Lesley I'm at least three years post menopause & recently - this year started to get very anxious especially on waking. I am also getting hot sweats in bed as if my thermostat has gone wonky. I wasn't bothered with hot flushes during menopause - one or two, but not this.
I have been prescribed the same as you, but read the side effects & am too scared to take it & I want to get to the root of what's causing it, but seems that theer is scant available on the NHS ie talking therapy at the moment. I don't drink coffee after 8pm, I've cut out quite a lot of sugar & am quite active, I rarely drink.
I have been depressed in the past, but this panic on waking is newish for me. I've been taking Kalm tablets recently.
I asked the female GP if it was hormone related & she scoffed & said, not after all this time. So she wouldn't even consider that as a cause.