Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Dramy3]

Long story short, I'm on a pretty high dose of sertraline (150mg) and I think that's the reason for very poor sleep for the last 3 months or so. I take promethizine or zopiclone a few times a week just to get a decent sleep. Also take magnesium.

I recently bought some Biovea melatonin gummies (from the US). The recommended dosage was 2 so tried that about a month ago and felt wired for a few hours and then had a terrible night and terrible hangover the next day. So put those in a drawer.

But decided to try just one last night. Fitful night and feel hungover again.

I stupidly hadn't looked at the dosage (I'm usually so good about this). Each gummy is 5mg. That's WAY more than most melatonin supplements and the idea of taking 10mg (the recommended dose!) is a bit crazy. Found quite a few conversations on reddit, etc about this causing increased depression, confusion, dizziness, etc. Most people take 300mcg or at most 2mg.

So, just throwing this out there for anyone who might be tempted. At the very least, start on a low dose and build up.

Melatonin messes with serotonin anyway, so probably a bit daft of me to mix with sertraline. But insomnia makes you desperate!

[CLKD]

Lesson: do not buy over the internet, ask at a Pharmacy or Holland and Barrett first.  The US has different levels of what is OK to use than in the UK. 

Why do U think that the Sertraline is causing poor sleep?  R U waking in the night for a P or do U have busy dreams which leave you tired?  I have busy, involved, long dreams which leave me knackered every morning.  Sleep however is OK most nights.  When I get a bad night then that's it!

Depending on why you have been prescribed Sertralline might mean that if it isn't helping sleep problems, time to wean off?

[Dramy3]

Hiya

Yep, lesson learned!

Insomnia is a very common side effect of sertraline and I'm on a pretty high dose. It's why it is recommended you take it in the morning not evening. I didn't have sleep issues until I switched from escitalopram to sertraline a few months ago. This was due to a pretty bad depression/anxiety crisis and the psychiatrist throwing anything and everything at me. I'm trying to taper down to 100mg but going VERY slowly so just trying to get by with the sleeping for now. Hoping a reduced dose + right amount of oestrodial will even me out eventually. But as always, it's a slow process.

I'm so sensitive to sleep anyway. It triggers my anxiety quite badly so I'm using any crutch I can find to get at least 6 hours.

[CLKD]

Sorry to learn that you are suffering.  The night I crawled on the floor begging to be admitted for safety and to allow my DH to get a break, I was told to swallow more Valium!  It did however work.

How much escitalopram were you prescribed?  Did I help at all?  I take 5mg in the morning and 10mg at night, upping to an extra 5mg at breakfast if my mood is low. 

For many years I worried about not sleeping 'enough', being in a busy job and concerned that I might make a mistake.  The night I decided that 'lack of sleep hasn't killed me yet', I slept better!  I even woke to C whether I had been asleep  . 

How do U occupy yourself when U can't sleep/wake?  I had the radio on by the bed playing soft music which helped.  I tried goldfish to watch  but the light in the tank was annoying, plus the fish spent the whole night picking up stones from the bottom, swimming to the top and dropping them 

[Nas]

OMG Dramy3, this is what happened to me!

Bought Biovea 10mg strawberry melatonin gummies. I took 2, hell what a night! I felt ill!

I’ve now bought phenergan as mirtazapine contraindicates with my cancer drugs 🙈 and also piriton.

What a 💩 storm this is.

I can’t actually envisage “normal” life ever again!

 

[discogirl]

i bought some thorne melatonin 3mg tablets. This has made me think twice about taking them.

Thanks for the info xxx

[CLKD]

I have used Kwells anti-sickness tablets with success or a non-drowsy anti-histamine.  3 nights in a row sorted the problem! 

Have a chat with a Pharmacist to C what is suitable with your current medication. 

[Dramy3]

@CKLD: I was on 20mg escitalopram so nowhere to go--hence the switch to sertraline.

@Nas: So sorry mirtazapine didn't work out. I know it was an option for me when I was going through BC 5 years ago so annoying that it's not possible for you. I've read some women have a lot of success with venlafaxine if that's allowed?

@discogirl: Lots seems to have luck with melatonin, but that 5mg dose was very high--especially to start with! If you give it a go, maybe cut it into thirds and work up? Good luck!

[discogirl]

thanks Dramy3 if I them I think I will cut them in half xxx