Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi - just wondering if anyone has found a way to resolve the problem of insomnia when taking Sertraline . . . this med seems to work for me on a lot of fronts but it's so difficult getting through the day on only 4 hours very restless sleep.
Thanks
Sue
0 likes, 11 replies
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ADPanicker susan32309
Posted
I found that the insomnia stopped after about 4 weeks
I have ramped up physical exercise
And I do have some zopiclone which I take 3.5 mg of if my mind is really spinning. That gets me to sleep but only last a couple of hours so doesn't help if you wake up anxious
susan32309 ADPanicker
Posted
Thank you. I do tend to panic when I can't sleep, and I don't know why because I've got through today absolutely ok on 4 hours sleep. I'm planning on quiet, soothing music and maybe some aromatherapy oil tonight to see if that helps
Dr won't give me Zopiclone in case it makes things worse.
Sue
ADPanicker susan32309
Posted
Hi
I had the same thing I think
I went to sleep calm but woke up in absolute panic. I convinced I myself I had developed sleep apnea as I would just wake up continuously in a flood of adrenaline /anx
I got 2 nights very good sleep ( I actually got it from mertazapine which a psychiatrist wanted me to switch too - used it for a week but decided to stay on sertraline- -another story )
Anyway after those 2 nights sleep i seemed to turn a corner
My gp was against zopiclone too. The locum actually gave me. My gp said it was bad and I would become used to it. bBUT the locum, the psychiatrist and a work occupational health doctor all disagreed. They said you need to get decent sleep to let brain repair.
Unfortunately I didn't find music or reading or audio books or late going to bed a solution. I have made my room as quiet and as blacked out as I can. Removed distraction and hopefully things that awake me.( 2 dogs and 2 cats. Make that hard)
I don't like taking pills so unlikely to be addicted. Already want to get off sertraline as feel better. Doctors should listen to their patients.
susan32309 ADPanicker
Posted
Yes indeed they should . . . but I have a good doctor and I know she would give me them if needed, it was a different doctor that I spoke to in desperation and he said he wasn't in the habit of handing out one drug to deal with the side effects of another drug . . . ! A while ago my regular gp gave me Zopiclone just to 'click' my sleep pattern into shape, only took it two nights and didn't need it after that!
I did sleep really well last evening though, I used aromatherapy, and painkillers . . . oooops! But it worked and I feel so much better this morning. I think maybe some doctors, not all, need to realise that all the anti-anxiety drugs in the world won't make us better if we are walking around like zombies :-)
GodsServant susan32309
Posted
Hi Sue, the insomnia will subside. When I first got back on this med, I couldn't sleep for days. And when I did, it wasn't rested sleep - my eyes were closed but I still felt anxious, wired but tired - and then when it got better I was able to get sleep, but would wake up a few times in the night for a couple of months before I was able to sleep a whole night thru. So please hang in there. Get 4 hours, don't get stressed about sleep, when you get tired, just close your eyes and take naps during other times of day when you feel tired - once, I nearly fell asleep in the bathtub. Also, several nights I coulddn't sleep and desperately needed to so I resort to Ativan. Give me time. Xx
susan32309 GodsServant
Posted
Thank you so much, I've never been a brilliant sleeper, well, not in recent years anyway! I think part of the problem is that I took Dosulepin for so many years that I finished up being chemically put to sleep if that makes sense.
Now I find Sertralilne is having the opposite effect, although it is working on my mood so I'm glad for that!
I'm planning on putting some soothing music on tonight to see if that helps.
Thank you so much.
Sue
GodsServant susan32309
Posted
susan32309 GodsServant
Posted
H, and thanks, we only have a shower at home as I struggle to get in and out of a bath due to my dodgy knees but the soothing music and meditation apps are good, had a reasonable night's sleep last night. Trying not to stress about it isn't easy but it's good to know we can share our experiences here!
GodsServant susan32309
Posted
So true. This site helped me a lot when I was in the throes of my attack. The most important thing is to try not to be HALTS (hungry, angry, lonely, tired, stressed) - any of this is not good for our condition.
And try to get rest, like keeping your eyes closed and laying in bed, even if you can't sleep. Hang in there, it will get a bit better each day.
susan32309 GodsServant
Posted
Thank you - I love the acronym - it'll be an easy way to remember. Stressed us a biggy for me . . . I get stressed over the smallest thing.
Love your name by the way!
GodsServant susan32309
Posted
Sue, you know, HALTS is the acronym given to me by a therapist in one of my earliest attacks at the university (this was like 20 years ago), but it's taken me this long to really remember it and use it. After 20 years and 8 or 9 attacks, so I'm a very slow learner. Yeah, stress is very bad, because it attacks the weakest link in your body, whatever that may be. Also, stress is not just caused by bad things, but good things, too. Like starting a new job, the holidays, moving, getting married, etc. So I understand my body a bit more now in my 40s so I try not to have too many things going on.
My name is a promise I made to God, that if I recover, I will try to help others from all my experiences because I shouldn't be here from what I went through.
Cheers!