Sertraline-Induced Sleep Paralysis: A Case Report.
Cureus November 1, 2023 Maninder Sohi, Lakshit Jain, Michael Ang-Rabanes et al.
A young patient with major depressive disorder developed distressing episodes of sleep paralysis after starting sertraline, an SSRI antidepressant. The paralysis resolved when the medication was tapered off. While SSRIs generally improve sleep for most patients, they can inhibit REM sleep and may trigger isolated sleep paralysis as an uncommon side effect, even though this is not listed in the package insert. The case highlights that SSRIs should be considered a potential cause of sleep paralysis, and further research is needed to clarify their impact on sleep and update practice guidelines.