Supporting · Oct 26, 2026

supporting

83 posts

United Kingdom

Sleep problems

Posted in:

Support Symptoms & Self-Care

October 26, 2026

I’m really struggling with sleep. Is there anything that can help? Would taking Kalms be too risky? This lack of sleep really hinders my symptoms so I can barely function. Any hope and reassurance is welcome.

16 Replies

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CatinaOct 26

Community AnchorEffexor

I'm so sorry @RO. Insomnia is hard to deal with and can be so frustrating. What is Kalms? Here are some links that I hope will help! 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_hIEwmG_G8 2.https://www.umassmed.edu/globalassets/psychiatry/cbti/overcoming_insomnia_session_3.pdf#:~:text=The%20goal%20of%20cognitive%20restructuring%20is%20simple%20yet,practice%20cognitive%20restructuring%2C%20the%20better%20you%20will%20sleep. 3. https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/25270-tips-to-help-sleep-so-many-of-us-have-that-awful-withdrawal-insomnia/

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 16.64 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

HopeNeverFailsOct 26

LighthouseZyprexa · active

"Would taking Kalms be too risky?" — @RO

I wonder what Rx meds, supplements, diet, habits and other symptoms you're having. They can be risky. If you're taking nothing short of a multivitamin now, trying a supplement like kalms might be worth a try - slowly, while monitoring how it affects your sleep. eg take a 1/4 dose per day, if ok after a week, try a 1/2 dose, etc. A supplement that seems to have pretty much universal consent is Magnesium glycinate, maybe start with 100-200mg at bedtime. Some sleep hygiene helps - morning sunlight, dark room before evening, red light therapy and no screens 1 hour before bed, white noise (eg fan) while sleeping, same wakeup time every morning, etc. I personally doze off easily listening (only) to Everybody Loves Raymond, but we each have our comfort TV Btw, how much sleep do you average? Im also affected by insomnia, worsened by zyprexa and doxepin WD 😵

Zyprexa started at 2.5mg in late April26 — 0.63mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering
Doxepin (Silenor / Sinequan) — started at 2mg in June26 - 0.3mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering

HopeNeverFailsOct 26

LighthouseZyprexa · active

Btw, when I say red light therapy, I basically do crossword puzzles under a red light rather than regular lights. The red light isn't supposed to mess up your brains natural melatonin production But do what comforts and relaxed you. I know an old guy (over 60) who still works a factory job full time, who gets 3h/night for decades, and is perfectly ok with it. Don't let insomnia (anything) scare you - God will grant you sleep when you really need it, and then some!

Zyprexa started at 2.5mg in late April26 — 0.63mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering
Doxepin (Silenor / Sinequan) — started at 2mg in June26 - 0.3mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering

HorizonOct 26

NavigatorSeroquel · holding

Personally, I had to stop taking kalms because it has valerian in it and it increased my side effects from quetiapine. It was really difficult to swallow. So I would check your meds and how they interact with valerian

Seroquel — 400+ — 22 years —down to 100 in 6 months, 100 is taking a lot of time to get used to so resting on 100 for as long as it takes. holding without clinician. A journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step 👣🌀

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CatinaOct 26

Community AnchorEffexor

Yes, evidently Kalms does contain Valerian Root, which affects the central nervous system. It affects both GABA and serotonin.

Herbs and supplements like this can have unknown outcomes in a nervous system that is destabilized. We can't force you not to try it, but it's not something that is generally recommended as a safe treatment since it could make things worse. If you must try it, try a very small dose to see how you react.

Charm2Oct 27

WelcomerEffexor · researching

Some obscure things that helped me in my own insomnia trek: don’t eat sugary foods at night, and don’t take vitamin D supplements late in the day. I’ve also read that getting 10 minutes or so of sunlight on your eyes within the first hour of waking up helps stabilize sleep rhythms but I haven’t tried that consistently yet.

Effexor — 150 mg — 8 years — researching taper

GeoffOct 27

WelcomerEffexor · active

Last night I had one of my classic vivid nightmares: Failing an exam :) . Hadn't had one for a long time. Dream even continued after being awake for an hour. Maybe add a tag to the taper tracking: "nightmares" :) Anybody also have nightmares return when tapering?

Effexor : 150mg for 16 years — actively tapering: 70.7 - 69.54 mg.

HorizonOct 27

NavigatorSeroquel · holding

No nightmares but I have had dreams and I've seen my son's dad a couple of times and it made me happy because he was happy. I've enjoyed being able to dream again very much.

ROOct 27

@HopeNeverFails I got two hours three nights in a row, some nights can be more then go back down like an endless rollercoaster. I don’t take any supplements, my symptoms flare up if I take magnesium glycinate I tried.

HorizonOct 27

NavigatorSeroquel · holding

How does it feel when you can't sleep? I'm just curious because I can remember normal insomnia, pre meds. I just felt like I couldn't sleep and would get up and make a cup of tea Back then my brain was young and free from being medicated. I think with not enough food to eat and stress keeping me awake it contributed to not being able to cope with the system and losing my mind, which eventually lead to being given olanzapine originally without being capable of having a consultation. I can't remember, I blacked out. That night, this year, when I cut to 75mg I was so happy about not being knocked out by my meds at first. I thought this is brilliant. But the next day was horrific. The next day was never horrific pre meds after a sleepless night I can tell you this though, Stress can override 400+mg of serequel and keep me awake. How is that? The cortisol and adrenaline or whatever makes the sedative affect of a very strong dose of meds not work On a low dose this year, I felt rage I'd never felt in my life, my head felt so raw and like someone had dragged my brain along the pavement and put it back in my head. I had to be so mindful of my thoughts because my emotions were really intense. Fortunately, I'd listened to Eckhart Tolle a lot in the past, so I've learnt to be mindful of stopping a train of thought which is causing me distress. Some how I made it through the day at work. I didn't think I'd be capable of driving home. But I was fine. Took the rest of the meds to put it to my normal dose of 100, that I'd been ok for a month on, and I've stayed here, recovering from that day. Is this what it feels like to not have sleep? Or because I'm waiting a long time and going to make a much smaller cut, will it be easier? How do you feel with withdrawal insomnia? I'm scared to feel like that again

Cosmic1973Oct 27

WelcomerMirtazapine · active

"I’m really struggling with sleep. Is there anything that can help?" — @RO

You need to practice this but you'll be surprised at how effective it can be. It helps me. At night just accept you're not going to sleep as a simple fact, stop giving a shit about it, just give in and accept it as God's will. Breath as slow and deep (from your abdomen) as you can. Count every slow breath in and every slow breath out. Concentrate on nothing but your breathing. Anytime anything pops in your head, focus back on your breathing. Deep and as slow as you can. Even if you count to the 1000's it doesn't matter. Eventually you'll lose count, that's good, it's working start from zero again. I guarantee that will get you to sleep better then most sedatives. I've gone to bed some nights certain I ain't getting a wink of sleep, my anxiety is through the roof, my chest is on fire, then amazed myself that I dropped off for 6 hours.

Mirtazapine — 0.2mg — 1 year — actively tapering

HorizonOct 27

NavigatorSeroquel · holding

Have you tried moving your legs as you're concentrating on your breathing? You move them inwards so your toes on each foot are facing each other, then outwards so your toes are pointing to each side of the bed. Rotating from your hips This gives your mind something repetitive to focus on, as fast or as slow as is comfortable for you Like counting sheep, the old fashioned way. That's what my mum used to say when I was small. And I used to imagine sheep jumping over a fence and counting them 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑 😴💤💤

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CatinaOct 27

Community AnchorEffexor

"Have you tried moving your legs as you're concentrating on your breathing?" — @Horizon

This is good advice! Also, something like gently stroking your arm works too. It really helps when we give our brain something else to focus on.

HopeNeverFailsOct 27

LighthouseZyprexa · active

"I got two hours three nights in a row, some nights can be more then go back down like an endless rollercoaster" — @RO

Yeah it starts like that until you quit getting shook up about it. Yes, rollercoaster. I'll go up and down too. Be patient, consider the red light and puzzles or reading. Something to do while you can't sleep. Nothing worse than anxiously struggling. And you're probably better off not taking any supplements or sleep aids. Theyre just buying sleep on credit - you'll pay back more in the long term. You're not alone, probably most of us having the same. Try and develop a sense of humor about it while trying some of these suggestions people give, which are all great. And if you feel ok in the morning even after poor sleep, don't feel wrong about it, be happy and use it. It'll get better 🙏

Zyprexa started at 2.5mg in late April26 — 0.63mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering
Doxepin (Silenor / Sinequan) — started at 2mg in June26 - 0.3mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering

HopeNeverFailsOct 27

LighthouseZyprexa · active

"Anybody also have nightmares return when tapering?" — @Geoff

Had absolutely horrible vivid nightmares after CTing Ativan back in February and March. But I let things scare me easily at the time too

Zyprexa started at 2.5mg in late April26 — 0.63mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering
Doxepin (Silenor / Sinequan) — started at 2mg in June26 - 0.3mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering

Peggy WallaceOct 27

LighthouseCymbalta · holding

Im finding enormous relief from acute insomia with REST.. Its an app that uses CBT with mega research behind it.. I check in with the app every morning to report on my sleeP.. The app givesme conrete suggestions about how to tweak things like: waking at 3:00 am, falling to sleep quickly, handling nighttine arousal.. In the app is a significant bibliography of tools including the research behind them.. I've beEn Using it 3months and have had a significsnt improvement in my sleep.

In my life, have been on Prozac, Wellbutrin, Amytriptiline, Ambien, Seroquel, Zoloft, pamelor, Nortriptiline, Clonazepam, Suboxone (for insomnia), Effexor, Valium, Trazadone, Zanax, and Gabapentin. These, I remember.
Currently on,Duloxetine 60 mg — 2 yr — holding | without clinician

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