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Sertraline does sleep improve?? I'm

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Papertiger
Papertiger

Hi everyone I'm starting on my 4th week of sertraline week 1x50 week 2 x 100 weeks 3 and 4 150 my mood I think is getting better I took it in the morning at the start but it started making me sleepy so I moved it to 6 pm and found myself yawning at 9 and feeling sleepy but getting about 2 hours sleep now in the evening it doesn't seem to make me sleepy my doc has prescribed zopiclone promethazine zolpidem and even nitrazepam ( not at the same time! ) but even with these I get 3 to 5 hours and feel monged out the next day with sleeping tablets I get restless sleep and keep my wife awake( going to sleep separately for a while) I know I am on a fairly high dose and I have thought of splitting dose /taking it in the morning and I try not to take sleeping tablets every night I would really like to hear positive advice from people who have found their sleep has settled down or any advice I exercise have stopped drinking and eat well and do sleep hygiene I used to sleep great and I think if my sleep was better I'd be on the road to recovery x

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • sarah93637
    sarah93637 Papertiger

    Posted

    I am on a much smaller dose, but 4 weeks after I got to my final dose, my sleeping went back to normal!  So, for me atleast, the insomnia did fade... Hang in there! 

    Many others have recommended a sleep aid that goes well w Sert too!  I cant attest to it, but that may help as well.

    • Papertiger
      Papertiger sarah93637

      Posted

      Thanks I'm glad you're sleeping wasn't affected too much and that sertraline is helping I've taken today dose at 2 pm I think my sleep or lack of sleep has become a bit of a problem I'm not sure if it's my depression or sertraline which is the main culprit

    • sarah93637
      sarah93637 Papertiger

      Posted

      Oh, I take mine at 7:30 am! I think you will find a majority of Sert-takers would recommend switching to the morning! When I was taking in the late afternoon, insomnia was AWFUL!

      Good luck!

    • Papertiger
      Papertiger sarah93637

      Posted

      Thanks Sarah I've taken it at 2 today and don't feel sedated so will move it to the morning and see how that goes x

  • GodsServant
    GodsServant Papertiger

    Posted

    Papertiger, I had severe sleeping problems for first 6 weeks (a few times I had to resort to Ativan). I restarted on Nov 19 and as of last week I was still waking up once in the middle of the night but thankfully was able to return back to sleep. So far since Sunday I have not woken up in middle of night but very tired such that I sometimes crash at 8pm. My advice is just to ride it out instead of any sleeping meds if you can and eventually your sleep pattern will return to normal. Yes, exercise and eat well and get enough rest and try not to get stressed. I think the body has its own set points for things like food, hunger, sleep, hair growth, nails growth, etc.
    • Papertiger
      Papertiger GodsServant

      Posted

      Hi godservant I have always slept really well when not depressed I take sleeping medication every 2nd night or so I don't want to take them all the time I have discussed with doc and her take is that it is the depression and a sleeping tablet will help until meds kick in I have also noted I have little motivation i.e. I could just sit and do nothing again is this depression or sertraline ? I don't know I always had a bit of nervous energy which allowed me to get things done but no longer there what time do you take meds at?

    • GodsServant
      GodsServant Papertiger

      Posted

      I take my med first thing in the morning when I wake up and I do this for 2 reasons...one,when I am well I sleep very well, no problem sleeping whatsoever but I am also by nature an early bird so I tend to have more energy in the morning so the med calms me down a bit, and two, I tend to forget my med, esp after awhile when I am well and out of my attack. 

      I think you ma have to play around a bit as to when you should take yours as every body's different. However, it is a good idea to take the same time because you want the med to be at a consistent level inside you.

      And yes, lack of motivation is depression. Last Thursday was the first time I went out with a longtime friend to dinner. Take it slow. Don't be too hard on yourself. You need to mull around because your body needs it. Take care.

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