Should You Take Prozac (Fluoxetine) In The Morning Or At Night?

Answer

The prescribing information for Prozac (fluoxetine) recommends taking it in the morning, with or without meals.

Morning administration is recommended for a few reasons:

• Prozac was dosed in the morning in the initial clinical trials for the drug, and effectiveness/side effect data is based on that.
• Insomnia is a common side effect of Prozac, with some studies reporting an incidence rate as high as 33%. Taking it in the morning is thought to decrease the risk of sleeping problems. In fact, when Prozac is first started, or when you increase your dose, many individuals experience feeling somewhat energized.

Per the prescribing information: 

In controlled trials used to support the efficacy of fluoxetine, patients were administered morning doses ranging from 20 to 80 mg/day.

About Prozac

Prozac (fluoxetine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and is most commonly used for the treatment of major depressive disorder. It is also used to treat panic disorders, bulimia, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), and PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).

Prozac works by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. Like all antidepressant medications, the effects of the drug typically take 4-6 weeks to be realized.

Prozac is associated with a number of potential side effects, including:

• Weight fluctuations (gain and loss)
• Headache
• Sedation
• Insomnia
• Dizziness
• QT prolongation
• Sexual dysfunction

If you need to discontinue Prozac, it is recommended to slowly taper the medication to avoid withdrawal reactions. However, Prozac has an extremely long half-life, around 4 to 6 days, and is associated with fewer withdrawal reactions than most other antidepressants with shorter half-lives.

Final Words

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