Elderflower: Have I messed up my sleep for the rest of my life?

May 11

I stopped 25 mg sertraline cold turkey in early Feb. Four weeks later, the insomnia started. I would lie in bed and almost fall asleep, wake up and that cycle would continue for 2-3 hours until I fully slept.

first, I was able to control it with melatonin. Then that stopped working. Second, I was able to control it with melatonin and edibles. Then that stopped working. I now take 75mg of trazodone and have been doing that for ~5 weeks. I’m hoping to taper to a much lower dose.

my sleep hygiene is excellent. I get enough exercise. My doc thinks that insomnia started because the sertraline was covering up anxiety. I disagree as I think I’ve mastered my anxiety.

I would love to hear stories from others. I’ve read a lot here but most seem to describe being in the middle of insomnia. Did you learn to sleep again without drugs?

(ps - mods let me know if this is the wrong way to ask this question, I am having a hard time figuring out where to post)

Edited May 12 by Emonda
Name to title

May 14

Hello, and welcome to Surviving Antidepressants. We are a peer support forum to assist in tapering off psychiatric drugs safely, or recovering from psychiatric drug withdrawal.

Your first task is to create a drug signature, with the following:

All current medication you take, the dose you take, when you started the drug, and when you made dose changes
All current supplements you take
An accurate history of recent drugs, taken in the last 12-24 months
Dates for recent should be written as 7 Oct 2023, or Oct 7 2023, or early Oct 2023, or mid Oct 2023
A history of drugs taken 24 months ago and beyond - if applicable
Dates for historical drugs can simply be listed as start and stop years
Please do not use 07/10/23 // 10/07/23 as this is intepreted differently around the world

Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. See my signature for example of clear and concise information.

Click this link to edit your signature: Edit your signature here.

This topic is for anything relating to you, and any questions you have. Please do not start another topic.

We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your CURRENT dose each month, to limit withdrawal symptoms. E.g. 10mg --> 9mg --> 8.1mg --> 7.29mg

All the answers you are looking for regarding tapering and antidepressant withdrawal are on this site. Please search around and continue to read as much as you can manage. Use the site search function to search for specific words or phrases, such as drugs or symptoms.

Here are a few of the most useful links:

--------Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ--------

Micro tapering

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules

Using a scale to weigh and measure doses

--------From the Symptoms and Self-Care Forums--------

What is withdrawal syndrome?

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

Hypersensitivity and Kindling

We only recommend two supplements. Omega 3 Fish Oil and Magnesium. Both should be introduced separately and increased slowly.

Regards

Erimus