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Zoloft - sleeping and tiredness - scared to sleep

Over the past 4 months, I have tried zoloft, lexapro, celexa, buspar, and now Zoloft again. I was given the 25mg tabs and told to take half (12.5) due to my body is apparently very sensitive to these type of meds. I was taking it at night, but i could not fall asleep. I would be dog tired, but couldnt flip the switch. I tried melatonin and benadryl but it doesnt seem to matter, its like I now have a fear of trying to sleep, my chest pains flare up and it feels like my body locks up in a panic when i close my eyes. So i didnt take it last night, actually slept a little bit better. And took the zoloft in the morning instead. BUT, i have been groggy, and plain sleepy and out of it all day. Could this be the zoloft making me tired in the morning? But yet keeping me from sleeping? Has anyone else experienced the fear of sleeping on zoloft, if so what did you do? Mr Dr told me to stop caffiene, but i dont anymore anyways. Need help with this, its already getting very upsetting. Thanks!
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Avatar universal
Same here with Paxil.  Here's the problem -- these drugs can cause some obsessive thinking which makes it hard to sleep and they interfere with magnesium absorption which also affects relaxation.  Yet, they are sedating at the same time if they help with anxiety -- when they're stimulating they often don't help with anxiety at all and can make it worse.  For me, as long as I was extremely active at work and with exercise the thinking went away quickly and I fell asleep, but once I changed to a job that was sitting at a desk all day sleeping became very erratic.  On the other hand, cycling through that many different drugs in 4 months doesn't give you a chance to find a rhythm that works for you.  You might be the kind of person who won't find help with medications because they all have side effects.  Hopefully, you've looked into therapy and relaxation techniques and can find the motivation to get through it.
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Avatar universal
hi there. I been through it. I am too on Zoloft. but a higher dose. 50mg. when I started I also felt what you describe. but I took mine in the morning. regardless I still got the insomnia and fatigue. weird right how the side effects totally contradict each other. it *****. but I took melatonin and pulled an all nighter when my bff was having her baby and after that the insomnia was gone. I'm not saying to do that but the melatonin may help. as far as caffeine, do you find it that you have less anxiety when you dont consume as much. I used to be terrified of caffeine so u cut it off completely. then my doctor asked if I felt better without it but I didn't so he said its not what's causing my anxiety so why not just have some. not too much though. about a month or so ago I barely started drinking cola again. nothing happened lol if your having trouble sleeping though, dont drink it after like 4pm. anyways, try the melatonin or chamomile or some warm milk or lettuce. random things I know but sometimes they work.  
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Arlington, VA
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