Post Sertraline overdose insomnia questions, please help

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I recently accidentally overdosed on Sertraline. Long story short I was trying Sertraline for the very first time, and although I was prescribed 25 mg to start, I took this dosing:

  • Aug 3rd: 100 mg

  • Aug 4th: 100 mg,

  • Aug 5th: 100 mg.

Each dose about 24 hours apart, for a total of 300 mg ingested over 72 hours. I am male, late thirties, 180 lbs.

On August 6 I had very strong symptoms and only then did I realize I was overdosing. I called poison control and they told me I had taken a non-toxic dose. I decided to completely discontinue taking the Sertraline immediately. My last dose of Sertraline was on Aug 5th. I did not do any tapering.

All of the symptoms I had from the Sertraline overdose have subsided, except for this horrible insomnia that has taken over my life.

During the first two days following my overdose (August 6 to 8) I could still sleep ok-ish. But from August 9th to today I have been having the worst insomnia I have ever had. It's pure torture. I barely sleep each night and its absolutely awful. Here is how much I slept (trying to sleep at 9-10pm, getting out of bed 8am)

Aug 9: 20 mins

Aug 10: ~1.5 hour

Aug 11: ~1.5 hours

Is it possible that this dosing has permanently altered my brain architecture? So that whatever mechanisms I need to fall asleep don't work anymore? Is this possible?

Is there any chance this insomnia resolves on its own the farther I get away from the date of my last dose?

What should I do to fix this insomnia? Wait it out? Get medication? (Melatonin 3mg does nothing).

Should I have tapered off from the Sertraline?

Please help, I am really suffering.

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1 Reply

  • Posted

    Hello,

    You would probably be better asking your doctor but I would say that as long as you don't pay too much attention to it, you should be back to sleeping within time, the key really is not to worry about it too much because that will perpetuate it.

    In any case, I would strongly advise to see your doctor. If you were prescribed medication I'm assuming it was for some issue which has not going to have resolved.

    Best of luck!

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