Does Prozac-induced insomnia go away?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does Prozac-induced insomnia go away?
Yes, Prozac-induced insomnia does go away within a few weeks of your treatment. This is one of the most commonly reported side effects of this medication, especially for people who are new to Prozac or antidepressants in general.
This side effect usually begins to subside as your body adjusts to the medication – within 2-4 weeks. However, some people may take longer to recover. If insomnia on Prozac persists for longer than 4 weeks, reach out to your healthcare provider.
What does research indicate?
Research studies have found a possible link between the use of Prozac and insomnia, and it is listed as one of the most common side effects of this antidepressant (1). Insomnia can also be linked to Prozac-induced hyperactivity.
One research study looked at the sleep patterns of depressed patients taking Prozac and found that the medication can affect the non-rapid eye movement (Non-REM) sleep phase. (2)
The researchers found that patients on fluoxetine had more eye movements during non-REM sleep compared to those who were not taking the medication.
These eye movements were also associated with periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), which was more common in the Prozac group compared to the placebo group
As a result, the study suggested that the increased PLMD and frequent arousals linked to eye movements could contribute to the insomnia complaints reported by patients taking Prozac.
However, some studies indicate that Prozac can help with depression-induced insomnia. A research study examined the effects of Prozac versus placebo on symptoms of insomnia in patients with major depression. (3)
The study found that Prozac was more effective than the placebo in improving non-sleep depression symptoms. There was also a numerical improvement in sleep-related depression symptoms for those taking Prozac.
Additionally, Prozac did not worsen sleep disturbance during the study. These findings suggest that Prozac be used as an effective antidepressant for patients with depression and associated sleep problems.
How to get rid of Prozac-induced insomnia?
There are a few things you can do to get rid of Prozac-induced insomnia. These include:
Take Prozac in the morning
Taking Prozac in the morning can help you manage insomnia caused by this medication. According to several surveys, people who take Prozac at night get more severely affected by sleep disturbances, as compared to those who take it in the morning.
This doesn’t guarantee a complete escape from insomnia, but you won’t find it much intensely.
Discuss dose reduction with your doctor
If your insomnia persists and is quite severe, talk to your doctor about a dose reduction. This is common in people who are new to Prozac and having a hard time adjusting to this antidepressant. Dose reduction does work in most cases. However, don’t reduce your dose on your own.
Go to bed at the same time every day
Keeping your sleeping hours constant can help your brain make a habit out of it. This way, your body will automatically try to relax you and prepare you to sleep when nighttime comes.
Ideally, you should sleep for at least 7 to 9 hours every night. Make sure you try it out and train your brain in making you feel sleepy every day at the same time.
Do not drink coffee after 4 pm
It’s not recommended to drink coffee after 4 pm in general, let alone when you’re taking a medication that’s causing insomnia. Caffeine has a half-life of about 6-8 hours.
Taking it after 4 pm can keep you awake at night and stops your brain from preparing your body to sleep. Make sure you limit your caffeine intake to the morning or mid-afternoon.
Do not use electronic gadgets before bedtime
Using electronic gadgets can ruin sleep quality even in healthy individuals, so you can imagine how it’ll affect someone who’s already struggling with insomnia.
Normally, the Melatonin receptors present in your eyes detect natural light and prepare your body to sleep as the sky starts to get dark.
Light emitting from electronic gadgets can trigger Melatonin receptors into acting like it’s daytime and not a time to fall asleep. This can significantly affect the quality of your sleep.
Try chamomile tea
Try drinking chamomile tea an hour before your bedtime. Chamomile is known for its calming and relaxing properties and there are plenty of research studies backing up that claim.
Chamomile tea bags are easily available in marts and can help calm you down and prepare your body for sleep.
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References
1.-
Sohel AJ, Shutter MC, Molla M. Fluoxetine. 2022 Jul 4. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29083803. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459223
2.-
Dorsey CM, Lukas SE, Cunningham SL. Fluoxetine-induced sleep disturbance in depressed patients. Neuropsychopharmacology. 1996 Jun;14(6):437-42. doi: 10.1016/0893-133X(95)00148-7. PMID: 8726754. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8726754/
3.-
Satterlee WG, Faries D. The effects of fluoxetine on symptoms of insomnia in depressed patients. Psychopharmacol Bull. 1995;31(2):227-37. PMID: 7491373. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7491373/
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