When Is the Best Time to Take Antidepressants?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhen to Take an Antidepressant in the MorningWhen to Take an Antidepressant at NightOther Optimal Medication Strategies

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

When to Take an Antidepressant in the Morning

When to Take an Antidepressant at Night

Other Optimal Medication Strategies

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The best time to take an antidepressant depends on the side effects you experience. Consider the common side effects of your medication, how it influences your quality of life, and what time of day it’s most active.

For example, if your doctor has prescribedProzac(fluoxetine), you might notice common side effects such as insomnia,agitation, nausea, and vomiting.If you are experiencing insomnia, take your medication in the morning. If you have nausea, take it at night.

Not everyone experiences these effects; medications affect each person differently. Discuss timing and dosage with your healthcare provider.

Antidepressants are sometimes best taken in the morning due to potential side effects. Here are a few to consider.

Insomnia

Someselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs), the class of antidepressants most often used, can disrupt sleep for some people and would be best taken in the morning.

For example, the manufacturer of Prozac (fluoxetine) recommends it be taken in the morning because it can make some people feel more energized, especially at the beginning of treatment. Effexor (venlafaxine) is sometimes recommended to be taken in the morning because it may interfere with sleep when taken at night.

Paxil(paroxetine) is generally taken in the morning in order 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 in order to prevent insomnia at night.

Urinary Problems

When prescribed inchildrenoradolescents,Zoloftcan cause frequent urination as well as urinary incontinence. In this case, taking the pill in the morning can prevent any nighttime bedwetting.

While relatively uncommon, urinary incontinence can also sometimes be a side effect of Wellbutrin (bupropion).

Sexual Issues

If you experiencesexual side effects(such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, or inability to ejaculate) from your antidepressant, the timing of when you take your antidepressant can make a difference.

Antidepressants are the most likely to cause sexual side effects include SSRIs such as Zoloft (sertraline), Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, and MAOIs such as Nardil (phenelzine).

Research indicates that it may be helpful to consider the time of day when you’re most likely to engage in sexual activity and plan to take your antidepressant shortly thereafter.

Some side effects are better tolerated if an antidepressant is taken closer to bedtime. These are a few of the effects that fall into this category.

Drowsiness

Unlike some SSRIs, some antidepressants canmake you feel drowsy, so they’re better tolerated if you take them at bedtime. Among these medications areLuvox(fluvoxamine),Remeron(mirtazapine), and thetricyclic antidepressants,including:

Nausea

Some classes of antidepressants (mostly SSRIs) cantrigger nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Commonly prescribed antidepressants that may cause nausea include:

In addition to discussing with your doctor the time of day that is best to take your antidepressant, it’s critical to remember that there are other strategies that affect how well your medication will work, including:

Have Patience

It typically takes several weeks for the full therapeutic effects of antidepressants to kick in. Remember that antidepressants take time to work, potentially anywhere from six to 12 weeks for the full effect,although many people notice improvement within a week or two.

However, you may begin experiencing side effects during the first week. Many of these side effects will gradually subside as your body adjusts to your medication.

When you start your antidepressant, keep in close contact with your doctor and stay positive. You can find a way to treat your condition, but it may take a little bit of trial and error.

Stay Consistent

Take your antidepressant as directed at the same time every day and do not stop it without first talking to your doctor.

If you’ve taken an antidepressant for one month or longer, you may experience withdrawal, otherwise known asantidepressant discontinuation syndrome, when you quit.

Talk to Your Doctor

If your antidepressant is causingside effects, remember that many, if not all of them, will go away with time. If the side effects are intolerable, get in touch with your doctor right away. Finding relief may be as simple as changing the dose, switching to a different antidepressant, or adding a second medication to ease the side effect.

The Takeaway

Taking an antidepressant needs to be part of a well-thought-out plan with your doctor to maximize its benefits and minimize any potential side effects. Don’t make any changes to your treatment plan without consulting with your doctor first.

The recommendations noted above are general and may or may not be applicable to your own unique situation. Your doctor will be able to provide you with specific recommendations about whether your antidepressant should be taken at a particular time of day for the best results for you.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Brambilla P, Cipriani A, Hotopf M, Barbui C.Side-effect profile of fluoxetine in comparison with other SSRIs, tricyclic and newer antidepressants; a meta-analysis of clinical trial data.Pharmacopsychiatry. 2005;38(2):69-77. doi:1055/s-2005-837806Wichniak A, Wierzbicka A, Walęcka M, Jernajczyk W.Effects of antidepressants on sleep.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017;19(9):63. doi:10.1007/s11920-017-0816-4Fava M, Rush AJ, Thase ME, et al.15 years of clinical experience with bupropion HCl: from bupropion to bupropion SR to bupropion XL.Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2005;7(3):106-13. doi:10.4088/pcc.v07n0305Izci F, Iris Koc M, Bilici R, Yalcin M, Bestepe EE.Urinary incontinence during sleep associated with extended release form of bupropion HCI.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2015;2015:906294. doi:10.1155/2015/906294Kelly K, Posternak M, Jonathan EA.Toward achieving optimal response: understanding and managing antidepressant side effects.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(4):409-418. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2008.10.4/kkellyAl-Harbi KS.Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions.Patient Prefer Adherence. 2012;6:369-88. doi:10.2147/PPA.S29716Additional ReadingU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Depression: FDA-approved medications may help. Updated December 12, 2017.Zhu LL, Zhou Q, Yan XF, Zeng S.Optimal time to take once-daily oral medications in clinical practice.International Journal of Clinical Practice. 2008;62(10):1560-71. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2008.01871.xMedline Plus.Fluoxetine. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Updated August 15, 2017.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Brambilla P, Cipriani A, Hotopf M, Barbui C.Side-effect profile of fluoxetine in comparison with other SSRIs, tricyclic and newer antidepressants; a meta-analysis of clinical trial data.Pharmacopsychiatry. 2005;38(2):69-77. doi:1055/s-2005-837806Wichniak A, Wierzbicka A, Walęcka M, Jernajczyk W.Effects of antidepressants on sleep.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017;19(9):63. doi:10.1007/s11920-017-0816-4Fava M, Rush AJ, Thase ME, et al.15 years of clinical experience with bupropion HCl: from bupropion to bupropion SR to bupropion XL.Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2005;7(3):106-13. doi:10.4088/pcc.v07n0305Izci F, Iris Koc M, Bilici R, Yalcin M, Bestepe EE.Urinary incontinence during sleep associated with extended release form of bupropion HCI.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2015;2015:906294. doi:10.1155/2015/906294Kelly K, Posternak M, Jonathan EA.Toward achieving optimal response: understanding and managing antidepressant side effects.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(4):409-418. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2008.10.4/kkellyAl-Harbi KS.Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions.Patient Prefer Adherence. 2012;6:369-88. doi:10.2147/PPA.S29716Additional ReadingU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Depression: FDA-approved medications may help. Updated December 12, 2017.Zhu LL, Zhou Q, Yan XF, Zeng S.Optimal time to take once-daily oral medications in clinical practice.International Journal of Clinical Practice. 2008;62(10):1560-71. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2008.01871.xMedline Plus.Fluoxetine. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Updated August 15, 2017.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Brambilla P, Cipriani A, Hotopf M, Barbui C.Side-effect profile of fluoxetine in comparison with other SSRIs, tricyclic and newer antidepressants; a meta-analysis of clinical trial data.Pharmacopsychiatry. 2005;38(2):69-77. doi:1055/s-2005-837806Wichniak A, Wierzbicka A, Walęcka M, Jernajczyk W.Effects of antidepressants on sleep.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017;19(9):63. doi:10.1007/s11920-017-0816-4Fava M, Rush AJ, Thase ME, et al.15 years of clinical experience with bupropion HCl: from bupropion to bupropion SR to bupropion XL.Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2005;7(3):106-13. doi:10.4088/pcc.v07n0305Izci F, Iris Koc M, Bilici R, Yalcin M, Bestepe EE.Urinary incontinence during sleep associated with extended release form of bupropion HCI.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2015;2015:906294. doi:10.1155/2015/906294Kelly K, Posternak M, Jonathan EA.Toward achieving optimal response: understanding and managing antidepressant side effects.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(4):409-418. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2008.10.4/kkellyAl-Harbi KS.Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions.Patient Prefer Adherence. 2012;6:369-88. doi:10.2147/PPA.S29716

Brambilla P, Cipriani A, Hotopf M, Barbui C.Side-effect profile of fluoxetine in comparison with other SSRIs, tricyclic and newer antidepressants; a meta-analysis of clinical trial data.Pharmacopsychiatry. 2005;38(2):69-77. doi:1055/s-2005-837806

Wichniak A, Wierzbicka A, Walęcka M, Jernajczyk W.Effects of antidepressants on sleep.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017;19(9):63. doi:10.1007/s11920-017-0816-4

Fava M, Rush AJ, Thase ME, et al.15 years of clinical experience with bupropion HCl: from bupropion to bupropion SR to bupropion XL.Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2005;7(3):106-13. doi:10.4088/pcc.v07n0305

Izci F, Iris Koc M, Bilici R, Yalcin M, Bestepe EE.Urinary incontinence during sleep associated with extended release form of bupropion HCI.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2015;2015:906294. doi:10.1155/2015/906294

Kelly K, Posternak M, Jonathan EA.Toward achieving optimal response: understanding and managing antidepressant side effects.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(4):409-418. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2008.10.4/kkelly

Al-Harbi KS.Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions.Patient Prefer Adherence. 2012;6:369-88. doi:10.2147/PPA.S29716

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Depression: FDA-approved medications may help. Updated December 12, 2017.Zhu LL, Zhou Q, Yan XF, Zeng S.Optimal time to take once-daily oral medications in clinical practice.International Journal of Clinical Practice. 2008;62(10):1560-71. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2008.01871.xMedline Plus.Fluoxetine. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Updated August 15, 2017.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Depression: FDA-approved medications may help. Updated December 12, 2017.

Zhu LL, Zhou Q, Yan XF, Zeng S.Optimal time to take once-daily oral medications in clinical practice.International Journal of Clinical Practice. 2008;62(10):1560-71. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2008.01871.x

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