If my sister is taking an anti depressant before she goes to bed?

Question

is it normal for her to wake up feeling tired and washed out,it seems to wear off as the day goes on

Answer 1

The best person to answer this question is her doctor. Depression itself can cause that kind of feeling. Could be that she hasn't been on the medication long enough for it to be built up in her system, or could be she is on the wrong medication or dosage, or that she just isn't getting enough sleep. Or there could be dozens of other medical reasons for this. Please encourage her to discuss this with the doctor that prescribed her the medication. Sometimes it takes some time to get the dosage right.

Answer 2

Hi Amanda: Yes, it is normal for her to wake up feeling tired if taken prior to bed. The peak time is different on antidepressant meds, which means some meds reach their threshold of doing the most good at six, eight, 12 or more hours. If the med has not peaked in her blood stream, she can still feel tired. It also depends on the half life of the med. A med takes a certain amount of time to reach a point where you feel awke, alert and more productive and then it starts moving out of the system but a portion of the med always stays in the body, so when you take another pill, you feel it hit right away and get that tired feeling quickly. Maybe she can go to her doctor and start taking the antidepressant in the mid day and she will feel more relaxed but still able to do things. Also, maybe the doctor can prescribe a time released antidepressant so it releases the med in small quantities throughout the day and not all in one lump sum. Check with the doctor and ask him for his advice and make sure she tells him exactly how she feels.
Jude

Answer 3

I have been on Effexor for almost a year and found that when I took it in the morning, I had nightmares. I now take it before I go to bed. I don't have nightmares, but I am exhausted when I wake up in the morning. And, yes, most days, it seems to wear off as the day goes on, but then, there are other days, that I sleep all day. This is not good either, as then I am unable to sleep that night. I have steadily been able to decrease the doseage of medication, and I now may be close to another decrease. So, for me, taking it before I go to bed is the lesser of the evils as I am not depressed, do not have nightmares and I care about my quality of life. Depression and stress can certainly change your life so treatment is absolutely necessary. Anti-depressants are known to bring about suicidal thoughts in young people. Ask her if she is having any of those thoughts. Encourage her to see her doctor regularly so she can be closely monitored.

Answer 4

Yes it is completely normal. The anti depressant is most likely one that has a sedative effect which will have been prescribed to help her sleep. The effects usually wear off as the day goes on.So there is nothing to worry about. A lot of people with depression also have trouble sleeping due to worries or the illness itself so it sounds like she has been prescribed well. But do see the doctor if you are still worried.

Answer 5

I have been prescribed antidepressents to make me sleep so yes some antidepressents will make you tired. Alot of doctors prescribe them at night so 1. it will be in full swing within your system for the next day and 2. so that you sleep the tiredness of rather than having it kick in during the middle of the day.
If it is prescribed for bedtime...she can always take it an hour or two prior to bed so that the tiredness doesn't last as long in the morning.

Answer 6

One of the many possibler side effects I'm afraid.
My mum has been on a number of them over the last six years (Paroxetine, Seroxat, Efexor, Fluoxetine) and they have left her feeling so washed out and tiired ahe has often slept 18 hours of the day. She has now been switched to a benzo called clonazepam which she is tolearting a lot better, with very litle drowziness.
It may be worth consulting her doctor about alternative medications (with your sister there obviously, do not do anything behind her back).

Answer 7

Tablets that give drowsyness as a side effect should be taken about 2 hours before bedtime and typically the drowsyness wears off after 6-8 hours so by the morning she shouldn't feel too drowsy.

She could speak to her doctor about maybe reducing the dose but don't let her do this without a second opinion as it could have other nasty side effects.

Answer 8

I have taken anti-depressant for many years and yes I have a hard time getting going in the mornings even through I sleep 12+ hours a night. So, yes to your question.. I hope this helps...

Answer 9

Depends entirely on the AD. Most state tiredness as a side-effect. Check If she's on Paroxetine (also known as Seroxat) - it's been linked to many nastier side-effects (suicide being one) - if she is, get her to go to her GP and consider a different one. Surgeries get good money for prescribing Seroxat, despite it's problems. She could try St John's Wort, which is available from health food shops and Boots, which has reputable anti depressant effects.

Answer 10

That rather depends on the meds she is taking,but it sounds most likely.Her GP is the best person to talk to about this,perhaps she could make an appointment and you could accompany her.Make a list of questions to take with you as it can be easy to forget/get distracted whilst you are there.Good luck I hope she recovers from what can be a crippling illness.