Willow - I have the same problem with my high dose Effexor XR™ (venlafaxine). I believe that it is called, somnlolence, a fancy name for "butt-dragging with tiredness".

Some people add 150mg of Wellbutrin™ (bupropion) and that works to "kick-start" the body. I also take Wellbutrin for this, but it didn't completely resolve the "walk-into-walls-and-not-care" feeling in the morning.

My doctor added 10mg of Dexedrine Spansules™ (long-acting dextroamphetamine) and this did the trick. The long-acting "Spansules" releases the Dexedrine slowly. As long as I stick to one capsule (have been tempted to take 2 some mornings) I am okay, and can work and think. Anymore than 10mg, if I take 5mg of a regular strength Dexedrine, I get too much of a "rush" from the drug and I can't do anything (probably because I am trying to do everything at once).

I am fairly sure it is the increase in serotonin that causes the morning somnolence/drowsiness that is seen when using serotonergic drugs. Sometimes the SSRI dose is too high and this causes the drowsiness, but, in most cases, I am against lowering the dose, as "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" adage comes into play.

Lastly, drowsiness is a start-up side effect of Lexapro™ (descitalopram, or escitalopram, or whatever they've officially decided to name it). In some people, some of the start-up side effects (the ones that affect people for a couple of weeks to a month after starting SSRI - drowsiness, dizziness, headache, anxiety, jitteriness, etc.) do not fade for 3 or 4 months. Many people have said that they no longer noticed the somnolence after taking the drug for 6 months; whether they get use to the tiredness or if it has disappeared, I can't be certain.

I hope that this is of some help, darlin'. - Cam