Sertraline and insomnia starting on 25mg
Posted , 4 users are following.
I ve just started (day 4) of 25mg in the morning Sertraline for panic and anxiety, but since taking them I have had insomnia ALL night every night. Yesterday morning I only had a half of a half (around 15mg) in the hope I would get to sleep but still did not sleep. Prior to Sertraline, i would instantly go to sleep for about 4 hours, and off and on for the remaining night, but Sert has serious insomnia effects on me.
The problem that creates is that lying in bed awake hour after hour, I think about all my problems and makes things worse. Any more sleepless nights and I will be a zombie soon running on empty.
Should I ask the doc for Zopiclone sleeping tabs (which could take another week to get, if at all) or ask if I should stop Sert now ?
Comments welcome, Thanks
0 likes, 7 replies
c53732 Nito
Posted
l can relate to this. Tried zopiclone but l am very sensitive to meds and wasn't good. Take the occasional phenergan which you can buy over the counter, check with your pharmacist. Started on 25 sertraline, after 2 weeks went to 50. Now on week 6. Struggling but being encouraged to keep going as supporters say it takes time.
avril23791 Nito
Edited
I had exactly the same problem when I started and it lasted a couple of months. Once it started working though (at the right dose), I slept normally again. It's very painful at the beginning, but stick with it and rest during the day. It will improve. It might be a sign that the drug will work well for you.
Sertraline is a drug where it is slow to see the beneficial effects but has severe side-effects at the beginning; stick with it and you will see massive improvements.
c53732 avril23791
Posted
Very good advice.
Nito avril23791
Posted
Thanks avril,
As you will read in my post below, its been a BAD day.
I got to stick at it.
shauna64257 Nito
Posted
I had this problem too I had to be put on temazapam in the beginning then I switched to trazadone and then I was able to get off.
You may need sleep aids until your body can adjust, but your body will adjust and you will sleep again.
Nito
Posted
I got myself in such a state this morning I stopped taking my 25mg Sert as I could not handle the insomnia, but have just now taken it at 4pm as my anxiety ramped up to the point of shaking, pacing, wringing hands etc knowing that I should stick with it, but missed my opportunity to get some Zopiclone from the docs. Now I am faced with another night of non sleep and will be a zombie tomorrow. I will get some Zop tomorrow.
I am having a horrible rollercoaster of emotions and over thinking everything.
Yesterday, I remember singing in the kitchen, but today has been increasingly dreadful as the hours go by.
c53732 Nito
Posted
Hi Nito. My doctor prescribed phenergan to help with sleep. You can buy it over the counter, ask the pharmacist. It is very early days, l was really struggling when l started sertraline. The doctor gave me some diazapam, they help but you must keep to a low dose as they can become addictive. l have been glad of support from this website and although not right l feel there is some improvement. Everyone says to stick with it, it takes time.