My wife is taking prozac and has trouble sleeping. I've read that Prozac lowers the levels of melatonin in the body and was wondering if a melatonin supplement would help.
135163
Anything that effects your brain chemistry will likely interact with both the depression and the Prozac.  It's a bad idea to take anything that effects brain chemistry (anti-histamines, melatonin, whatever) unless your doctor knows. If your wife has actual clinical depression than she should be seeing a psyciatrist (as opposed to a gp or family doctor).  One of the reasons is they are experts at determining how psychotropic drugs interact with eachother and other treatments like over the counter medications.  Also, insomonia is a major part of depression both as a cause and as an effect.  Your doctor should be treating the insomnia as part of the treatment for the depression.  It's probably a bad idea to use nervous system depressants or hypnotics (example: ambien) but a new drug has come out recently that doesn't have alot of the problems associated with traditional treatments for insomnia.  That drug is Rozerem (look it up on the web to see what I'm talking about).  The important thing to understand about these treatments is that they need to be monitored.  You go back every few weeks to let your doctor know what your progress has been and so he can fine tune your dosages or discontinue ineffective treatments in favor of more effective ones.
73726
First off, the best way to find out about drug/supplement interactions is to ask your pharmacist.  They have the most current and accurate information about such things.  \n\nThis sould be okay for you to take them together. \n\nBe aware that HRT is an excellent way to combat mood swings and depression so make sure you let that modality have some time to take effect before adding anything else to the mix. \n\nSaint Johns Wort is an herbal supplement used by people to fight the symptoms of depression.  It has an effect on the chemistry of the brain associated to the chemical Serotonin.  As far as I know, it is counter indicated for people who are on the class of drugs known as MAOI's and SUI's or Mono-amine Oxidase Inhibitors, Serotonin Uptake (re-uptake) inhibitors.  They are given for depression, mood, and anxiety and include medications such as: Zoloft, Paxil, Anafranil, Prozac, Serzone, etc.  \n\nYour medication is a combination of estrogin and progesterone which are common female hormones and you are recieving Hormone replacement therapy to replace or boost your normal levels.  You already know why.  \n\nA good source of information about this medication is a package insert (which you can request from the pharmacy) or a information printout which pharmacies also provide.\n\nHere is a link for you to find out a little more.\n\n\nhttp://www.novonordisk.com.au/Images/HRT_CMI_AUST/Tricmi3.pdf
612759
Oh Cathy, I know how it feels, especially because I had the same problem and was unable to focus at work the next day, until I discovered Melatonin.Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally in the pineal gland at the base of the brain. It is important in regulating sleep, and may play a role in maintaining circadian rhythm, the body’s natural time clock. The hypothalamus keeps track of the amount of sunlight that is taken in by the eye. The less sunlight, the more melatonin that is released by the pineal gland, thereby enhancing and regulating sleep. Melatonin can also be taken in an over-the-counter supplement mainly sold in health food stores and pharmacies.
280928
Deep sleep helps produce natural ghb,which has some clinical proof that it does in fact slow the aging process,melatonin helps a lot of people acheive deep r.e.m sleep
345444
There are many reports I have read across the internet of people sucessfully using 5-HTP for depression, aiding weight loss and insomnia.\n\nPersonally I have had success using it for mild depression, I can definately say it helped my mood!  Our pharmaceutical friend is welcome to be sceptical, but I have had a positive experience and I know of an insomniac who has also benefited from taking it.\n\nI have known two family members who have had negative and addivtive experiences with other prescription anti-depressants such as Prozac.  I only ever seem to hear bad things about these drugs. In many cases they seem to do some good but can be hard to stop and also have some nasty side effects.  5-HTP is by no means as strong and effective as these drugs, but is now more often being recommended by Doctors, along with St Johns Wort to treat mild depressive disorders.
487581
Yep - I've got it too.\n\nI used to take Effexor, but it killed my libido and the withdrawal effects are super-awful (I now kind of understand drug addiction - vomiting, dizziness, the whole she-bang) I took a lot, though, 150mg so that didn't help.  The med helped the anxiety a ton, though. So much that I thought I was better and decided to wean myself (bad idea - don't do it - you will be sorry 3 months later and have to spend another 3 months getting something new into your system)\n\nI am now starting Prozac.  So far the only bad side effect is I can't take it before bed or I don't sleep well.  It is too soon to tell if it is working - so it isn't helping much yet.  Hopefully soon.  \n\nGood luck.  Go to a psychiatrist - they can prescribe meds and have much more background than a family physician so they will have experience with lots of meds.
445113
As an antidepressant user, I take mine in the am, but they do not put me to sleep or sedate me in any way.  My sister takes the same kind and dosage as I do and they put her to sleep.  Do it make any difference, NO! Do you want to sleep the day away and be up at night, it all depends on how that med effect you and you take it accordingly. As long as you take it in the time allotted you can take it at any time.  Most people want to be awake in the am.  My sister takes hers at night, because she too want to be awake in the am.  Your choice.
237875
The first thing you have to know about Prozac is it takes a long, long time for you to feel the full effects of the medication.  I have heard it can take 3-6 weeks to start working.  It took about six months for me before I really started feeling better.  My OCD, anxiety and depression all got worse before it got better.  So, be prepared for that.  About a month after I got to the highest dose, 80mg, I started to feel a lot better.  I have been on Prozac for over six years now and am taking 40mg as well as 150mg twice a day of Wellbutrin SR.\n\nI started taking the Wellbutrin SR to compliment the Prozac when I asked the doctor to decrease the prozac.  i had gotten to a point where I was not feeling hardly any emotions anymore.  I just did not care about anything.  Plus, my memory was suffering immensely.  I now have no visual memory and struggle with long term memory.  I went to my 10 year class reunion several years ago and could barely remember a person there.  I can watch a movie or read a book and then a few months later, watch the same movie or read the same book and it is almost like watching it or reading it for the first time.  I attribute this to the really high doses of Prozac.  My memory improved some and I started caring again when we reduced it.  \n\nI still suffer a lot of memory problems.  The visual memory is the worst.  I can not describe to you what a person looks like.  However, i can recognize people, places and things.  Yet, I will gladly give up the memory to continue being symptom free for the most part.  I never want to go back to the constant anxiety and depression that I used to feel.  \nYet, I am thinking about talking to my doctor about reducing the Prozac more and increasing the Wellbutrin SR.  \nYou will also experience sexual side affects.  Your desire to have sex will decrease and it will take a lot longer to orgasm.  I have noticed, though, that Wellbutrin SR does not have the sexual side affects that Prozac does.  But, if you drink or use drugs, you run the risk of having seizures while taking Wellbutrin SR.\n\nRemember that all these drugs are working in your brain.  They will all have side affects.  You just need to pick which side affects you can live with!!!
57702
I was also having problems falling asleep, doing so around 3-4am, au aunt told me about Melatonin, its a natural pill. i tried it...and literally about 30-60 minutes later i could barely keep my eyes open. its over the counter so no need for a doc visit, and actually when i visited my doc for other reasons...i did ask about melatonin and she didnt see any problem with me taking it. it worked for me, dont know if it will work for you..but you can give it a try. hope it helps.
55223
I have had major sleep problems and here are some things that have helped me.  Mind racing at night is a sign of serotonin deficiency.  Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that makes us feel good and relaxed.  \n\nSerotonin is made from tryptophan, an amino acid component of protein.  There's a lot of tryptophan in turkey, which is why we do get sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner.  There's some in milk.  The trick is that tryptophan has to compete with other amino acids to cross what's called the "blood-brain barrier."  Other amino acids make other brain chemicals that make us feel alert and on edge (like epinephrine - similar to adrenalin).  \n\nSo, bottom line is, try eating more turkey.  Or have some milk with high carbs that increase your insulin and let tryptophan win the race to the blood-brain barrier and make serotonin.  Carbs can be things like a piece of fruit, or some bread.  My favorite is a "milk shake" with fruit.\n\nOther hints - keep the room dark.  Try to establish a routine for going to bed, to train your mind that it's getting time to get ready for sleep (like training Pavlov's dog).  A simple routine like - brush your teeth, get dressed for bed, write a few minutes in a journal, just long enough so your brain has time to adjust to the sleep that's coming.\n\nGood luck to you.
123002
my wife has been diagnosed with depression and put on 100 mg of Zoloft. Things have been rather rocky for the last few months around here. I believe she hasn't been making some decisions as rationally as she used to, and our ability to communicate is slipping. we are encountering quiet a few problems lately . I do think some of them are due to her depression but not all of them
423544
I feel for your friend- But,I have the same problem.I'm a 37yr.old female.And I have Insomnia really bad.I've had a sleep study done.But,nothing I've tried has helped.I've tried- Reading,Simply Sleep,Tylenol P.M.,Ambien,Lunesta,and even a natural med from the pharmacy.Nothing has helped me yet.Sometimes I'm up for 2-days straight.It sucks.So,If you find out something please let me know if you don't mind.My E-Mail is: jac9blond@yahoo.com I wish i could help.
227466
I am bi-polar too.  I take effexor and just recently saw a alternative doctor who put me on a product called Serene Plus which is loaded with amino acids and suppose to help my serotonin levels.  I, too, pray I could get more help but so far this is all I have been able to do.  I do feel a little more in control some days.  My BIGGEST problem is insomnia.  Unless I take something for sleep, I only sleep about 2-4 hours at a time.  I will keep you in my prayers and if you find anymore information that would be helpful, please feel free to e-mail me!\n\nMuch love in Christ
207308
I took Prozac in 1994 for depression.\nIt took about 4 weeks to take full effect, but when it did, I lost 40 lbs. in 3 months!!!\nI really felt like exercising and keeping my life very active every day! \nI didn't eat much; the medication took my appetite away.\nI felt very happy and energetic!\nI saw things in life very vivid and optimistic.\nI wish that I could have stayed on Prozac, but when I had lost all of that weight, my brain and body started to work overload.  I found out, after a manic episode, that I really had Bipolar Disorder!!!  \nWow.\nI would highly recommend Prozac, however, for depression.  It really took my blues away and then some.\nGood luck.  Be patient.
75709
yes, serotonin levels drop drastically at night almost to nonexistent, especially if you are a morning person, but they rise to their highest point around 8 o clock in the morning, if this is your usual sleep wake cycle
30507
From Dr. Andrew Weil:\nThe two best natural sleep aids are valerian and melatonin. Valerian is a sedative herb, used for centuries. You can find standardized extracts in health food stores and pharmacies. Take one to two capsules a half hour before bedtime. \nMelatonin is a hormone that regulates the wake/sleep cycle and other daily biorhythms. Try sublingual tablets (to be placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve); take 2.5 milligrams at bedtime as an occasional dose, making sure that your bedroom is completely dark. New evidence suggests that a much lower dose, 0.25 to 0.3 milligrams, is more effective for regular use. \n\nAlso, he recommends a lot of lifestyle suggestions:\nEstablish a consistent bedtime routine. This is one of the most important factors in maintaining good sleeping habits. Routines may include taking a warm bath or a relaxing walk in the evening, or practicing meditation/relaxation exercises as part of your regular nighttime routine. \n\nTry to go to bed at the same time every night, and get up at the same time each morning. This includes weekends. \n\nGet plenty of exercise during the day. Studies have shown that people who are physically active sleep better than those who are sedentary. The more energy you expend during the day, the sleepier you will feel at bedtime. Just be sure not to engage in vigorous exercise too close to bedtime as that can make it more difficult to fall asleep. \n\nReduce your intake of caffeine, particularly in the evening. \n\nAvoid stimulants like caffeine and limit alcohol. \nBoth, even when consumed early in the day, can affect sleep. \n\nUse your bed only for sleeping and sex. Don’t use it to do work or watch TV. \n\nAvoid large meals late in the evening. \n\nIf you can’t fall asleep within half an hour of going to bed, get up and read or do something calming until you feel sleepy. \n\nLearn and use a relaxation technique regularly. Breathing exercises, meditation and yoga are good examples. \nUse “white noise” devices to block out surrounding environmental noise. \n\nTake a hot bath before bedtime. Try a few drops of relaxing oil of lavender in the water.\n \nShort naps are good. Try to get into the habit of napping: ten to twenty minutes in the afternoon, preferably lying down in a darkened room. \n\nSpend some time outdoors as often as you can to get exposure to bright, natural light. If you are concerned about harmful effects of solar radiation, do it before ten in the morning or after three in the afternoon or use sunscreen. \n\nTry to give yourself some time - up to an hour - in dim light before you go to sleep at night. Lower the lighting in your house and bedroom and if other members of the household object, wear sunglasses. \n\nDon’t obsess about not sleeping. Not surprisingly, studies have shown that individuals who worry about falling asleep have greater trouble dropping off. It may help to remind yourself that while sleeplessness is troublesome, it isn’t life-threatening. \n\nHope that this helps!
477405
Oh no, you should've taken melatonin (sublinguals) dissolve under your tonge, do this in the future, it's a natural sleep aid product, sold at vitamin stores, works wonders, you probably know, about the 2 hrs, read a book for a while, you'll fall asleep, remove worry and anything, do a lot of deep breathing and this will really help you relax your body and you'll fall asleep do about 10 deep breaths you'll begin to feel tired, do the 10 in a row, get in a comfortable position and know it's going to be okay.