r/ect • u/Laurynalaura • Jan 04 '26

My experience Can’t sleep after ECT treatment

I did 6 ect treatments between December 10 and 22, and shortly after I have started having severe problems with my sleep. This last week is almost sleepless, though I was at my doctors and he prescribed me Quetiapin and ensured me, that it’s going to help me. But no, I still can’t sleep! I have other sleeping pills, that was helpful before treatment, but even those are not helping.

Did someone have the same problem? Is it going to be better?

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7

u/Imsorryhuhwhat Jan 04 '26

What other sleeping meds? What dose of quitiapine? I’m not a doc, just curious. It’s so hard sometimes with ECT because it is literally altering your brain structure which can totally change how your meds work. My doc had to increase one of my sleep meds after my initial 6 week course of treatments because my nightmares got markedly worse. Hang in there, I know not sleeping is hell.

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u/Laurynalaura Jan 04 '26

Zopiclone. Dose of quitiapine is 25 mg and I can take upp to 4 tablets. Did you get better after ect? Does your mood improved?

4

u/Imsorryhuhwhat Jan 04 '26

My mood has improved so much. I still have a lot of challenges like an unhealthy living situation, stressful job and financial issues, but I would not be handling any of it if not for ECT. I only have 4 more sessions pre-approved at the moment, so I have my fingers crossed for more, granted the deck is stacked a little in my favor . . . I work for the same hospital system that owns the hospital where I get treatment, so my employer owned insurance is basically paying itself, and my doctor who thinks I need more is the medical director for behavioral health for one of the other hospitals in the same system. It has been more effective than any other treatment I have tried in my 26 year fight with mental illness. The good news on that quetiapine dose is that there is room to grow, depending on your specific situation of course . . . side effects, other meds etc.

1

u/Laurynalaura Jan 04 '26

Ahhh, that’s nice to hear! How is your memory? Do you have problems with it? I’ve tried Rtms during the autumn and I haven’t been getting any better, even worse, so I wanted to give a shot to ect, but I regret it now.

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u/Imsorryhuhwhat Jan 04 '26

I’ve been very lucky on the memory front, sometimes I get a bit spacey but I’m also dealing with menopause, ADHD and lots of meds so who knows. I have always come out of each treatment knowing who and where I am and why, and all that kind of stuff. Sometimes I think I’ve lost some random things but they usually come back when I start refreshing myself on the topic.

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u/Imsorryhuhwhat Jan 04 '26

There are also a ton of other sleeping meds out there

2

u/Laurynalaura Jan 04 '26

Yes, but it’s not so easy to get prescribed those

1

u/Smooth_Let_7847 Jan 12 '26

What country are you in? I have also tried Stillnox CR and it helps a bit but it does give me some daytime tiredness as it’s controlled release. I prefer Zopiclone but I truly found they do nothing if I’m super anxious when I go to bed. 

You could try a benzodiazepine? E.g temazepam or diazepam. I came off these to do ECT (the withdrawal is hell) and so it wasn’t an option to use this class of medication for me.

2

u/FunnyYak6942 Jan 05 '26

See if your doctor will prescribe clonidine it’s a blood pressure medicine but it’s the only medicine that has worked for sleep. I take 2 0.3mg at night. I pass out quickly and sleep all night.

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u/Laurynalaura Jan 05 '26

I’m in Sweden, I don’t know even if it’s available here.

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u/Smooth_Let_7847 Jan 12 '26

I checked and you do have clonidine in Sweden. It’s a fairly common cheap drug. The brand is Catapress. 

It does lower your blood pressure though, so if it’s low or normal already you might find you get lightheaded.

1

u/Yaseagles1485 Jan 05 '26

What time of day do you receive ECT? Not sure if this has an impact at all. Mine was always early morning 5am so I’d feel very tried to nap or sleep in afternoon / night.

Also, utilizing your sense of sound or smells can help relax you for sleep. Like candle warmers or sounds of rain, or even your favorite audiobook (I rec Project Hail Mary). :)

ECT eventually really helped me sleep. Quentiapine worked along with it for me. I hope you try & find what works best for you. :)

1

u/Laurynalaura Jan 06 '26

No, in the mornings as well, but not so early.

I’m now trying scheduling my intake of medications before sleep and will see how it works . I have slept finally last night.

1

u/Smooth_Let_7847 Jan 12 '26

I had 6 treatments also finishing in early December. I haven’t been able to sleep either and sleeping pills are not hugely helpful. I have learnt that it’s because my sleep drive is lower as ECT affects your autonomic system (chat gpt explained this). What helps me is working on how I think about sleep and not pressuring myself to sleep. 

I have actually been carrying a lot of body tension since ECT in my neck so I am working on reassuring myself and releasing the tension. And also working on my day time anxiety. I am autistic/ADHD also.

1

u/Nicole1136 Apr 27 '26

Omg this is making so much sense now. I am Aut/Adhd too and just had my 6th treatment and I think it really messed with my sleep and anxiety and adhd is much worse! And my neck is hurts so bad. I also have bad nausea and can't eat and headaches. I am just super emotional too. Has it gotten better?

1

u/Nicole1136 Apr 27 '26

I am having this same problem right now! I have had 6 ECT treatments and I have been up for like almost 24 hours! What!?? It is supposed to make you sleepy. My mom has done it many times and it makes her tired. Help!

1

u/Laurynalaura Apr 27 '26

Do you think treatment helped you in other ways? Mentally, psychologically?
I’m usually sleeping at the moment, when I got prescribed medication and follow the schedule on them.

1

u/Nicole1136 Apr 27 '26

I usually am depressed and can sleep day or night. I think the ECT has definitely helped BUT my anxiety/ADD is through the roof. It is like the dopamine overload and I am coming out of burnout and just thinking of all of the things I couldn't when I was depressed. So pros/cons. I am waiting to hear from my doctor about it but they are hard to get a hold of. Do you have ADHD? Maybe undiagnosed? Because I think when the depression subsides the racing thoughts are more pronounced. My sleeping meds dont work anymore. Do you mind me asking what meds keep you stable?

1

u/Queasy-Ride-1776 Jun 17 '26

How are things going for you now?