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Sertraline causing unbelievable fatigue and insomnia

Posted , 4 users are following.

AlexLD
AlexLD

I know well that sertraline can cause insomnia and fatigue. However, this is just crazy. I typically get 6-7 hours of sleep at night and wake up every 2-3 hours. At this point, it's really taken a toll on my body. I'm constantly experiencing this strange feeling. Just feeling very out of it, numb, lightheaded and just all around weird. And of course, that doesn't help my anxiety at all because I'm constantly thinking there's something else wrong with me and it's not because of my lack of sleep.

Has anyone else had issues with this? It's gotten worse now that I've just recently increased my dose to 50mg (from 25mg). And more specifically, has anyone else experienced this same strange feeling? Whether it ended up being due to fatigue, anxiety, the sertraline, etc. I'm a typical hypochondriac that worries about brain tumors all the time so this feeling along with my heightened depersonalization is quite terrifying. 

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • GodsServant
    GodsServant AlexLD

    Posted

    Hi Alex, you are experiencing derealization and it is a side effect of the med. Completely normal.  I feel for you though – it is a most horrible, strange feeling, like you are not there or not yourself or in your body and numb like no identity. Hang in there. Not a new ilness. Do not be scared. Don’t fight it. Mine went away after 1-2 weeks.
  • ADPanicker
    ADPanicker AlexLD

    Posted

    Yes. Sertraline did very similar to me when I started at 50mg. 4 weeks on all but a mild headache or more like a band is lightly round my brain has gone.... except insomnia. I can not sleep. If so finally nod off I wake 20 mins later.

    I am transitioning to mertazapine because of it. But if you can make sertraline work it's a less intrusive drug from everything I have read

    Ps I was also put on ciprofloxian and a Steroid to try to investigate if my immune system was over active. I went nuts with anxiety over the combo of them

    Unfortunately I guess if people with anxiety can find some to be anxious about they will make the most of it :-(.(Speaking for myself / gallows humour ). But I would say chill as much as you can you are describing a feeling many people have posted similar on

  • ADPanicker
    ADPanicker AlexLD

    Posted

    Ok so after my chill statements. I have found that the move to mertazapine was masking my insomnia

    I made the choice to stay on sertraline because

    1. Weight gain on mertazapine

    2. As soon as the sertraline started to go from my system I was back in adrenaline release mode. I couldn't go back there

    But now NO SLEEP

    3.23 am. I know being online isn't helping but after trying to physically wear myself out all day and all weekend and still no sign of my brain shutting down

    Do I need to rethink the meds. Don't want to because at 50mg I seem to coping in the day with the stress and mood.

    Is there a sleeping pill you can use medium term ?

    • judyblue
      judyblue ADPanicker

      Posted

      I am EXACTLY the same...gone up to 100 sertraline from 50 after 6 weeks but I feel so bad....No sleep at all.

      How long does it all take to settle I wonder??

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