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Will I ever get to sleep on sertraline??

Posted , 13 users are following.

WeeClare
WeeClare

Hi there,

Just posting after a pretty well sleepless night sad I just feel constantly wired and I can't switch off. I am on my second week of sertraline now at 50mg after a week of 25mg. I was put on it after my anxiety symptoms progressed to depression. I can definitely feel a lightening to my mood and moments of positivity of the future but I am obsessing about the lack of sleep. I take it in the morning, I deal with the side effects ok in the day but then the anxiety sensations and twinges hit me at night and I cannot switch off. I've been given zopiclone for my sleep but I was warned not to take it every night. Even with that I wake several times.

I wasn't sleeping well at all before I got prescribed the sertraline. I think one anxiety attack too many at night left me unable to switch off. But now I feel like I could deal with the mental health issues if I could just get some proper sleep help!!!

It would be great to hear from others on the insomnia issue as my biggest fear is exhaustion now.

0 likes, 21 replies

21 Replies

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  • cheryl010616
    cheryl010616 WeeClare

    Posted

    Your not alone. I was put on 100mg straight away and had good sleep for 2 weeks but now back to normal for me where im only getting 2-4hrs sleep a nite as just wide awake and yes exhausted during day. Doc has now told me to take 150mg feel a lot calmer in myself aa to not too much worrying about things and still get bad days and yet to still have a good nites sleep. They say it takes a while to get in the system and perserver 6months and should be alright. Will see how it goes. Hope you will give it time too and maybe keep daily record how your feeling and times you wake up to see if there is a regularity.
    • WeeClare
      WeeClare cheryl010616

      Posted

      Thanks Cheryl,

      I know it's early days at less than two weeks in but when you're sleep deprived, sole carer for two children and working part time every sleepless night really takes its toll and heightens the anxiety of exhaustion.

      I am keeping a daily diary but as for recording the times I wake I'm not even sure I get to sleep...

      It does help to know I'm not alone though smile

  • WeeClare
    WeeClare

    Posted

    It would be good to hear how anyone else manages the insomnia too.

    Thank you!

  • Guest
    Guest WeeClare

    Posted

    Hi clare

    My sleep at night is almost none existent and if I do I wake with terrible headaches, I started on 50mg of sertraline 5wks ago but after 2wks I had to change to fluoxetene due to the side effects, it's got to the point where I keep falling asleep for brief sporadic periods throughout the day the lethargy is doing my head in just can't get motivated to do anything.

    • Guest
      Guest

      Posted

      I definitely found sertraline in wk 2 was the worst insomnia period for me and to make it worse I was keeping my GF up with the constant fidgeting in bed, I've point blank refused sleeping tablets from the doctor. Best thing I can recommend is the grab a book and read until u drop, I personally haven't read in yrs but thought I'd give it a whirl with varying degrees of success but anything is a bonus ( oh and don't read from a kindle or tablet it needs to be a book bright lights stimulate the brain)

    • WeeClare
      WeeClare Guest

      Posted

      I'm on week two and just totally wired and exhausted. I'm trying to limit the sleeping tabs and I'm doing all the natural things to promote sleepiness so I suppose I just need some patience. It just feels like I've forgotten how to switch off and it's the focus when the anxiety hits :-[

    • Katyf
      Katyf Guest

      Posted

      Hi I'm on week 2 and for the last couple of nights have had no sleep,which is making me feel a bit down will my sleep pattern go back to normal?

  • luke23841
    luke23841 WeeClare

    Posted

    Try not to worry too much and get things done that need to be done to tire yourself out, I was like this for first 2 weeks now on my 4th week and I'm bloody exhausted like it's totally shifted, you will sleep again soon!

    • WeeClare
      WeeClare luke23841

      Posted

      Thanks Luke

      I just need patience and rational thought which kind of goes out the window when you're exhausted :-\

    • luke23841
      luke23841 WeeClare

      Posted

      Honestly Clare I was just the same, I'm usually a lethargic person due to anxiety depression and I loved the fact I was wired for first week then it took its toll in week two I was in such light/ horrible sleeps not even sure I slept. And now I'm exhausted again, like Paul said reading is really good! Don't panic you will sleep again I know it's horrible but I and I'm sure many others were the same just try not to over analyse x

  • brian91744
    brian91744 WeeClare

    Posted

    You will sleep. It will take a while but it will happen. Your brain chemistry is changing at the moment and it will settle down. Hang in there.
  • Craftylady
    Craftylady WeeClare

    Posted

    Ages ago I was on a different Anti Depressant (Seroxat) and quite a high dosage at that.  I also had Zopiclone as one of the 4 medications I took for my Depression at the time.  It didn't do me any harm at all.  It was great as it retrained my brain to sleep which is what I needed.  I was on 10mg for a month then I cut it down to one every 2 nights then one if and when I needed it.  If you've got them do take them as they will help even on a temporary basis to get you the much needed sleep.

  • lattifa7777
    lattifa7777 WeeClare

    Edited

    you will sleep again . ut just takes a couple more weeks at the most.

    its awful i know. then the night sweats happen for a few weeks.

    then all rmthat goes away and slowly sliwky you get your old self back.

    just hang in there, try not to worry if u dont sleep well u dont sleep, thats the way you have to think of it.

    but eventualy you will.

    xxx

  • WeeClare
    WeeClare

    Posted

    Thank you for the reassurance everybody. Must keep the positive mental attitude and power through now.
  • michelle63291
    michelle63291 WeeClare

    Edited

    If it makes you feel any better I did not sleep the first few weeks but now after eight weeks I sleep fine !
    • WeeClare
      WeeClare michelle63291

      Edited

      How did you get through those first few weeks Michelle?!

      I'm working and single mum to two kiddies so I have to function rah!

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