How long does the insomnia last with Lexapro?

maria k · Post by **maria k** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 11:50 pm

Hi guys, Another stupid question, b/c I am going nuts with my sleep (or lack thereof). I sleep from 10pm until midnight and then need to take a xanax which only gives me another two hours. THe rest of the night is torture. I am hoping its b/c I just started Lex about 1 1/2 weeks ago. (1st at 5 mg for a week and now at 7.5). Any idea if this is a side effect and goes away in the first tow weeks like the other side effects do? Thanks alot, Maria

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:06 am

hi,maria, I've got the same problem. Ican only sleep for a couple of hours at a time.I started lexapro on july 7 and noticed my sleep was slightly disrupted , i started feeling better overall though. my doctor put me up to 20 mg at one point and thats when the sleeplessness really kicked in. I'm at 10mg and i still have trouble.I guess we're the small minority because most sleep too much on lexapro .

hotrodder1 · Post by **hotrodder1** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:22 am

Yes, I think if you are taking it for anxiety, it causes increased anxiety and insomnia, but if its for depression, it makes you more sleepy. Sorry to hear youre going through it too. Hope we both get better soon!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:10 am

Denise L. I usually don't suffer from insomnia--I am taking Clonazepam for anxiety, but I also take Provigil to keep me awake, as I used to fall asleep in therapy groups. Perhaps the Provigil is making me more anxious lately. I live in a community residence, and I feel they are putting pressure on me to move out as I have shown more independent behaviors and they don't feel they can do anymore for me. I don't like living alone. I have tried to live alone before without medication and lost my job because I was asking everyone if I could live with them. I was also self-medicating with alcohol and hanging around with negative people who also abused substances. I did have the courage to go back to school and obtained a degree, but have been unable to find a part-time job in my field. Sometimes I feel like I have too much time on my hands. I am also on Risperdal, Depakote, Fluxoamine for my mental disorders. I also take medication for physical symptoms. Any similar experiences or are you taking any of the same meds?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 4:20 pm

I was on Lexapro but i am slowly getting off of it finnally all thanks to the program.. i Can not and could not sleep while i was on it and not to scare you all but i believe that it made my anxiety worse then it already was. but yeah im up until 5 am every morning

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 2:50 pm

I sleep much better on the Lex and I take it for anxiety.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:08 pm

Hey guyz! I've been taking Lexapro for the past 7mos. I do remember like within the first couple of weeks I still couldn't sleep very good. I would sleep for a couple of hrs., then wake up and have to take a xanax too, and went back to sleep for a couple more. Then gradually I started to sleep better, not great, but better. I still wake up in the middle of the night some nights, but I haven't had to take any xanax since Feb. I still find myself worrying alot most of the time, mostly about my health, which is fine, but still worry. I still also battle with the scary bady sensations too, but not all the time. The Lex has helped in alot of ways, I'm back to being independent do and go whereever, whenever! However, all of the symptoms are not gone, will they ever be? I guess that's up to me...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 6:56 am

I have been on lexapro for about a month and I have a hard time sleeping. So I take seroquel. It works great no groggy feeling in the morning and puts u right to bed like a baby. Hope that helps.