I am exhausted all the time. I experience insomnia pretty much every night. I get only about a few hours of sleep a night. I get frustrated that I can’t fall asleep and that makes it worse. I am taking 60mg of Geodon and 20mg of Celexa at night for my anxiety. A friend told me to get my tonsils removed to help me fall asleep. What do you think is causing me to not be able to fall asleep? Will removing my tonsils really help me sleep better?
What can I do about my insomnia?
Simon Downes, MD, PhD 
Hello and thank you for your question about your insomnia and whether removing your tonsils will make a difference in your sleeping patterns.
I understand you are taking Geodon and Celexa for anxiety.
While not so common, some people are reporting insomnia from both drugs:
Geodon
http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/geodon/insomnia
Celexa
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2011/04/celexa-might-trigger-insomnia-in-some-patients/index.htm
http://patient.info/forums/discuss/anyone-else-had-insomnia-on-citalopram–258389
For both drugs, some people are reporting that insomnia goes away after the initial period of getting used to the drug…but not everyone.
If you are concerned that these drugs may be causing your insomnia, I suggest you ask your physician to either reduce the dose or consider an alternative.
One alternative I would like you to consider is CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). It may sound like it is just talking, but with work, it will actually begin to rewire your brain to help with your anxiety. With medication, or just CBT alone, many people have reported success.
Please see this article which I like because it provides some examples of how CBT can alter thinking patterns.
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/therapy-for-anxiety-disorders.htm
Regarding the question of whether removing your tonsils will help you sleep better:
This option is offered to people who may be suffering from sleep-breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea. However, your doctor would be the best person to ask about this. She may refer you to a specialist to diagnose this.
I know this insomnia must be very difficult to deal with. It can lead to depression, and perhaps make your anxiety more difficult to handle.
I hope you can solve this issue as quickly as possible
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