[Blue_Bird]

I wonder what has been making me so exhausted that I sleep most of the day and night, several of my medications can cause drowsiness. Here's everything I'm on:

Allergy Meds:
Singulair 10mg
Zyrtec 20mg

Psych Meds:
Invega Sustenna 117mg
Depakote 750mg
Paxil 40mg
Hydroxyzine 50mg x 3

I'm also prescribed Trazodone which I haven't had to take lately because of this. Is it a specific med I'm on or a combination of them? What can be done about it?

I'm going to cross post this in the Psychiatric Medications forum

Hello Blue_Bird. I don't know the answers to your questions. I think this is something you'll need to talk with your treating physician(s) about. But I just have to say, if I was on this much medication, I would be under the table, as they say. I've only been on Cymbalta for the past couple of years & it alone makes me sleepy... Good luck getting this straightened out. I know how frustrating it can be to feel like all you want to do is sleep all of the time.

[SnakeCharmer]

Hi, Blue Bird, a while back my doctor prescribed 25 mgs of hydroxyzine for an allergic reaction I was having. It knocked me out. I slept for hours and walked around groggy for hours more. I took a second dose the next day because the allergy hadn't gotten better and after that pill I couldn't get out of bed for two days. That was a total of 50 mgs in two days. You're taking 150 mgs a day. I felt over-sedated and sick. I imagine you're very sleepy and foggy-brained from this. I don't think the brain fog lifted from me for three or four days.

It's prescribed for allergies, anxiety and for pre-surgery sedation to aid anesthesia. Combined with your other meds, you're probably very groggy. It would be a good idea to talk to your doctor about lowering the dose or using a different drug. It may not be a good idea to try to quit all at once. Maybe, with your doctor's permission, you could taper the dose down. Otherwise, anxiety may rebound more than it would otherwise.

As far as I know, hydroxyzine is not addictive, as some other anti-anxiety drugs are, such as the benzos. You may need a much lower dose in order to get a good effect. I hope your doctor is cooperative.

Here's some info:

Hydroxyzine reduces activity in the central nervous system. It also acts as an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing and runny nose, or hives on the skin.

Hydroxyzine is used as a sedative to treat anxiety and tension. It is also used together with other medications given for anesthesia. Hydroxyzine may also be used to control nausea and vomiting.

[ForeverLonelyGirl]

Why are you taking the hydroxyzine? That seems to be the only one you listed that causes a lot of drowsiness. That stuff knocks me out at 25 mg, as snake charmer said also. It's bad to be so sleepy that you cannot do much else, I have the opposite problem which is equally as bad...at least.

[Blue_Bird]

Originally Posted by ForeverLonelyGirl

Why are you taking the hydroxyzine? That seems to be the only one you listed that causes a lot of drowsiness. That stuff knocks me out at 25 mg, as snake charmer said also. It's bad to be so sleepy that you cannot do much else, I have the opposite problem which is equally as bad...at least.

Thanks for the replies. I'm taking hydroxyzine for anxiety and panic attacks

[Blue_Bird]

It was just increased last week from 25mg 3 times a day to 50mg 3 times a day

[ForeverLonelyGirl]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

It was just increased last week from 25mg 3 times a day to 50mg 3 times a day

That explains why you feel so tired, that is a lot of that med in my opinion. I don't know why you wouldn't feel tired honestly. Does it help your anxiety?

I know myself I would decrease the dose if I felt that bad, I don't want to advise you to go against doctors orders though. If you tell the doctor that it is making you so tired, I'm sure he/she would adjust it for you. Good luck!

[Blue_Bird]

Originally Posted by ForeverLonelyGirl

That explains why you feel so tired, that is a lot of that med in my opinion. I don't know why you wouldn't feel tired honestly. Does it help your anxiety?

I know myself I would decrease the dose if I felt that bad, I don't want to advise you to go against doctors orders though. If you tell the doctor that it is making you so tired, I'm sure he/she would adjust it for you. Good luck!

Thanks, it seems to help because when I feel on the verge of a panic attack it doesn't happen.

I only took 50mg once today and was able to stay up all day and get things done

[kiwi33]

Hi Blue_Bird

Apart from your meds and possible thyroid issues (which I see from your cross-post have been ruled out), sleep apnea (essentially, pauses in breathing while sleeping) is worth investigating - fatigue is a common sign of it.

Your GP should be able to refer you to a specialist who can check out the possibility of sleep apnea with you.

[Pikku Myy]

I went thru being super tired several years ago. I was on a lot of meds, but come to find out I needed vitamin D thru a blood test. It cured me I would check with your Dr.