Does Sertraline 25mg make you sleepy? (+3 possibilities)

In this article, we will discuss whether Sertraline 25mg can cause sleepiness. We will discuss some common side effects of Sertraline and the causes of overcoming sleepiness and tiredness caused by 25mg of Sertraline.

Does Sertraline 25mg make you sleepy?

Sertraline 25mg dose may or may not make you sleepy. It is the lowest dosage strength available of Sertraline and depressive treatment in most patients is usually started with this dose.

Some people taking 25mg of sertraline experience somnolence or sleepiness while some do not experience any such side effect. This is a low dosage strength of Sertraline which does not assert potentially threatening side effects (1).

Factors impacting sleepiness in patients taking 25mg of Sertraline

Several factors impact drowsiness and sleepiness in patients taking Sertraline 25mg including dosage strength, frequency, and timing of drug administration.  It also depends upon individual patient variation and other drugs taken concomitantly (1).

• Taking Sertraline 25mg is less likely to induce sleepiness and drowsiness in most patients but the results may vary from person to person and some patients may face severe sleepiness (2).

• The frequency of taking Sertraline 25mg also varies and can have a huge impact on causing certain side effects in patients taking it.

• Taking Sertraline 25mg before bed may help in sound sleep but taking it in the morning and performing daily activities may interrupt your schedule and cause sleepiness and drowsiness (2).

• Taking Sertraline 25mg along with other concomitant drugs may affect its mechanism and cause sleepiness as a side effect.

What are the effective ways to reduce Sertraline-induced sleepiness?

One of the most effective ways to reduce sleepiness induced by Sertraline is to take it at the right time. If you are feeling excessively sleepy, then switch it to nighttime with your doctor’s consultation as it won’t interfere with your daily routine work (2).

Sleep disturbances are usually caused by long-term use of Sertraline. However, you should avoid taking alcohol with Sertraline 25mg. Alcohol enhances sleepiness and drowsiness if it is taken along with Sertraline (3).

For better absorption of this drug and to avoid side effects such as drowsiness and sleepiness, it is preferred to take Sertraline 25mg with food. However, it is less likely to cause severe adverse effects due to reduced dosage strength (3).

What should you do if Sertraline-induced sleepiness is persistent?

If taking Sertraline 25mg makes you persistently sleepy, kindly report it to your doctor. You need careful monitoring of your symptoms and side effects. If the sleepiness is too severe, you will be requiring dose adjustment under your doctor’s supervision.

After initiating the treatment with Sertraline 25mg, it is essential to monitor the side effects associated with its use. Mania symptoms should be monitored especially in patients with a mania history taking sertraline therapy (3).

Do not immediately stop taking this drug. If the desired results are not achieved, contact your healthcare provider, and under his assistance the choice of an antidepressant can be switched or the dose can be increased.

Additional side effects of Sertraline

Some additional side effects of Sertraline are (2):

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhoea and constipation
• Fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Heartburn
• Dizziness
• Tremors
• Nervousness
• Headache
• Heartburn

Taking Sertraline 25mg might not necessarily cause these side effects due to a lower dosage strength. However, you should consult your doctor if taking Sertraline 25mg causes these side effects.

Conclusion

In the above article, we have discussed the use of Sertraline and its effect on sleepiness at a dosage strength of 25mg. We have shed light on some other common side effects associated with the use of Sertraline. We have discovered some common ways to overcome sleepiness as a side effect.

References