Back on Sertraline and not sleeping

[Fallula]

Hi everyone

I could just do with a bit of support as I'm really struggling atm. After having my son nearly two years ago I got really bad insomnia which then developed into PND and severe anxiety. I was put on Sertraline, a short course of sleeping pills and I also had a few hypnotherapy sessions. It seemed to sort me out and I stayed on Sertraline for around 18 months before a different doctor suggested I came off it as I felt loads better. BIG MISTAKE. I came off it in May and in August I had a relapse, went back on it, couldn't sleep and felt suicidal so came off it and went on to Mirtazapine. I slept great on this but put on a lot of weight and felt so shattered all the time so I came off it and went back on Sertraline. I am day 19 of Sertraline and I haven't been able to sleep at all. I took sleeping pills for around two weeks and then started worrying that I was becoming addicted to them so the last couple of days I ended up taking a Mirtazapine as well as Sertraline. Now I know this isn't recommended at all but I was getting past myself. Last night I only took Piriton as I was getting worried as to the amount of pills I was taking. I felt like I hardly slept a wink, just tossed and turned all night . I do believe the Sertraline is starting to kick in a bit as I am a lot calmer when trying to get to sleep, it's just that I can't get to sleep or if I do manage to I can't stay asleep. I am seeing my doctor on Tuesday which atm seems a lifetime away. I don't really know whether to stick to the Sertraline in the hope the sleeplessness will disappear shortly, ask to be put back on Mirtazapine (which ultimately made me feel down because of the weight gain and the lack of energy to do anything) or perhaps even ask to be put on a low does of amitriptyline which will help with insomnia (I think) but I'd need a massive dose to help with the depression. Argh. I feel so confused and worried about it all, it's all I think about. I just wondered if anyone has been through a similar experience and could offer me any support/advice. Thanks for listening everyone, sorry for the long post, I just can't seem to stop typing xxx

Oh I sympathise. It's just the pits.

I had horrific insomnia on Escitalopram. I couldn't stay asleep past 3am and would jolt awake panicking. Sleeping pills were useless because I had no problem falling asleep, it was staying asleep that was the issue.
I lasted 5 weeks before ending up in hospital, I was given olanzapine there too and it knocked me out for 12 hours.
It's notorious for weight gain but I only put on a few pounds, I was careful about not overeating.
I really think SSRIs just don't suit some people at all.

Could you ask your doc about alternatives to mirtzapine?

Did you do any therapy when you were on sertraline the last time? How long we're you weaning off it?
I've been weaning off 10mgs of an SSRI since July, super, super slowly.

Hi Violater, thanks for your reply, it's much appreciated.

Sertraline worked wonders last time. I could sleep on it, nap through the day etc. That's why I'm a bit shocked that I still aren't sleeping on it yet. I didn't have any therapy because I felt fine on it and didn't seem to have any issues. I am on the waiting list for CBT atm but can't see my getting that for at least three months. I didn't seem to have any issues coming off Sert, I took half for a few weeks and then a quarter. I was absolutely fine off it until I had a couple of bad nights sleep, then the anxiety that would've been curbed by the Sert kicked in and it was a downhill spiral from there. I wish I'd never come off it.

xxx