Okay, another thing I'm contemplating is trying to take my Fluoxetine at night instead of the morning. I did this also when I was taking Cipralex (a.k.a. Lexapro/escitalopram) and it worked better for me, as if I'd take the Cipralex in the morning, I'd end up having to work my way through feeling sunken in below my eyes and really drowsy for a number of hours. So, I slept through those side effects when I took it at night. Bothersome side effects I'm still (after 4 weeks) having on the Fluoxetine: Lump in throat; feeling really cold after an hour of taking it for a few hours; aspirin taste in mouth that lasts most of the day; no appetite etc... When I first started taking it, I felt very drowsy and yawned a lot. So am thinking maybe I should give it a whirl and take it at night. Read differing opinions on this as well. Most sites say you should take it in the morning; a couple suggested taking it at night if you feel drowsy on it. It's strange, I feel both jittery & drowsy on it. Has anyone 'out there' ;-) taken Fluoxetine/Prozac at night instead of the morning; if so, why, and did that work better for you? Or anyone with an opinion/information about this particular question by all means feel free to share your insights -- very much appreciated!!! Annie B. (very curious as she wants to feel better as quickly as possible!!! )
Taking Fluoxetine (generic Prozac) at night instead of the morning?
Question posted by AnnieBHappy on 16 Feb 2013
Last updated on 6 July 2021
40 Answers Page 2
Well I just started taking fluoxeitine and I wanted to try it at night because I take adderal during the day and was hoping it would work for me while I slept. Well here goes I'm taking it now and will post back in the am to let you guys know how well or even if I slept through the night. Its 1AM now..Gn
hi ive been on 40mg prozac for 3mth now... i take it in the morning but i yawn all day an come lunch time i need to sleep for usually 2hrs... i also feel jittery/shakey in my left hand... my appetite has lessened... shud i switch to taking it at night... ive no energy threw the day... any feed bk wud b appreciated... thanks.
I just started fluoxetine about 2 weeks ago. I was on 20 mg but was very jittery so I cut the dosage in half (with the permission of my doctor) to reduce the jitters. I was still jittery sometimes until 6:30pm. I am now taking it a night and don't feel jittery after around 2pm.
I've been on it for 5 days now. For 4 days I took it at night. I fell asleep fast and slept great! In the morning it took me a little to get going but afterwards I was fine. A friend told me to try taking it in the morning so I skipped last nights dose and took it this morning at 7. It's been a relaxed day and no stress. But I feel sleepy and jittery. My intake of food has been cereal with milk and water to drink. I've also had bad and painful indigestion before I ate. It's calmed down but I still have it. I'll try a week of taking it in the morning and then see which works best for me.
Please write back after you trial period.
Hi
I have been taking Fluoxetine at night for a couple of years now. Although waking up feeling a little drowsy. Once up I am fine. Like you I found taking them in the day made me feel tired and even a little low. This works for me
God luck
Hi,i have been given fluoxetine due to what i call mild anxiety after a full hysterectomy and post op menopause symptoms. Hrt on its own isnt clearing my head and i have awful low periods,this is so not me and is hard to get my head round!! Bit worried about when to take it as not a brilliant sleeper anyway (my heads always buzzing) but cant afford to be sleepy jittery in my job either!!Help much appreciated anyone.Thanks.
In on prozac... And I take mine just before bed... I started on them 6 months ago and I took them first thing in the morning as told. But the first few hours where a nightmare. Headaches dry mouth and feeling like I could sleep standing up... So I decided I would take them at night. The first month of taking them at night it was hard to wake up in the morning cos I was so relaxed and my body wanted to stay in bed. But once I was up and moving it was great... Clear head and my ocd is manageable. I only take these at night now... And with in an hour of taking it I'm asleep.
If I take at night I don't sleep properly... also more likely to talk in sleep if I take a larger dose or take pills closer to bedtime
I have been taking Fluoxetine for about 3 years. Have terrible dark circles under eyes. So started taking at night to see if sleeping through the first few hours would help. Nada, no difference. Recently I tried weaning down the dosage. That helped but husband says I am a nasty mean person so weaned up and beautiful dark circles are back. Have taken Lexapro in the past. Made me gain weight. In a quandary.
When I take generic prozac (fluoxetine) I'm sleepy at night and sleep thru the night. When I take brand prozac I cannot sleep at night, but more energized during the day. Go figure.
What’s the difference between ‘generic’ and ‘brand’ Prozac? I’m from New Zealand and thought there’s just PROZAC (i.e. ordinary ‘fluoxitene ‘. Is the consumer able to choose between ‘generic’ and ‘brand’ types of medication on the U.S.?
While I’m on about the differences between the U.S. & the rest of the world, I’m floored by the ease with which you seem able to get free counselling? (or have I got that wrong?). I’ve had counselling over the years- I’m actually in that field myself- but still feel I need to talk about the reasons why my life seems to have turned to custard and about being on Prozac. Whew..it feels better even being able to say all that in a supportive confidential environment. Thanks you guys.
Hiya ive been taking it 4 14 years and always took first thing in the morning with no probs. All of sudden witg family stress my depression came bk and so docs uped my dose to 60mg. If i take them in the morning i feel so drugged up. Fuzzy and sooo tired so night time is def best for me. Hope that helps xxx
I just started taking Prozac at night with trileptal 150 mg (2) and I have a lot of energy in the mornings I feel a lot better taking it at night vs taking in the morning it was hard a little to fall asleep but once asleep I stayed asleep
Hi Annie, i'm Annie too. I've been on Prozac (fluoxetine) on and off for years now. I have had long periods where I have been able to cope with life; and I have had much support and a good fulfilling life; but somehow something can trigger an episode of nervousness, hopelessness, just needing support... and I feel so confident and stronger on the medication than not. Now; this may be the same for many people, but perhaps not all ? I can't remember exactly how I was when I took Prozac for the first 'trimester' but I have no recollection of any problems at all. You must ask your doctor about anything that troubles you with it; maybe it is not right for you; or maybe, if you are taking any other medics at all they are interacting with it. ? Whatever help you need, I am sure you can get it without any side effects. Please don't be afraid to say you have concerns, your doctor, if good, should listen to you immediately and work out the best course for you.
That has been my experience. Oh;... and I have always taken mine in the morning,; with no apparent problems. be firm Annie, it's your body, your life, you can have the ideal help if you need it... ask questions if you are unsure... good luck... don't be afraid to speak up... Sachannie
I have been on prozac for over a month but asked my doc if ok to take it every other day from now on, due to drowsiness and the hope of getting off it in a few months time. Anyone else tried alternate days or know if that is not a good idea. Like I said, my Doctor ok'd this as there is no 10mg tablet to take daily. Im on 20mg.
It does come in 10mg tabs and my teen's doctor is having her start at 5mg, cutting the tablets in half. Be sure you get tablets if your doctor would have you taking half a dose--impossible to be accurate with splitting capsules! And I agree that speaking with your doctor is important when you are having any issues with any medication.
I have been on Prozac 10 mg for about 2 years and always took it in the morning. I remember the first few weeks I was a little groggy/disconnected but that went away. I take it to help with narcolepsy symptoms and the 10 mg (along with other medications) brought me to a nice alert mental state. I was calm, able to focus, and had no problem getting out of bed feeling refreshed.
Now fast forward to 5 weeks ago. My doctor and I decided (due to more frequent cataplexy attacks and increased depression due to life events) that we bump up the dose to 20 mg. I figured this would be the same thing, I might be a little "hazy" for a few weeks but would then snap out of it. Not the case at all. I'm extremely fatigued, restless at night, and feel like I'm observing my own actions (like sitting in the back row of a movie theater watching my day-day play out in front of me). This has not gone away or gotten better.
I discussed this with my doctor and he seemed baffled because 20 mg is still a low dose, and he thinks I might just be ultra sensitive to it. He recommended I switch to taking the Prozac at night but reiterated that it has such a long half life that I probably won't notice a difference and if I do it would be the entire mind over matter factor. Ultimately I will probably decrease down to the 10 mg again and resume that in the mornings. I'll update with my results, please do the same!
Hi. I take 20mg of Prozac and I have to take it at night because it makes me drowsy. Now that my work schedule has been switched to nights, I have to take it in the morning when I get off from work at 6. I also have cotton mouth and hardly any appetite. I have to force myself to eat. When I don't want to eat, I drink water all day.
I've been taking Prozac for about a month now & it's working great for me. I was previously on Zoloft for one month but it increased my appetite causing me to gain 10 lbs in a month. After battling with my weight for the last 20 years & having lost 50 lbs in the past year, I told my doctor this was totally unacceptable! She switched me to Prozac (she stated that this is what the Drs use at weight loss clinics as well). So far, my appetite is normal (doesn't seem to affect it either way). I noticed when I picked up my Rx from the pharmacy, it instructed me to take it in the morning. I called my doctor & asked could I take it at night as all antidepressants/anti-anxiety meds have always made me drowsy. She says it doesn't matter what time of day I take it, as long as it's the same time every day. Also, I haven't noticed any change in my sex drive, as previous antidepressants/anti-anxiety meds always decreased my sex drive in the past; so that was an added bonus (especially for my husband... LOL!)
Hi has anyone been taking a sleep aid at night as well? I am taking 2.5 mg of Zyprexa which is an anti-psychotic but used for insomnia in small doses. I take just before bed time and sleep okay- waking up is normal for me through the night. I have been taking 10 mg Prozac around 9 am, and I feel doped out until 3ish which makes me more anxious because I can't for those hours to do anything or go out. I am retired now and was diagnosed with SAD. I also take Clonazam .25 mg every 6 hours for breakthrough anxiety thru the day which I know is only a bandaid until the Prozac kicks in. Only my 4th day. Tried taking the P at 6:30am when I let the dogs out. Went back to bed until 10am. Can Zyprexa be taken with Prozac at night. And can it be taken as a sedative during the day in that low dose. Anyone tried that. I'm trying to keep it simple with the drugs. Thanks P
How is everyone doing that took the Prozac at night? Still taking mine in the morning which is still spacing me out. Doc told me today when I saw him that it was okay to take at night with Zyprexa. I know everyone is different- but on average how long can it take to make you feel better? I'm on day 7. Thanks
A number of days to two/four weeks or six/eight weeks and sometimes even a tat longer. It verys for each of Us. I've taken Prozac for years n off & on for several decades. It works best for me to take in the day,but it's different for each of Us. What works for one,might not work for another. I didn't experience the side affects you've had with Prozac,but I did experience side a affect with Prozac. I experienced headaches after taking it for a long period of time n lasted for a little while. My experiences with Prozac has been mostly good/positive. God bless
Related topics
lexapro, prozac, escitalopram, fluoxetine, generic
Further information
- Lexapro uses and warnings
- Prozac uses and warnings
- Escitalopram uses and warnings
- Fluoxetine uses and warnings
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