1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Sertraline

Insomnia-- does it fade? The rest of my side effects have....

Posted , 7 users are following.

sarah93637
sarah93637

Hi all,

I've posted a timer to in this forum over the last few weeks… I'm new to The medication and only taking 25 mgs. I feel like the 25 mgs has helped me tremendously. I am through MOST of the side effects (increased anxiety, fatigue, and lack of appetite) but insomnia is hanging around... oh I have been on if about 3 weeks.

I can usually fall asleep but I wake up every hour or so. Not getting "restful" sleep. Also, I'm 36 weeks pregnant so although I've been given the okay to use Xanax (.25 mgs, lowest dose), I'm trying not to use it. However, after a few days of extremely restless sleep, I do give in and sleep great...

Does the insomnia taper off? Anyone have any advise? Please lemme know!

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Samrock
    Samrock sarah93637

    Posted

    Hey Sarah,

    I experience something similar, where by I tend to wake up at a minimum of once a night at about 3/4am. I wake up easily (just like the sleep I was experiencing was just me closing my eyes). Then I tend to get back to sleep fairly easily.

    This never happened to me before the meds, but it's a very common side effect of the drug. 3 weeks is still relatively early with Sertraline, so I'd just see how the next one or two weeks go. What I've noticed is that you can have a symptom one day, and it's gone the next. It's very unpredicatable so you can only just go with it and see how things pan out smile

    • sarah93637
      sarah93637 Samrock

      Posted

      Samrock,  You are so right about side effects being there one day and not the next.  I am definitely going to wait it out...

      Has anything eased your insomnia?  I dont fall back to sleep quite as easily.  Its kinda like I never fall "ALL THE WAY" to sleep.  Is that what your experiencing too?

       

    • Samrock
      Samrock sarah93637

      Posted

      I find that my recollection of sleeping isn't quite there. I know you never know when you fall asleep, but every night for the past 3 months my sleep has been interupted. There's been a tiny handful of nights where I've slept right through, but it's rare.

      I don't think we fall into "deep sleep" hence how easily we find it to immediately wake up, as if you had not been sleeping. It's frustrating as this med and most SSRI's are not understood on a core level, so doctors can ony guess why it has the effects it does.

      One thing I do know, is that it's a slowly activating drug, and you need to stick with it until all symptoms subside. My most distressing symptom is that  I feel constantly detached (derealization) which isn't easy to deal with everyday, but I'm slowly getting used to it.

  • weenett
    weenett sarah93637

    Posted

    Could b pregnancy related to keep doing what ur doing till babies born then u might find ur sleep becomes better wuslity as ur up

    So much

    • sarah93637
      sarah93637 weenett

      Posted

      I have thought about this too!  Very true!  But its not insomnia from being uncomfortable or waking up to pee, its like I never fully fall asleep... Its strange.
  • nicola97364
    nicola97364 sarah93637

    Posted

    Hi Sarah

    I'm on them 5 months now (now on 75mgs started on 25) I'm the very same with the sleep I fall asleep okay around 11 or 12 but wake at half 3/4, but I find that after that I do fall back asleep easily but it's really restless I keep waking and tossing and turning.

    I've taken a valium the last 3 nights and slept great and I even look better and my mood is uplifted I know it's just a quick fix but I couldn't go on like that anymore.

    Maybe after ypu have the baby you'll be so tired you'll be able to sleep properly and baby will u have u up and down all night too haha

    You seem in good spirits so just wait it out hopefully everything will even out and good luck with the baby xx

    • weenett
      weenett nicola97364

      Posted

      Go back to ur gp there are other more sedating ad's that help people sleep

  • GodsServant
    GodsServant sarah93637

    Posted

    Hi Sarah, on and off Zoloft for decades now, and yes, insomnia does taper off to disappear altogether. This time, I got back on Nov 19, and I still sometimes sleep at 9pm only to wake up at 3am, but it is fairly easy to go back to sleep. This doesn't happen every night. 

    I play this easy computer game call Bookworm, making words from tiles and it seems to make my eyes tired. Hang in there, it will get better, and 25mg is very low dose so the side effects shouldn't be too bad. I am on 100mg and on nights that I sleep all the way thru I get very incredible dreams that in my sleep I remember thinking while I am dreaming that if I could write this down it'd be The Great Novel or blockbuster movie, but then I wake up and no longer remember me dream. 

    For sleep, try not to fret about getting sleep and you will sleep. It's one of those weird tricky things, if you try to stay awake like getting a project done for school it is a given that you won't stay awake long. 

    • sarah93637
      sarah93637 GodsServant

      Posted

      Thank you! Good advice!

      25 is a super low dose-- but I am very sensitive to medication... side effects were intense for about 10 days but have mostly subsided-- except this one!

      Thank you for your reply!

  • hollberry
    hollberry sarah93637

    Posted

    I have taken sertraline for almost 14 years.  For the first few years I had insomnia.  My doctor prescribed trazadone to take at night for sleep.  It helped.  I stopped taking it 6 years ago when I was pregnant with my second child and have never had to take it again.  Not sure why.  I had to start the sertraline right away after giving birth, but held off on the trazodone and I just never needed it.  
    • sarah93637
      sarah93637 hollberry

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply!  

      I am kinda noticing that side effects ebb and flow.  For example, I havent had any anxiety for a week... Then all of a sudden Ive had to anxious days (although totally under control).  Does this seem right to you?  Im only on for 3 weeks...

    • sarah93637
      sarah93637 katie29759

      Posted

      Yes, complete and total lack of appetite and heightened anxiety were the worst.  They have faded... Thats not to say that i dont have low grade anxiety today-- I do.  But its not like it was... Im just wondering if its still side effects or if this is how it is?  Also I wonder if side effects come and go?? 
    • hollberry
      hollberry sarah93637

      Posted

      I don't take sertraline for anxiety.  My problem is depression.  I have to increase my dosage for the week I have PMS because I seem to have a harder time controlling my emotions then.  Whenever I notice my symptoms coming back I just bump it up a little and then when I start to feel normal again I go back.  I manage it pretty well that way.  Hang in there.  

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.