Sertraline-Associated Drowsiness

Incidence and Clinical Characteristics

The American Family Physician guidelines note that SSRIs, including sertraline, can cause "insomnia or somnolence" as typical side effects, with sertraline occupying a middle ground in terms of sedation among SSRIs 1
According to the American Family Physician, sertraline's sedation profile is neither strongly sedating nor stimulating, and may have a slight alerting effect in some patients, with perceived sedation increasing at doses of 100 mg or higher 1

The American Family Physician recommends adjusting the timing of sertraline administration based on individual response, considering evening dosing if drowsiness occurs, with a typical dosage of 25-200 mg per day 1
The American Family Physician suggests that sertraline can be taken morning or evening, with the medication not impairing psychomotor performance in most patients 1