I am 80 years old and my doctor prescribed 25mg of Zoloft for insomnia. After taking the medication for 5 days it has not worked. Was anyone ever given this medication just for insomnia? If yes, did it work?
I was prescribed 25mg of Zoloft for insomnia does this medication work for insomnia?
Question posted by Anonymous on 7 May 2017
Last updated on 24 August 2020
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3 Answers
office girl
4 Oct 2017
2 months ago I completely stopped sleeping, I'm 33 years old I had never had a sleeping issue in my life. I was always a great sleeper I could sleep 12 hours a night if I wanted to. Then stress hit me, I've been trying to get pregnant for a year. The stress affected my sleep and I went almost 3 weeks without any sleep. The doctor prescribed me Zoloft 25mg for the morning and Temazepam to sleep at night. I had all the awful horrendous side effects of starting Zoloft for the first 5 days but I got through it. The Temazepam wasnt great with helping me sleep (it was only giving me 3 - 4 hours) so my doctor prescribed Ativan (Lorazepam) 1mg. Ativan works great for me but makes me feel suicidal, groggy and sick the next day. I have a huge issue with taking sleeping pills but if I dont take them I literally dont sleep. I have lost the ability to fall asleep naturally. So after 2.5 weeks of Zoloft 25mg I upped my dose to 50mg which was my doctors desired dose for me.
I've been taking 50mg for 16 days now. I know it can take 4 weeks to 6 weeks for the Zoloft to fully enter your system and help with sleep. But my issue is I feel like it's never going to happen and in the meantime I'm filling my body with benzo's and I experience depression and suicidal thoughts the next day because I feel like I'll never return to the way I used to sleep. I'm petrified, every night I go to bed and take an Ativan I feel like crying. There's no easy way to deal with insomnia/anxiety affected sleep. It takes a hold of you and turns your life upside down. I will say the Zoloft has so far helped with some of the anxiety but when will it help with my sleep? When will the Zoloft rest my mind at night and allow me to doze off? And what can I take rather than Ativan as Ativan is a scary drug?
Shaunabns
17 March 2018
What did you end up doing im in the same situation??
cunningham349
20 March 2018
I could have written this post. I am 32 years old and I also have stopped sleeping over the past several weeks and have been prescribed 50mg Zoloft. I haven't noticed any improvement yet and was wondering if you ever had any luck with this drug or been prescribed anything else. I am breastfeeding and so am limited as far as what I can take.
office girl
20 March 2018
Cunningham345 Hi there I have great news for you. The Zoloft did eventually cure my insomnia BUT it took 4.5 months to happen! I was taking Ativan every night then I ran out and I had a decent natural sleep. I also have to mention I increased my dose to 100mg Zoloft and I’ve stayed on that dose ever since. I am now pregnant as the Zoloft relaxed me so much and sleep returned. So yeah some people are lucky and the Zoloft takes full effect within 4 weeks but for me it took months and months. But I’m finalky out of that hell hole, it was the worst thing that ever happened to me I know EXACTLY how you feel not sleeping. It’s torture. Maybe up your dose to 100mg and then patiently wait for it to work. Take a benzo like Ativan in the meantime so that you can actually sleep. Good luck
Lyndsey1117
20 May 2018
what time do you take your Zoloft? Morning or night. I too am struggling with insomnia. It’s so awful!
pineapple1986
24 Aug 2020
Hi Officegirl! Your post gives me so much hope! Can you please let me know how are you doing now? I am in a similar situation. I know it took you a while to get to sleep, but once you did, did the horrible thought of not being able to sleep go away? Did you keep taking Zoloft while pregnant? Did you come off and kept sleeping? Please help :) I am 33 now, just as you were a few years back.
msgirl73
22 June 2017
Hello, just wondering if you stuck with the zoloft and if the side effects wore off quickly? I was recently prescribed it to help me work through some mood issues related to switching hormonal birth control methods. I'm not sleeping and wondered how long it takes to work?
chuck1957
7 May 2017
Nicole1375; Yes Zoloft is used for many different things from anxiety, panic attacks, and things that go with them and also used for sleep. The problem is that it does not always work right away you have to be patient Keep taking it every night is very important and as your body adjust to it You should start to notice a calming effect that we'll help you start and get some sleep on a regular basis. Most people say the sleep part could start working any time after the first few weeks, and others it can take as much as 4 to 8 weeks to reach the full benefit. But well worth the wait and in that time you should be able to have several nights where it works for you just keep taking about the same time each night or however the doctor told you to. But they should have told you more of how it works. So you don't have what is happening to you now taking it every night and not having any luck but it really should work Hope this helps you some.
Inactive
7 May 2017
Thanks Chuck1957 for your reply about Zoloft given for sleep. I must add I never suffered from anxiety nor panic attacks, however,this is the only new medication that i am taking and suddenly became anxious and depressed after taking two doses of Zomig. I believe not every medication works for everyone. We all have different chemicals in our brain responding differently to the same drugs. I'm believe i'm going to have to stop taking this medication due to the other side effects which occured while taking Zomig. I will check with my internist tomorrow and see what how he will guide me.
chuck1957
8 May 2017
Nicole;; That is great and you are very right about what is good for one does nothing for another. Can I ask you typed back 2 names of medication one the ZOLOFT THEN TWICE YOU SAID ZOMIG NOW THAT IS A HEADACHE MEDICATION do you take both or was that just an error. Also just want to let you know one other thing like you said with Zoloft you never before using it had anxiety or panic and stuff like that well with Zoloft when you first start it the first 1 to 2 weeks is the worst and side effects it is to help you with really they get worse until you take it for a week or two then they let up. But you did not say anything about problems so I did not say anything because sometimes when you let someone know then they notice them. But I do think it is a good Idea about talking to your doctor about the ZOLOFT... IF You're NOT TAKING THE ZOMIG DON'T GET CONFUSED AND SAY THAT NAME. HAVE A GOOD EVENING AND IF WE CAN HELP JUST GIVE A YELL. HOPE YOU GET SLEEP TOO VERY SOON. cHUCK1957
Inactive
8 May 2017
Sorry Chuck1957. I meant to write zoloft and not Zomig. I used to take Zomig for my migraine headaches. Sorry for the confusion. You seem to be well versed in medications. I will contact my internist before stopping the ZOLOFT on my own. Thank you for noticing my wishy washy response.
chuck1957
8 May 2017
Nichole; Not a problem at all, I just happened to notice and wanted to make sure when you talk to the doctor that you started off with the right medication.. Have a great evening and nice to help you when i can. CHUCK.
willberry
13 Sep 2018
RE: ZOLOFT for Insomnia
TRUTH: Zoloft can treat insomnia. ZOLOFT can also CAUSE INSOMNIA. (according to research)
1. lack of melatonin (insomnia) 'can be' caused by low serotonin. Thus, if the SSRI (Zoloft and the like) increase serotonin that the body can then make into melatonin, this can help insomnia.
2. BUT: excess serotonin can also CAUSE INSOMNIA.
In other words, the solution to insomnia is rather complex depending upon what actually is causing insomnia.
When people have Depression, esp. MDD or 'clinical',' often they cannot sleep at all (or, conversely, they have hyper-somnia and sleep all the time). For those Depressives with insomnia, therefore, the SSRI (Zoloft, paxil, NOT prozac as it is deemed very "activating", and others) helps relieve Insomnia.
You will find, if you research that these drugs are all "double-edged swords."
Did you know, for example, that Sertraline (Zoloft) can both TREAT Social Anxiety Disorder and CAUSE Social Anxiety Disorder. That is because the BALANCE of serotonin must be precise in the brain, and, to be frank, SSRIs are like using Sledge Hammers for Every Nail.
Did you know that Doctors DO NOT REALLY KNOW HOW SSRI's work? This is true. Doctors offices are full or diagrams showing MORE little serotonin molecules floating between synapses AFTER taking Prozac, but now researchers think that they do something totally different in the brain.
And, as SSRIs are only 50% effective, at best, you will find many stories on either side. E.g., google "25mgs Zoloft and insomnia" and you will get many hits, and that is a starting dose.
For you, in particular, you might try taking Zoloft IN THE MORNING. It will make you groggy, perhaps, but in my experience, many patients report that they can not sleep if they take Zoloft at night (at best, they sleep a few hours then Wake Up with Vivid Dreams). But then, maybe you could just do a Trial of 300 MICROgrams to 1 gm of melatonin. As we get older, our bodies produce less melatonin, and that often leads to sleep problems.
I wish that Doctors would do more to find out WHAT is CAUSING a symptom before getting out the Rx pad. Insomnia is complicated.
Also for insomnia: DARK room, sleep mask, lower your lights 2-3 hours before bed, no TV right before bed, no computer screens (TV and blue light TURN OFF melatonin production). See: Sleep Hygiene. Many researchers now think the Insomnia Epidemic in the U.S. is caused by Smartphones, computer screens, TV and LED lighting. Nothing that a Pill can fix, in fact.
Related topics
Further information
- Zoloft uses and safety info
- Zoloft prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Zoloft (detailed)
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