Hi everyone,

I'm having serious sleeping problems. I know I am severely depressed & sleeping probs are a textbook symptom of depression. However, I have just began prozac (taken only for 12 days now) & my sleeping is even more screwed up.

Here's the problem: I go to bed around 11 p.m. I do feel incredibly tired (another textbook sign of depression, but also a reaction from the prozac, for sure), but unfortunately, I do not feel sleepy until approx 3 a.m. or so. I get up b/w 12 a.m. & 3 a.m. to read, watch t.v. or surf the web to help put me asleep.

I usually fall asleep after 3-3:30 a.m. each night. But, my sleep is very broken (yes, another symptom of depression), as I wake up & toss & turn several times during the night.

I usually wake up around 7:30-8:30 a.m., which is when I take my prozac (only every other day, though). I am COMPLETELY ZOMBIE-LIKE at this time & extremely drowsy. I fall back asleep (still broken sleep) until roughly 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Even then, when I wake up, I am so drowsy, dizzy & tired, I could still sleep for another few hours.

I am not too active during the day, b/c I am experiencing such adverse side effects from the prozac that it makes normal functioning pretty much impossible. For eg, I am incredibly dizzy, very, very lethargic, experience migraines & am just very "drugged out". I do, however do small activities such as prepare my meals, housework, small errands - but ONLY at VERY small intervals, with lots of breaks.

Yesterday was the 2nd time I went for a walk - to the store. It was approx 1 1/4 hours, and I thought the fresh air & exercise would help tire me out to make me sleep better. But low & behold, here I am, at 1:33 a.m. writing this post. UUUGGGGGHHHHH. I DETEST not being able to sleep properly....I am so very sensitive to lack of sleep....does ANYONE (including the dr's here) have ANY feedback? Suggestions? Should I perhaps take my prozac in the evening???? Do you think the side effect of sleeping problems will eventually wear off, once my body adjusts to the prozac? (Currently, I take 20 mg every other day).

I really would love some feedback (pls & thx) b/c I currently do not have a psychiatrist to ask. I only see my GP every two weeks & she's not as informed re: psychiatric drugs & their potential side effects as most psychiatrists.

Again, I'd really appreciate any feedback or suggestions, as I'm going crazy here. Thanks.

d