[ccrown25]

I have been on Duloxetine for about a month now. I have been having trouble in the evenings relaxing and falling asleep because that is when my anxiety is the strongest so I have been self medicating with alcohol (usually 5 or 6 shots of rum to get "buzzed") I know this is NOT a good idea but I have a very hard time relaxing in the evenings and when it gets to be about 8:30 or 9:00 pm I get a feeling of dread (like "OMG its getting near bed time or Im not going to be able to fall/stay asleep" and "Im going to be tired and yawny and unmotivated all day tomorrow") Also, my doc absolutely REFUSES to put me on Lorazepam or Clonazepam as he does not want to cause a dependence.

My problem is: I just dont know what to do to get over this hump. My doc recently upped my dosage to 60/day but I am anxious and impatient waiting for it to work. I really want to abstain from all alcohol drinking because I feel the little bit that I am drinking is messing with my meds.

Anyone have any ideas??

Thanks!!

[Angelique67]

I don't know if this will help, but I was recently put on benztropine (generic for Cogentin) and I've found it really tames my anxiety. You might want to try it and see. No buzz or anything like that, just a reduction in Anxiety. I wish you good luck.

[spring2014]

Originally Posted by ccrown25

I have been on Duloxetine for about a month now. I have been having trouble in the evenings relaxing and falling asleep because that is when my anxiety is the strongest so I have been self medicating with alcohol (usually 5 or 6 shots of rum to get "buzzed") I know this is NOT a good idea but I have a very hard time relaxing in the evenings and when it gets to be about 8:30 or 9:00 pm I get a feeling of dread (like "OMG its getting near bed time or Im not going to be able to fall/stay asleep" and "Im going to be tired and yawny and unmotivated all day tomorrow") Also, my doc absolutely REFUSES to put me on Lorazepam or Clonazepam as he does not want to cause a dependence.

My problem is: I just dont know what to do to get over this hump. My doc recently upped my dosage to 60/day but I am anxious and impatient waiting for it to work. I really want to abstain from all alcohol drinking because I feel the little bit that I am drinking is messing with my meds.

Anyone have any ideas??

Thanks!!

hi crown ,
I been on Cymbalta for a year now . I would ask your psychiatrist to put you on Vistrail to counteract the Cymbalta . my psychiatrist put me on Vistrail to counteract the Cymbalta cuz its too strong and I can't sleep with the Cymbalta for one night and I called my therapist and my psychiatrist the following morning that I couldn't sleep the night before this was last year when it happened . I had to go back to my psychiatrist the next morning and she put me back on the Vistrail w the Cymbalta . I would also try mindfulness meditation ,guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation exercises to help you sleep .never take alcohol w Cymbalta . not a good combination for that at all !!!!!!



Diagnosis: Anxiety and depression
meds: Cymbalta 60 mgs at night
Vistrail 2 25 mgs daily for anxiety prn
50 mgs at night for insomnia with an additional 25 mgs=75 mgs when up past 1:00 in the morning