Antidepressants That Help With Sleep
Depression, also known as major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating mental illness that is estimated to affect one in six people during their lifetime. Those with depression often have troubles falling a sleep or wake up in during the night.
Antidepressants can play an important role in addressing these issues, but their effects on insomnia and sleep levels may vary depending on what antidepressant is chosen.
These antidepressants can often help with sleep:
1) Mirtazapine
2) Trazodone
How Depression Affects Sleep & Energy Levels
Depression is a complex condition that affects both your emotional well-being and physical vitality. It often leads to persistent feelings of fatigue, lethargy, and a lack of motivation. Individuals with depression may struggle to find the energy and motivation to perform everyday tasks, making even the simplest activities seem daunting.
The way depression affects energy levels is multifaceted. It can disrupt sleep patterns, affect appetite, and lead to emotional exhaustion. This can lead to a negative spiral, where insufficient sleep, scarce physical activity, and poor nutrition lead to further worsened fatigue, which results in even less energy for making necessary improvements.
Hence, understanding how the condition influences your energy and motivation is essential for treating depression effectively. This is also one of the main reasons why antidepressants are necessary to treat more severe forms of depression. Therefor, finding an antidepressant that help with sleep may increase chances of recovery.
Take our 2-minute quiz to screen for symptoms of depression.
The 3 Antidepressants That Help With Sleep
Just as some antidepressants are associated with increased energy levels, others may cause you to feel sleepy or even drowsy. The response varies among individuals, but as a general rule of thumb, the likelihood of experiencing tiredness is higher with the following antidepressants.
Thus, many of these antidepressants are used to alleviate symptoms of insomnia, i.e. sleeping difficulties, and they are commonly taken in the evening unless otherwise instructed by your physician.
While almost all antidepressants have increased drowsiness or fatigue listed as a potential side effect, the most used antidepressants that help with sleep are are Mirtazapine and Trazodone. Amitriptyline is another antidepressant that is well-known for causing tiredness and drowsiness.
Bear in mind that a sufficient amount of sleep may in itself improve daytime energy levels. For that reason, these medications may still offer a solution to individuals with low energy levels who are suffering from both depression and insomnia.
1. Mirtazapine
Mirtazapine, available under the brand name Remeron, is an atypical antidepressant known for its sedative and appetite-stimulating properties. It is frequently prescribed to individuals experiencing insomnia or significant appetite loss due to depression.
Mirtazapine is thought to have a dose-dependent relationship with its sleep-inducing properties. At low doses, it can be sedative, while at higher doses its adrenergic effects may be more activating, and less helpful for promoting restful sleep.
2. Trazodone
Trazodone is another atypical antidepressant that at low doses mainly targets the histamine and certain serotonin receptors, leading to its sedative properties. Nowadays it's mainly prescribed as a symptomatic treatment for insomnia, taken only at bedtime.
As an antidepressant, however, it has to be taken twice a day, both in the morning and evening, which frequently leads to daytime drowsiness.
3. Amitriptyline
Because of its notable sedative properties, it is occasionally prescribed as a treatment for insomnia. However, sedation differs from actual sleep induction, and while sedation can ease the transition to sleep by inducing relaxation, it doesn't actively initiate or maintain sleep.
Treatment Considerations
Consider discussing potential dosage adjustments with your physician if you are already receiving treatment for depression, but haven't noticed any results. In many cases, insufficient dosing may lead to the absence of improvement. Never combine prescription medications with over-the-counter medicines, e.g. Trazodone and Melatonin, without consulting your physician first.
Be patient, as it may take 4-6 weeks for antidepressants to have a positive effect, even after increasing the dose. Sometimes an antidepressant may still be ineffective even at higher doses. In such cases, the next step would be to talk to your mental health care provider about changing treatment.
Finding The Right Antidepressant
It can be a difficult process to find the antidepressant most suitable to your needs and circumstances, with the least amount of side effects. With the help of your doctor, assess the side effects profile of any antidepressants carefully, as intolerable side effects are a common reason for treatment discontinuation.
For general-purpose guidance, consider taking the antidepressant quiz. It is no substitute for working closely with your prescribing physician, but it may kickstart the conversation with your doctor about potentially suitable options to consider.
Cover image by jcomp Freepik
Last updated: March 20, 2024
Disclaimer: The information provided is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider, such as a physician, before starting any new treatment or making changes to your existing treatment plan. Individual responses to treatment may vary, and a healthcare professional can provide personalized guidance based on your specific needs and circumstances. If you are experiencing severe or persistent symptoms of disease or mental illness, seek immediate medical attention.