The medicines listed on this website are only there to give you knowledge. Just because they are on the list doesn’t mean that anyone will be given them; in the end, treatment decisions are up to the healthcare workers. The medicines on this list are not all of them. Doctors may recommend other drugs, even ones that don’t contain stimulants, depending on the patient’s specific health needs and circumstances.
The brand name for sertraline medicine is Zoloft. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, panic disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder are among the conditions for which doctors prescribe Zoloft.
In addition to its established benefits, Zoloft may have a variety of adverse effects, such as sleeplessness. Continue reading to find out how common it is and how to treat insomnia brought on by this drug.
Does Sertraline Cause You to Nod Off?
Sertraline does have the potential to make you sleepy, particularly as the frequency of panic and anxiety episodes decreases. As a result, after they start taking sertraline, some individuals may observe improved sleeping patterns.
It’s also usual for Zoloft to cause lethargy and exhaustion in new users; this is a natural adverse effect of the medication. These sensations should subside as long as you follow your medicine.
Why Does Sleeplessness Occur With Zoloft?
The medication family known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which raise serotonin levels in the brain, includes sertraline, or Zoloft. One biological neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep patterns is serotonin. In addition to showing improvements in sleep cycles, these modifications in the chemical balance of the brain may also have the unintended consequence of causing insomnia. As a result, some Zoloft users have difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Zoloft and insomnia may be associated, while transitory sleep disruptions may occur in some people. Insomnia goes away on its own as your body adjusts to having Zoloft in your system. To obtain aid for conquering insomnia, you must, however, notify a doctor if it persists over an extended period of time.
How to Handle Zoloft and Insomnia Side Effects
While sleeplessness is a prevalent side effect of this medicine, some people do not suffer insomnia while using Zoloft. But if you find that Zoloft is making you sleepy, you may find these steps useful.
It takes many hours for sertraline to fully dissolve into your bloodstream. Taking it in the morning will thus result in a decreased blood concentration of sertraline by nightfall, perhaps preventing sleeplessness.
Inclined posture during sleep might sometimes be the cause of insomnia. Making sure you have a regular schedule for going to bed and getting up is one way to practice good sleep hygiene. Furthermore, create the perfect sleeping atmosphere.
Additionally, keep electronics that generate blue light out of your bedroom. These consist of laptops, desktops, and mobile phones. By doing this, you may make sure that your body starts to connect sleep with your bedroom. There should be less distractions in the room, and the lighting and temperature should be comfortable for sleeping. Make sure to get a comfortable cushion and mattress as well. Insomnia may be lessened with proper sleep hygiene.
Studies[1*] show that smokers’ reduced sleep, disturbed sleep, and trouble falling asleep are all caused by the nicotine in cigarettes. Nicotine is a stimulant that may cause sleep disturbances.
Alcohol has a sedative effect at first, which helps you go to sleep more quickly. Alcohol also impairs rapid eye movement[2*] sleep, which makes it more difficult to get any rest at night. You will so experience sleep disruptions due to frequent awakenings.
Exercise improves your mood, produces endorphins[3*], and facilitates deeper, more restful sleep at night. Exercise in the mornings improves your mood and lowers anxiety and despair. As a result, frequent exercise will help minimize or completely eradicate the adverse effect of sleeplessness as your body adjusts to Zoloft.
Coffee disrupts your sleep patterns by acting as a stimulant. Therefore, after drinking tea, coffee, or any other caffeinated beverage, you will find it difficult to fall asleep at night. Caffeine and Zoloft together at night will thus result in Zoloft insomnia.
Your doctor may opt to lower your dose of Zoloft if you let them know that it’s giving you sleeplessness. Take Zoloft at a different dose to get rid of sleeplessness. Don’t stop taking Zoloft without consulting your doctor first.
When using Zoloft for sleeplessness, a different drug may be needed. Rather of modifying your Zoloft dose, your doctor can prescribe an alternative medication, such as Lexapro, which also addresses anxiety and depression. It’s possible that the negative effects of a different drug are more bearable than those of Zoloft.
Syndrome of Withdrawal
When you attempt to stop taking sertraline suddenly, you may have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, including sleeplessness as a part of discontinuation syndrome. Headaches, nausea, vertigo, paresthesia[4*], and nightmares are possible additional symptoms.
Therefore, the greatest defense against these withdrawal symptoms is to wean off of sertraline. As you gradually lower your Zoloft dose, adhere to your doctor’s instructions.
To sum up
Zoloft is a medication that helps anxiety, panic, and depression; nevertheless, one of its adverse effects is sleeplessness. See your doctor for advice if you discover that Zoloft is causing you to have sleeplessness. They might try one of the above-mentioned methods to treat their sleeplessness. But avoid trying to stop taking Zoloft suddenly since you can get withdrawal symptoms.