QUERY

Please take special care in your answer. I was fired from my last job because I fell asleep in training. I need to be able to have a viable life and earn money! The first time I was fired from a job!!!!

I am tired a lot and have problems staying awake in the afternoon especially. But sometimes even in the morning. Since I have not been working I nap in the afternoon alot and sometimes nap twice a day.

Background: I have been on 50mg of zoloft since my marriage broke up almost 3 years ago. Every job I have had has been a problem of falling asleep in the afternoon. I feel better after I take the zoloft, but I still have problems with memory, (I forget I have boiling water on the stove, peoples names, appointments, etc) and energy levels. The zoloft does not seem to solve that. My sleeping habits seem to be troubled as I wake up several times (3 or 4) to pee ( I try not to drink much at night for that reason) and I never feel like I had a restful sleep. Yet I have fun kayaking and have started working out at the gym (30 min- lower and upper body) but I have been there only 2 weeks. I am 57 years old, 5'11 height, 195 lbs, in apparent good heath, and when checked 4 months ago by my last doctor I had good heart rate and good health except for my tiredness. For which he had me continue zoloft.

My appetite is fair and I eat well as I love to cook healthy. I eat
soups, lots of veggies, salads, fresh fruit and take a vitamin each day
(if I remember to).

I am very concerned as I want to live a normal life. When I was a Kaiser
patient I was tested for for thyroid but then it was tested later and was ok. I was on levothyroid for a period and felt no difference so I stopped taking it.

I don't have a tv in my bedroom (so I sleep) and sometimes go to bed
at 9 and wake at 7. But yet I am tired????   Please help me?
I need to have my life back!

ANSWER

You have a really good question and your explanation is very helpful.  I
do have a couple of ideas for you to explore with your physician.  And I *do*
agree that you need your life back!!

First, I need to tell you that Zoloft can cause fatigue.  It's not 'supposed' to but I have seen it do that and have changed a patient's medication because of it.   That is definitely something to look into - and you may have to be firm with your doctor to get him to listen to you about it.  If you like, check it out on the web: Sertraline  - go to "Adverse Effects"
and note that insomnia and somnolence (sleepiness) are listed.  So is tiredness.

Secondly, if I was your physician I would want to do a 'sleep study' to
see if you have sleep apnea. This is a problem for people who, for various
reasons, have difficulty sleeping at night and even stop breathing. They may not be aware of it at all - but it wakes them up of course, and then they are very unrested.  If they have partners, the partners may say that they snore a lot or loudly.  It can be due to overweight, or anatomy, or a combination of causes. The way to find out is to see a specialist in sleep and have an overnight test done to see if your body stays well oxygenated while you are sleeping.  Your fatigue during the day may be simply related to very poor sleep at night!  The following website will give you some great information about this - check it out and go to the "personal experiences" link - you may recognize someone like yourself there.
Sleep Apnea Information

Last modified: 10/04/2007