Oh Cara, I'm glad you are taking a step to help yourself relax and get some sleep. Panicking about not sleeping only makes the insomnia worse---it is a big cycle that I am all too familiar with. The same thing happened to me about 5 years ago. Every afternoon about 4:30-5 I would start worrying that I wouldn't sleep when I went to bed, and of course, I worked myself up into such a frenzy, that that's exactly what happened--I couldn't sleep!!! My psychiatrist explained to me that my mind was playing tricks on me---that I had set myself up to be afraid of not sleeping and that was causing panic, just as if I would automatically panic if I saw a bear in the woods. He said I had to break the cycle! He put me on Zoloft for the panic attacks, but I did have to take Xanax on a temporarily basis until the AD kicked in, and then he weaned me off of the Xanax.
Also, he told me insomnia can be a indicator of depression (which I had.) So if this is the case with you, the AD may improve your sleep.
When I took the Zoloft, I would go to sleep at night, but sometimes I would wake up several times in the middle of the night. I'd always go back to sleep, but it was frustrating. (And I had very vivid dreams.)
But meds like Zoloft and Paxil affect everyone differently. Some people experience insomnia, but others get great sleep!!! It's worth it to try one, isn't it? You certainly aren't sleeping now---and you can't continue like this. Your body requires rest.
As for the Paxil, I've never taken it. A friend of mine who took it said it made her so sleepy. I had no problem discontinuing the Zoloft (and I was on a high dose), but I have known people who've struggled with getting off Paxil so that's something to consider.
Also, I don't know if you're IBS-C or D, but I will tell you that when I first started taking the Zoloft, it gave me diarrhea. This was only for the first several days, and then it disappeared, so don't panic if you try it and it gives you D. This is temporary as your body adjusts to having it in your system.
And to confuse you even more, my doctor told me that if you take Xanax for awhile on a constistent basis (like every night) and then stop it suddenly, you can cause rebound anxiety which is worse than the anxiety you had to begin with. So Xanax can make your insomnia worse if not used correctly. I think taking an antidepressant would be better than taking Xanax on a long term basis, but if you have to take Xanax (or something else) in conjunction with the AD until it kicks in, then so be it. You have to break this cycle of insomnia.
Hopefully, I haven't given you too much info. Please talk to your doctor or therapist about this. I'm sure they can figure out what's best in your situation. (Ask them about Klonopin, which is similar to Xanax, but longer acting and not as addictive.)
Good luck and let me know what you decide!
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Cara
