1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Sertraline

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

Prev
  • BK03
    BK03 WeeClare

    Posted

    Hi,

    Just wondering if you had any success with sleeping? Or if anyone else has?

    I'very been taking 50mg of sertraline for 7 weeks now and I haven't slept properly for about a week. I just cannot sleep at night and in the day I'll fall asleep for a few hours. I'm going back to work on Monday (been off for Christmas) and absolutely dreading it because I won't be able to sleep in the day and I just don't know how I'm going to manage. I've just started taking antibiotics for a chest infection I've had for a month, so being ill may be a factor in me being awake.

    Sorry for the long message at ridiculous o'clock. When I first started taking sertraline my sleep improved! I've been reading and drinking honey and lemon (for my throat!) for two hours and I'm still wired!!!

    Thanks in advance for any advice.

    • susan32309
      susan32309 BK03

      Posted

      Hi BK03 - you're not alone with this, my dose was recently increased to 100 mg as my depression had returned (I have SAD) - my mood is great but my sleeping pattern is rubbish - some nights I'm so exhausted I fall into sleep and get around 8-9 hours but the next 2-3 nights I will only get around 3 hours . . . on those days I feel so exhausted, headache, and being bright is a real effort.  This drug has really worked in terms of my anxiety/depression but I'm seeing my GP tomorrow as a routine follow up . . . will definitely be talking about the insomnia! 

      I wish you well in your journey - you're not alone!

      Sue

  • michelle71710
    michelle71710 WeeClare

    Posted

    Hi weeclare, I know it was a few months ago you posted but just seeing how your getting on with sleeping and the sertaline? 

    Ive been on sertaline for 2weeks today, 6days on 25mg and 8days on 50mg.

    ive had side effects and not sleeping is one of them plus the heightened anxiety.

    hope your doing ok? 

  • WeeClare
    WeeClare

    Posted

    Hi BK03 and Michelle,

    I just wanted to let you both know that for me the ability to sleep definitely returned to normal and hopefully it will for both of you. It probably took about 6 or 7 weeks for the sleeping to settle and I took the zopiclone for about the first month.

    I'd say generally it's taken the 4 months and now I feel like I have pretty well clicked back to my old self. I wouldn't want to tempt fate and post a big success story yet but I've been told I can consider coming off the meds 6 months after you feel better so my ambition is to start weaning off in June - fingers crossed! Part of my incentive is the other side effects which include not being able to drink any alcohol.

    I wish you both the best. Keep the hope, stay positive and remember how you want before the troubles because you can get back to there smile

    • michelle71710
      michelle71710 WeeClare

      Posted

      Thanks for getting back to me Clare. I'm so glad your feeling better and the meds are helping you. Well done for getting through it and setting a target to come off them, that's amazing!

      I'm glad the sleeping returns to normal, it's so hard. I'm so tired so I come up to bed and I just can't sleep and when I do for a few hours it's time to get up and the morning is the worse as anxiety is there to greet me. Hopefully through time I will get through it like you and feel "normal" again.

      Did you have many side effects when you upped your dose?

      Michelle xx

Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.