I've been on 20 mg/day fluoxetine for a few months now, for moderate depression, and it has helped me. However, now my university term is over and I'm back at home, I'm struggling because my days are less structured. I'm putting into action things to help me manage my mood better, but one of the problems I keep having is that when I wake up, my mood is intensely low. All the while through eating breakfast, getting washed and dressed, showering and so on, I feel terrible. The morning also includes various problematic events that can't be rescheduled - e.g. things to do with tackling my phobic anxiety problems.

My mum's suggested changing the time of day I take my medication to see if it affects my mood. I usually take it at around 1pm, with lunch. Does anyone have any suggestions for a particular time of day that might help me feel the effects more first thing in the morning?

HI Claire,

When do you start to feel better during the day? Does it coincide with taking your meds? I always take my tablet in the morning, but I often still have difficult mornings - it could just be a pattern of your mood. Sometimes taking tablets at night can bring on insomnia, although I'm not sure if this is the case for Fluoxetine.
Maybe try it in the morning and see how you go. It can be quite different for everyone.

PRT xx

As I understand it, Fluoxetine has such a long half life that the time of day you take it is not that significant, because it builds up in your system. I may be totally wrong, of course. I usually take my 40 mg Fluoxetine as soon as I wake up.

i was taking 20mg of prozac at night...then had trouble with my tmj..jaw..so i started taking in in the am
now I have no motivaton during the day
so wondering if I should switch back to trying it at night again..and see if that makes a difference
I think I had more motivation when i took it at night...for the next day...I have been on it for 8 weeks now..and just think I should be more motivated.
any advice ...
I never had a problem falling asleep when i took it at night...but i would wake early

According to my doc, if anything it should wake you up. So always take it in the morning... Maybe you need a higher dose?

Data is right here. Time of day is not that important - whatever works best for you.