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Anti-Depressants and Sleep

Posted by Da Nator on March 24, 1998 at 19:33:28:

There's little doubt in my mind that depression cycles and sleep patterns are linked, I'm just not sure how and what to do about it.

About a year ago I started on a low-dose regimen of Paxil (an SSRI) to treat my depression. I immediately had trouble sleeping and had to cut back the dose. My depression lifted, I became calmer and less obsessive, but I found my sleeping altered. I have had, for the whole time I have been on this drug, vivid, draining, "fever-dreams" for what seems all night. I can sleep for extended periods of time and not get enough, often feeling taxed as though I'd actually been active all night. It has been disturbing, in it's way, but I was willing to deal with it to end the depression.

However, now it's taken it's toll, and that side-effect, combined with an incredible amount of weight-gain, have spurred me to quit Paxil and try herbal therapies (such as St. John's Wort). All to the good, except now that I think about it, I recognize that in my depressed states I am high-strung, somewhat manic, and do not eat or sleep enough, whereas in my calm states I feel emotionally better, but sleep and eat too much (hence the weight gain). Either way does not seem right to me. Does anyone have any advice on balancing this? Can anyone attest to St. John's Wort's level of effectiveness? I want to stop feeling tired and drugged, but I don't want to feel wired, either.

Thanks,

-Nator

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