Antidepressants to help insomnia

[Earlgrey19]

After a chat with GP I’m considering antidepressants for insomnia (and the low mood/anxiety to which the insomnia is probably linked). My low mood is quite mild, though also quite persistent. I’m weighing up whether to try antidepressants or just see how I get on upping my exercise. I have young kids, youngest age 2, so could do with sleeping better (as well as improving mood overall for children’s sake). Anyone’s experience with sleep and SSRI’s?

Hi, I found sertaline did help with sleep eventually, it made insomnia worse at first for a few weeks though . I've been told by a fiend who has had a lot of experience with medication for bi polar and so have experienced insomnia that it's best taken in the morning as it has a half life of 24 hours. I have to say it didn't work long term for me and I had to come off them. I have hypothyroidism though so managing that properly is usually what I have to do if there's a sleep issue.

You could try a few other things; I've recently found this to help:

Eg eating a good breakfast within 30 mins of waking in the morning (or at say 6:30 am every day), lots of fresh air and sunlight, a light lamp, taking magnesium or Epsom salt baths, having light healthy supper can all help. No screens after around 8 and try to use dimmed orange light in the evenings. Daily exercise can definitely help; I can't remember what time if day is best to help sleep but I'm sure google would help. I got some from a book called tired and wired or wired and tired (I forget which way round!)

I also read and probably was gullible to believe that pistachios contain melatonin- so I've been eating a few an night. I have slept better over the last few weeks but I have no idea what exactly has helped!

I also read that a good level of progesterone helps make us feel sleepy. My youngest is 18 mo and my periods have only recently tried to start returning as I bf. I may be a bit perimenopausal too. I've tried to eat foods known to boost progesterone and even out hormones. So that might have helped me too.

Mirtazapine would be best for sleep.

Thanks, both.

Namechanger I love the sound of the book ‘Tired & Wired’, will look into that. I think I could also be a bit perimenopausal as my mum (and her relatives) went through early menopause, so that might be my fate. I have a mirena coil, so that gives me progesterone (but makes it harder to track menopause symptoms as it suppresses periods). Glad your sleep has improved recently.

Second Mirtazapine but only at a low dose (no more than 15mg). Take it at night.

I think Magnesium supplement might work.

Sertraline seems to trigger sleep problems in quite a few people.

Yes I take mirtazapine and quietapine at night.

Was specifically prescribed mirtazipine to help me sleep, the antidepressant side was an added feature which helped too. I was on 15mg.