Best Time to Take Prozac: At What Time, Night or Morning is Recommended?;- Time is much Considered to Avoid Adverse Effects. Deciding whether you should take an antidepressant at night or in the morning depends on the specific medication you’re taking, its side effects, and how it affects your quality of life. The decision often comes down to the side effects associated with your prescribed medication and how they affect you personally.
Best Time to Take Prozac: At What Time, Night or Morning is Recommended?
For example, if your doctor prescribes Prozac (fluoxetine), some of the most common side effects include restlessness, feeling agitated, nausea and vomiting. Not everyone experiences these effects because medications can affect each person differently.
Your doctor can help you better understand potential side effects and when to take medication to best avoid them. Plus, here’s a quick cheat sheet on when to take an antidepressant based on the side effects you’re experiencing.
Timing Suggestions Based on Side Effect
Side Effect When to Take Medication
Insomnia Morning
Drowsiness Bedtime
Sexual Issues Morning
Nausea Bedtime
Urinary Problems Morning
When is it better to take it in the morning
Sometimes antidepressants are best taken in the morning due to their potential side effects. Here are a few to consider.
Insomnia
Some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most commonly used class of antidepressants, can disrupt sleep in some people and are best taken in the morning.
For example, the manufacturer of Prozac (fluoxetine) recommends taking it in the morning because it can make some people feel more energetic, especially at the beginning of treatment.
However, when Prozac is given with Zyprexa (olanzapine) – a combination called Symbyax – as a treatment for treatment-resistant depression, it can cause drowsiness, so it is recommended that it be taken in the evening.
Paxil (paroxetine) is usually taken in the morning to prevent sleeplessness at night. However, it may be given at bedtime if it is found to cause drowsiness in the person taking it. Wellbutrin (bupropion) is another antidepressant that is recommended to be taken in the morning to prevent insomnia at night.
Best Time to Take Prozac: At What Time, Night or Morning is Recommended?
Urinary tract problems
When prescribed to children or teenagers, Zoloft can cause frequent urination as well as enuresis. In this case, taking the pill in the morning can prevent bedwetting at night.
Sexual issues
If you experience sexual side effects (such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, or inability to ejaculate) from antidepressants, the timing of taking the antidepressant can make a difference.
Research suggests that it may be helpful to think about the time of day when you are most likely to engage in sexual activity and plan to take antidepressants shortly thereafter.
When is it better to take it at night
Some side effects are better tolerated if antidepressants are taken close to bedtime. These are some of the effects that fall into this category.
Drowsiness
Unlike some SSRIs, some other antidepressants tend to make you sleepy, so they are best tolerated if you take them at bedtime. Among these medications are Luvox (fluvoxamine), Remeron (mirtazapine), and tricyclic antidepressants, 2 including:
Elavil (amitriptyline)
Norpramin (Desipramine)
Tofranil (imipramine)
Pamelor (nortriptyline)
Nausea
Some classes of antidepressants (mostly SSRIs) can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. While this often resolves itself as your body adjusts to the medication, sticking to a nightly medication schedule can also help by allowing you to sleep through any digestive issues.
Read also:
- Fluoxetine Side Effects in Females
- How Fast Does Cymbalta Work for Pain
- Best Time to Take Prozac: At What Time, Night or Morning is Recommended?
Other Optimal Medication Strategies
In addition to discussing with your doctor about the best time of day to take an antidepressant, it’s important to remember that there are other strategies that affect how well a medication works, including:
Be patient
Antidepressants take time to work. It’s likely to be anywhere from six to 12 weeks for full effect,5 although many people notice improvement within a week or two. When you start taking antidepressants, stay in close contact with your doctor and stay positive. You can find a way to treat your condition, but it may take a little trial and error.
Stay consistent
Take your antidepressant as directed at the same time each day and don’t stop it without talking to your doctor first.
If you’ve taken an antidepressant for one month or more, you may experience withdrawal, known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, when you quit smoking.
Talk to your doctor
If your antidepressant is causing side effects, remember that many, if not all, of them will go away over time. If side effects are intolerable, contact your doctor immediately. Finding relief may be as simple as changing the dose, switching to a different antidepressant, or adding another medication to relieve side effects.
Word from Verywell
Taking antidepressants should be part of a well-researched plan with your doctor to maximize their benefits and minimize any potential side effects. Do not make any changes to your treatment plan without first consulting your doctor.
The above recommendations are general and may or may not apply to your unique situation. Your doctor will be able to provide you with specific recommendations about whether to take an antidepressant at a certain time of day to get the best results for you.
