Q. Why am I not able to have a sound sleep, even after taking antidepressants?

Hi doctor,

I am currently on Escitalopram 10 mg and Flupentixol 5 mg for anxiety. I have been ruminating about past negative situations involving friction or arguments. I have a low tolerance for negative situations in day-to-day life. Flupentixol is interfering with my sleep. I can sleep continuously for seven to eight hours without a single break. But even if I sleep for 8 hours, I do not feel refreshed. I feel groggy throughout the day. It is like I have slept only for four to five hours. If I stop Flupentixol, then the stress comes back. Taking Flupentixol on alternative days helps, but anxiety keeps recurring. My thyroid tests are normal. I do not know what to do. My professional commitment is hampered. Why is Flupentixol interfering with my sleep? Is there a solution to my issue?

Hi doctor,

For the last one month, I have been taking Flupenthixol 0.5 mg morning and Escitalopram 10 mg at night. But this is not helping. I am interested in trying the second option. But looks like Melitracen is banned. It is not available anymore. I would like to keep the Benzo as a last resort. Can you suggest an alternative for Melitracen 10 mg, which can be taken with 0.5mg Flupenthixol? Does Flupenthixol down-regulate norepinephrine, which causes motivation?

Hi doctor,

Thanks for the reply.

What is the idea behind adding Melitracen for sleep quality issues? Does it reduce the alertness/activation during sleep time? Can you give a high-level detail? Just curious about the drugs that I take. So If I stay on this FDC, Do I still need to take Escitalopram 10mg ? i.e Flupentixol 0.5 mg, Melitracen 10 mg and Escitalopram 10 mg.

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I have to go with the third option as Flupenthixol and Melitracen are giving me heartburn, and the use of Pantocid also did not help much as my stomach is sensitive. May I know the effective low dose of Etizolam for quality sleep in the evening for Flupentixol-induced insomnia? What is the equivalent Etizolam dose corresponding to 0.5mg Clonazepam?

Hello doctor,

I was prescribed 50mg of Nortriptyline for sleeplessness. At the same time when I started taking Nortriptyline, I felt sensitivity towards the computer screen when the background is white. I do not have issues with a background color when it is not white. That time we thought it is just a coincidence. I went to an eye doctor and she prescribed me teardrops and anti-allergy drops. I took it for four weeks and the screen sensitivity was under control and then stopped it. Glaucoma was tested and it is negative. At the same time when I finished the eye drop course, the Nortriptyline was tapered to 25 mg. I was on Nortriptyline 25mg for one month but at the end of one month, I started getting sleeplessness at night. The Nortriptyline dosage was made to 50 mg again and the sleeplessness got solved. But the screen sensitivity came back. Right now I am taking tear drops and waiting for relief. I hear that tricyclic antidepressants have anticholinergic action which causes dry mouth, dry eyes, constipation, etc. Let us assume that I get relief with tear drops after one week, what is your recommendation? Is it fine to continue teardrops? I will have to stay on this combination of medications for at least 2 years. Will this cause irreversible damage to the eyes? I mean once the Nortriptyline is stopped, the dryness of the eyes will get reversed right?

Thank you.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

Let me explain how I feel after taking Nortriptyline 50 mg for three weeks. Earlier I used to urinate five times a day. Now it has become 2 to 3 times a day. Passing of stools on alternate days instead of every day. The eyes are still sensitive to white backgrounds on the computer screen. So I do not think eye drops will help. I can manage sool and urine problems. But screen sensitivity is a problem. If patients complain of side effects such as vision problems, delayed stool, and delayed urine passage, what do doctors recommend? Can we think of adding a pro-cholinergic drug or how can I get rid of the screen sensitivity? Instead of using Flupenthixol 5 mg, Can we think of another augmentation agent other than benzodiazepine? Please let me know your suggestion.

Thank you.