if you use it). Take more water --and donot take a nap in daytime ( even when you couldnot sleep the last night): this will accumulate sleep for next night.. take a brisk walk outside in evening and take light dinner. All of these are helpful in sleeping. I feel that you should start an anti anxiety medicine like sertraline or escitalopram. Donot worry,this can be managed..it is a very common presentation in daily clinical practice and you will surely get out of it. Wish you a speedy recovery. Dr. Manisha Gopal MD Neuropsychiatry