Cipramil causing insomnia/anxiety

[cazziep]

Hi

I have had a few bouts of anxiety in the past 8 years - resulting in insomnia (vicious cycle - want to sleep so badly that can't)! I was put on Dothiepin in the past (with Zopiclone to help me sleep). Each bout only lasted a few months, so the drugs worked.

I am now suffering again, but my GP has said that she would prefer me to take an SSRI rather than the Dothiepin, as I have recently been diagnosed with a mild heart condition. I've been taking Zopiclone again for about 5 weeks, with very little effect. I was also using alcohol to get a few hours sleep I was that desperate!

My GP prescribed Cipramil. Started taking 20mg 4 days ago. Took the first dose at night. Not one wink of sleep! Severe nausea/vomiting. GP then told me to start on 10mg and take it in the morning, with food.

I'm still not sleeping! I feel more anxious!...like panic attacks. My arms are permanently burning (I assume this is more adrenaline). Feel weird and don't want to go out! Very agitated. No appetite (which is a symptom of my anxiety, anyway, but now I can't face a thing)! Thankfully, the nausea is better.

I know that it can take at least 2 weeks for the meds to kick in, but can anyone put my mind at rest that there can be a *worsening* of these specific symptoms initially? The anxiety/agitation and insomnia symptoms are particularly distressing, as that is why I was prescribed the Cipramil in the first place! My doctor is trying to reassure me things will get better and has now prescribed me with Diazepam for the first couple of weeks, which I don't want to take, but I'm having to.

Please, is there anyone out there who suffered *more* agitation and insomnia, but it got better?!

Thanks so much for listening to me. I know you have general info about Cipramil, but I suppose I'm after more of a specific answer.

Love and hugs

Caz xx

[nomorepanic]

Hi Caz

I am fairly sure it was Cipramil that I was given about 3 years ago to help with my sleep problems.

I gave it 3 weeks and then stopped it cos I felt so much worse and couldn't stand the side-effects. I was only given it to help with the sleep problems so there seemed no point in taking it when it just made my panic worse.

Nicola

[cazziep]

Hi Nicola

Thanks for the reply.

I have just read the leaflet that comes with the meds (was trying not to!) and it states insomnia and increased anxiety as common symptoms which can go away. I think my insomnia is just pure anxiety, anyway!

I suppose it's different for everyone. I will give it a while longer and see what happens, as it's only been 4 days.

Love and hugs

Caz xx

[mjh74]

Hi Caz,

I've been on Cipramil a few times for depression over the past 5 years, each time I went back on them I had different side effects. Most common were fatigue, sweats and nausea. I had been off them for a year and all was well until things started to go bad at work and I started to become really anxious most of the time (November just gone). I had an awful panic attack and have been off work ever since. My GP prescribed me cipramil again as this had worked before, he started me on 20mg (I had previously always started on 10mg with valium to take the edge off the *jitters* when first taking them), after the 3rd day on 20mg with no valium I felt the WORST anxiety I've ever had to date. I went back to see him and told him I needed some valium and that I needed to drop to 10mg and he agreed. After 5 weeks things were better but the anxiety was still horrible. I went back again and he told me to stop the Cipramil for 2 days and start a new drug (Effexor) which caused even worse anxiety! I am now currently withdrawing from those and the anxiety is a lot better.

Hope this helps!

Mark

[blossom]

from Blossom I have been on cipramil for 5 months, and would say the first two weeks made me more agitated and panicy, I could not eat either, but after they changed them to the newer version of the drug called Cipralex, am told by my GP it is a cleaner verson of Ciprimil, and one only has to take 10mgs in the morning after food I take it, I too suffer from Agoraphobia, anxiety and depression,
If you can get over the first 2-3 weeks, you should find it settles down, and I do sleep. It apppears they took an isomer out of the Ciprmil, which was not needed. Called it CIPRALEX, ( Escitolopram.
I wish you luck, from Blossom

[sal]

Hi Caz

Im on cipramil and it the second time around trying it. The first time i was just like you and felt so much worse, so i was reluctant to try it again but was at the stage where i didnt feel i had any other options. I was started on 20mg but aware of the side affects, i took 5 mg then up to 10 mg and so on over a space of 2 weeks. Yes maybe it took it longer to work but then again without the side affects it would probably be equal time.

I take mine in the morning as requested by my doctor and on reading medical books regarding the tablet it has always been suggested that it should be taken in the morning. I hope that can shed some light on how you feel.

Love Sal xx


Dont mess up the best things in your life, just because at present you are unsure who you are.

[cazziep]

Thanks you so much for your replies. Seems everyone reacts so differently to this drug!

Managed to get some sleep last night! Not so panicky today (still very anxious). Is it me? Is it the tablets? Maybe the side effects are starting to wear off?? Maybe I'm just hoping too much and that this is, so far, just an OK day!

Will stick with the medication for a while longer.

Thanks once again. [:X]

Wishing you all well.

Love and hugs

Caz xx

[sal]

Hi Caz

I hope that you start feeling better soon, just remember the side affects do go away eventually.

Love Sal xx


Dont mess up the best things in your life, just because at present you are unsure who you are.

[cazziep]

Thank you Sal. [:X]

This is day 6 and somehow I'm not as agitated as I was when I first took the medication. I'm eating a little. Maybe it's psychological, or maybe the first few days are the worst for me on this tablet...will have to wait and see. I'm scared of getting my hopes up!

I agree with you about taking the tablet in the morning. I took it with a few biscuits (that's all I could face)! I don't feel quite as sick as I did.

Thank you so much, again, for your advice. Hope you're well.

Love and hugs

Caz xx

[BigChris]

I have been taking Citalopram for 7 weeks now and to be quite honest I don't feel any better, in fact I think I was slightly better before I started on them. I was put on Propanolol just over a week ago and I don't know if there was some kind of reaction with the Citalopram but 2 days ago I could hardly walk, I looked and felt totaly drugged up, I can honestly say it is the worst I've ever felt, I've stopped taking the Propanolol and cut the Citalopram down to 10mg from 20mg.
I am starting to feel a bit more human now but still tired and a little groggy.
Has anyone known anything like this before.

Thanks

Chris..