Sertraline is a medication that usually activates various neuronal components in the central nervous system. Generally speaking, this represents an impediment to falling asleep and getting adequate rest. This medication is used for the treatment of depressive disorders in order to combat the main symptoms that interfere with a person’s life. At the same time, there is a belief based on the fact that taking psychotropic drugs allows us to establish long-lasting sleep patterns in the face of specific problems such as insomnia. In this sense, confusion can cause people to make poor decisions and suffer negative consequences.
Does sertraline help you sleep? In this Psychology-Online article we will answer all your doubts in this regard.
Can I take sertraline to sleep?
Although sertraline acts on the central nervous system through the reuptake of serotonin and can improve mood after a considerable period of consumption, some complications may occur in achieving a restful rest.
In this sense, various investigations carried out with patients with mental illnesses determined that sertraline does not help reduce the ability to sleep. First of all, you should keep in mind, although the medication has a sedative effect, there is no direct relationship between the relaxation of the central nervous system and the production of high levels of .
Similarly, sertraline increases serotonin levels, which leads to obtaining higher ranges of physical energy. This is counterproductive to adapting to regular sleep patterns. For all these reasons, this antidepressant has low effectiveness in treating insomnia. However, it has been shown to be highly effective in patients with depressive symptoms to promote relaxing effects on the body.
What happens if I take sertraline and fall asleep?
Although the intake of sertraline is contraindicated in the moments before rest, a dose may be implemented in such situations. However, there are some tips that can be put into practice to avoid major inconveniences:
- Contact a mental health professional: It is essential that the supply of this antidepressant be regulated by a specialist in the subject. In some cases it will be necessary to make an adjustment to the implemented dose to avoid side effects.
- Establish sleep hygiene: carry out certain habits to achieve adequate rest. In other words, sleep hygiene consists of getting up and going to bed at the same time, using dim lighting, leaving any electronic device that inhibits melatonin production, among others.
- Avoid handling dangerous objects: Staying away from any element that poses a risk to oneself or third parties reduces the chances of suffering an accident due to an alteration caused by sertraline.
- Avoid activities that require mental effort: since sertraline produces greater activity of neurons, it becomes necessary to stop those activities that involve high levels of stress, anxiety, nervousness, among others. The clearest examples that reflect this situation are reading books, solving logical problems, thinking about difficulties that arise in the development of daily life, etc.
- Avoid stimulating drinks: Caffeine prevents the decrease in brain activity that leads to proper rest. Likewise, certain alcoholic beverages can produce an unfavorable effect on the body after a time close to the night. For this reason, avoiding stimulant drinks is another factor that should be taken into account.
In this article we explain in depth the .
Is it good to take sertraline at night and in the morning if I have insomnia?
Sertraline consumption usually alters the activity of neuronal circuits in the cerebral cortex due to the increased production of hormones linked to states of happiness. This can cause the person’s rest to be seriously affected, as well as presenting difficulties in achieving states of physical and mental relaxation during night periods.
On the other hand, taking sertraline at night and in the morning if you have insomnia can also cause difficulties in activating the , responsible for controlling breathing and relaxing blood vessels. At the other extreme, the sympathetic nervous system fulfills the opposite function since it generates activation of various organs in the human body.
Therefore, It is not good to take sertraline at night and in the morning if you suffer from insomnia, as it can hinder your rest hours. However, the indication regarding the frequency of ingestion of this medication should always be made by a health professional who evaluates the particularity of each case.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Does sertraline help you sleep?we recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- Rodrigo, M., Guillén, J., Perena, M., Aspiroz, A., Olagorta, S. (2004). Sertraline. Efficacy and tolerability as an adjuvant antidepressant treatment in patients with chronic pain. Magazine of the Spanish Pain Society, 11 (2), 87-93.