Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi,
I started taking Sertraline seven days ago to treat what my GP says is anxiety and OCD.
From other posts I've been reading I'm on high starting dose of 100mg in comparison.
The major side effect is insomnia. Literally lay awake from 11.00pm last night until 7.00am this morning. Has anyone else experienced this and how long did it last?
1 like, 25 replies
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rj73132 Doinkbox
Posted
Hi Doinkbox,
What time of day are you taking your sertraline?
Did you have issues sleeping before you started?
I'm taking mine for depression and anxiety, but am on 50mg currently.Haven't experienced any trouble getting off to sleep but during the first week would wake up around 4am and have trouble getting back to sleep. I take my 50mg first thing in the morning.
julie89512 Doinkbox
Posted
Think they react to everyone differently.
I'm on 25mg but I don't react very well to medication hence the low dose
I take mine in the evening about 7.30.
I sleep better than I have in along time.
But the down side for me is after being on them for over 8 weeks I'm still getting quiet a few side effects so I think I may have to change to another. Hope things settle down for you.
philip49799 Doinkbox
Posted
I was told to take mine in the mornings. I'm no expert but 100mg seems a bit high to start with? You could ask if that morning taking time might be better, but as you have read in the 'side effects' then this drug can make you sleep, keep you awake, who knows what the ##### thing will do. If you are working then this insomnia will be hard for you. However I can recommend BBC World Service or Radio 4 Extra. Use sports type headplugs so you can still lie on the pillow on your side(s). I found that getting laid down and then doing breathing exercises and relaxation stuff when I first went to bed helped get me 'straight'. I also use ear plugs and don't laugh but if I'm having a bad waking up time I sometimes use ordinary earphones over the ear plugs!!!!!!! In a very strange way I find that listening to this stuff seems to centre things into my head and I don't think of other stuff after a while. It is a bit like the radio programme is actually happening in my brain and it isn't an unpleasant experience. I have tried Classic FM but not all night time broadcasts are soft and soothing pieces for some strange reason.
All the best.
Doinkbox
Posted
I take mine first thing in the morning. I've never been a heavy sleeper but this is ridiculous.
Not really felt any positive effect from them yet. I shall persevere though as I've been reading they do take time to do the job they're supposed to.
rj73132 Doinkbox
Posted
Yes do try and give them 3 to 4 weeks as the effect takes a while to build up.
You haven't said what's keeping you awake - are you ruminating or having other persistent thoughts? Or do you just feel wide awake and unable to sleep? Are there any other factors such as change in diet that could be contributing to this?
philip49799 Doinkbox
Posted
Persevere. Yup, I'm on day six and this afternoon is the first time I have felt like being able to stand up, stay out of bed and have something to eat since day one! My sister has had severe depression linked to anxiety and Coeliac 'effects'. I had no idea that being gluten intolerant or full blown Coeliac is so often accompanied by anxiety and depression; I am gluten and oats intolerant so now I know! Anyway, she, like so many others on here, has said stick to the fortnight 'rule' as it will be horrible for about two to three weeks and then you should notice the difference. I do hope you can get some sleep.......do try the radio!
Good luck.
Doinkbox rj73132
Posted
I couldn't pinpoint exactly what's keeping me awake exactly, probably a combination of all the points you mentioned. I've now ordered some sleeping tablets in the hope that they'll help.
philip49799 Doinkbox
Posted
Doinkbox philip49799
Posted
Doinkbox philip49799
Posted
I ordered them off Amazon. I found some called 5HTP which had many very good reviews. They arrived today. I'll keep you posted as to how well they work.
philip49799 Doinkbox
Posted
Thank you. I tried Valerian and it did nothing, even at maximum doseage.
I think I have heard of 5HTP. I use Helthspan Supplements and I'm sure they do these.
P
Doinkbox philip49799
Posted
I found out that taking the 5HTP along with Sertraline is not advised, so I've ordered Kirkland Sleep Aid tablets. Apparently they're antihistamine based and work really well. Here goes!
GodsServant Doinkbox
Posted
Here are a few advices: 1) close your eyes even if you can’t fall asleep, because at least you’re getting rest 2) take Ativan if you really need to get sleep but these are fast-acting benzos that wear off quickly and could be addicting – this drug calms me and knocks me out 3) don’t start fretting about TRYING to fall sleep – sleep is one of those things that the body naturally does – like eat – when you are hungry you will eat and when you get tired enough you will fall asleep. Take care. XX
Doinkbox GodsServant
Posted
Thanks for the advice.
Ranger507 Doinkbox
Posted
Been on 100mg for around 2 months was on 50mg for around the same time I got insomnia to begin with it's went away now but I just keep waking up randomly during the night just the once at like 3-4am it's crap but not that big a deal the side effects can be crap to begin with but give them time it can take a while to take effect I didn't start feeling anything until around 7-8 weeks
julie89512 Ranger507
Posted
Hi.
I'm like I said on the earlier post iv been on them for nearly 9
weeks. When did your side effects go, I'm thinking of changing, but that worries me incase the next ones make me feel worse.
So at the moment I stuck on what to do for the best.
I'm still feeling nauseous, on and off though out the day.
Flushing, rash in my arm pits. dizzy spells and headaches on and off. Don't know if this is the norm??
Anxiety started creeping in but I dare not up my dose because
Of the side effects will get worse, I'm only on 25MG.
philip49799 julie89512
Posted
Glad you mentioned rash armpits
as, guess what.......! Another day another weirdness. I seem to have different things every day and some at night like last night (palpitations.....yuch) and the horrible nausia, clogged up stomach & throaty feeling all the time. Part of this is Reflux being aggravated by the Sert unfortunately but the GP has told me to take the Sert and the reflux stuff well apart from each other.
philip49799 Ranger507
Posted
Ranger, the waking at 3/4 ish is very common for folk 'like us', but yes, it is annoying at the moment. However, when the summer comes I shall get up and go walking at that time as the sun rises. Think of that as a bonus maybe?
All the best and hang in there.
Ranger507 julie89512
Posted
Well I still get some even now but they don't outweigh how I felt when I wasn't taking them! Stick with them but just be wary that you probably will need to move up at some point if u want to get better! Coming off/Not upping my dose was simply not an option for me these tablets are my last hope
Ranger507 philip49799
Posted
julie89512 philip49799
Posted
I strange what such a little tablet can do regarding side effects.
I picked up a new packet of sertraline last week and they are a
different manufacturer and I looked at the ingredients and they
are different from the first pack. Still took them, had a rough
weekend. Felt really nauseous, vision issues. Dizziness. Felt like I did at the beginning.
But after that iv had two good days.
So if I do stay on sertraline i will ask for teva manufacturer.
I was thinking of trying another A/D because like iv said my side
Effect at 8wks+ was still bad, but if I stay like this I will stick with
them. I'm putting steroid cream what I have for my eczema.
I have reflux too.
Thanks for replying.
philip49799 julie89512
Posted
I already take Lansoprazole as my gluten intolerance has affected my stomach and since Sert the reflux has got worse and the GP has said I might have ot change from Sert,,,,,argh!
julie89512 philip49799
Posted
Hi.
i was on lansoprosole for 5 years and in the end it wasn't really dong any good, I'm came off them. so I did a lot of googling on what not to eat and and I stuck to it for about 6 weeks and now I only take gaviscon when needed. I also have manuka honey before I got to bed it helps calm the stomache and soothes the oesophagus. If I have alcohol that is my main trigger.
im not drinking while on the sertraline anyway. Miss my wine 😭
philip49799 julie89512
Posted
Wine.Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
zantari julie89512
Posted
funny you say that about manufacturers: Im in an argument with my mental health "professional" about this and she will not believe me!
Ive been on Sertraline for 8 weeks and started at 25mg. First three days I was so dizzy and sick that I almost gave up, but after figuring it might get better and realising I may go through it again when I raised the dose to 50mg, I decided to raised my dose immediately. The next day my eyes were blurred, my head ached and I felt wired. My mood improved MASSIVELY but wow did I feel awful.
When I mentioned to the Health Care person that in the past I'd had bad experiences with generic Fluoxitine but branded Prozac was really good, I was told that "it makes no difference as it's the same drug", which if you read the box, as you did, you can see it really isn't!
I've also had a bad time with Sumatriptan generics but not with branded Immigran; genuine Oxycontin works brilliantly but Longtech (generic) makes me itch and doesn't kill pain, etc. Even the esomeprazole generics are rubbish and do nothing while the branded version works like magic.
It seems, looking at the NHS flow chart for prescribing SSRI and anti depressants that Sertraline is cheap - that's the only reason they try it first: price! Generics, even if they are useless are given preference when prescribing simply because they are cheap!
My side effects are: blurred vision, optical migraines (wavy lines, floating shapes, coloured zig -zags), bruxism to the point I'm cracking my teeth and find eating difficult because my jaw aches so much... I also can't sleep at all - I take 100mg at 7am and by 3:00am I am still wide awake and rattling round the house. I feel as if I've had 10 of the world's strongest espresso shots mixed with a shot of adrenalin. I'm not anxious at all - I feel good actually. Normally I'm awake and fretting about death, or going over things that happened 30 year ago! I am anxious and have suffered badly with depression, chronic sadness, chronic pain (from a near fatal spinal injury) stress, acid flux, tension etc. since I was 8 years old (I'm 48 now). Sertraline makes me
feel genuinely happy, it also removes my obsessive thoughts and constant reliving of ancient history (events I can't change) night after night. It's like a miracle - sadly it makes my head ache, stops me seeing anything clearly (can't read easily either) and males me feel ill. I've also gained weight making me have to eat very carefully these past few weeks.
I wonder if another brand might have fewer side effects? The benefits of improved mood are too good to abandon easily and I've tried a LOT of other drugs without success. Sertraline is the only drug that helps my mood and anxiety - others make me angry, or fat or knock me out or can't be taken with my other meds.
There must be a way to make
my body tolerate Sertraline better.