my 19 year old sone waking at 2am ever day and feeling and this last week is being sick . is this nornal side effect? he has been on tablets five weeks and really needs sleep through night.
Help with lack of sleep whilst taking fluoxetine?
Question posted by jntsjanet on 14 March 2013
Last updated on 7 June 2017
3 Answers
Delila
15 March 2013
Hi, sorry to hear your son is suffering with insomnia. Obviously sleep plays a major part in treating depression. Sometimes all you need is a short course of sleeping pills, such as Zopiclone, to get back in to a normal/good sleep routine. My doctor prescribed this for me for 5 nights, and alongside i started taking Valerian, a natural sleep remedy. It takes some time to work so give it a chance, hopefully it will help.
jntsjanet
15 March 2013
Thank you I think perhaps a small course of sleeping tablets may help he is exhausted n struggling to go to work
MacIntosh12
15 March 2013
Hi Delila, Valerian root is a great idea, with some Melatonin perhaps?
Smart cookie!
Lara
laura811
15 March 2013
There is a new all natural sleep aid called Alteril, It has valerian, melatonin and something else in it. Supposedly sold at Walgreens. Sometimes melatonin doesn't work for people-horrible dreams, sweating, and insomnia. But, for those it does work for, it is great. Now it seems like an emergency though to get him to sleep for a full night. Contact his dr and see if you can get something stronger. When you have depression, sometimes your body needs to learn how to sleep again and that is why the Trazodone (or other sleeping meds) can be short term. Not sleeping will exacerbate the symptoms of depression, causing negative thoughts, feelings of failure and rumination.
kallecia
29 Aug 2013
Hyland, a highly-respected homeopathic company, makes a product called Calms. It is all natural, non-addictive, and milder than valerian or melatonin. I like it because you can control the dosage... you can take between 1-3 (according to the label). I am told, each tablet is the equivalent to three cups of chamomile tea. Some nights, I feel like I only need a little help to go to sleep, so I will take one. Others... I am wide awake, and I'll take 3-4. It takes a little playing around to know how many you want to take. It's nice because it doesn't knock you out, you're not in such a deep sleep you can't wake up or hear startling noises, and there is no hangover. IF you do take 3, when 1 would have been sufficient, you may find you are a little sleepy when you wake, but you CAN wake up, and after about 10 minutes of moving around, you are completely clear. I think it just needs to work out of your system.
About 30 minutes or so after taking them, you just notice you are ready to go to sleep after all, and you sleep much more soundly. I will tell you, when you haven't been taking them, and you haven't been sleeping well for awhile; you might feel really tired the first couple days. I have come to the conclusion, this is your body catching up on sleep. Same as any time you've been sleep deprived for awhile and get a good night's sleep... it doesn't seem like it's enough, and makes you want more. It feels so great when you get caught up and are rested! These are also great for kids/teens with sleep issues, as they can take 1/2 or 1. So nice to have that flexibility. I have recommended these to a lot of people. Most keep them on hand now, and only a few said they were not strong enough. Always worth a shot! Walmart, most healthy food grocery stores, and many pharmacies sell them. You can get a bottle of 100 for about $8.50. Good luck!
ang1049
14 March 2013
Laura811 you are absolutely right!I have been taking Ambien and Soma before bedtime for 2 years.Last night I tried Trazadone for the first time.All it took was 25 mgs!I did not even have to take the Soma.And it was prescribed for 50 mgs.Best night of sleep I have had,since I can't remember!!And no groggy feeling when I woke up.I can't believe the difference it made.Ambien never really did work for me.I know this is an older drug,but I want to wean off the Prozac as well.So,your suggestion of Trazadone is my advise as well!Very ironic that this question came up today... Good Luck to your daughter,and go with Laura811's advise.Ang1049
jntsjanet
15 March 2013
Thank you didn't know you could take both I will be asking the doctor.
laura811
14 March 2013
Yes, fluoxetine causes insomnia. Be sure he is taking it first thing in the AM. A lot of people I know also take Trazodone with Fluoxetine so they can sleep through the night. (Look it up, it is a safe older drug with very few side effects.) The first time I took Fluoxetine/Prozac I lost about 10 pounds, was extremely thirsty and felt nauseous a lot. I think the side effects went away after a while though but I don't remember how long it took. However, the next time I took it I had no side effects at all. Also, sometimes just not sleeping can make one feel sick to the stomach. Good luck!
MacIntosh12
14 March 2013
laura811, I agree with you, the addition of trazadone would probably be a good idea, depending on the mgs of fluoxetine.
If he is taking 20mgs of Prozac, then I think Trazadone would be fine.
Best wishes to you,
Lara
jntsjanet
15 March 2013
Hi thank you for replying my son was originally on trazodone n then told to change by the doctor in order to help with the depression. It did help him sleep I will ask the doctor if he can take it with the fluoxetine. He is totally exhausted n trying to work but is really struggling. Thank you again.
MacIntosh12
15 March 2013
Ask your son to call his doctor, his doc may indeed let him take both Fluox and Trazadone, if traz helped with sleep.
Best wishes,
Lara
Colliemom3
8 June 2017
NO TRAZODONE!! Both Prozac and Trazodone affect serotonin. Taking the two together can result in an emergency condition called Serotonin Syndrome. Symptoms are many and varied so check it out online. But it can easily be fatal. On every reputable drug site is is rated as "use alternative" or "major".
For now, try Benadryl while you wait to see doctor. Not the greatest, but it is better than nothing. I take 2.5 to 3 tablets, but I am not recommending you go above dosage guidelines (2 tablets) I do it but can't recommend to others.
I have appt to see my PCP for this exact problem actually - crazy insomnia. I can come back and report after visit.
Related topics
sleep disorders, fluoxetine, side effect, sleep
Further information
- Fluoxetine uses and safety info
- Fluoxetine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Fluoxetine (detailed)
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