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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Fluoxetine Make One Lethargic And Sleepy?

My husband s doctor prescribed Fluoxetine for my husband without explaining that it was for depression. He has been taking it for about 2 months now and has become more lethargic. He says he has no interest or ambition in doing anything and he while he doesn t sleep well at night, he sleeps a good deal in the day. The last couple of days he will nap about an hour in the morning and sometimes as much as two or three hours in the afternoon. No wonder he can t sleep at night. But could this daytime sleepiness and lack of ambition be a result of the Fluoxetine? Thanks for your answer.
Tue, 4 Nov 2014
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Psychiatrist 's  Response
Hello Welcome to HCM

Fluoxetine is an antidepressant drug of SSRI group. In most of individuals it causes a little activation and this is the reason it is usually given in day time doses.

Your husband has been prescribed fluoxetine for 2 months and now he has become more lethargic and his sleep has increased. He has no interest in anything and there is lack of motivation and ambition. As per my opinion the symptoms he is showing are not due to the side effect of medicine. These are common depressive symptoms and most likely occurring due to depressive disorder. Most likely he has not responded to the drug or the doses are not adequate or there is need to add one adjuvant drug in his therapy. The symptoms are not due to fluoxetine on the contrary fluoxetine treats these symptoms.

Consult his psychiatrist again for reevaluation. Thanks

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Can Fluoxetine Make One Lethargic And Sleepy?

Hello Welcome to HCM Fluoxetine is an antidepressant drug of SSRI group. In most of individuals it causes a little activation and this is the reason it is usually given in day time doses. Your husband has been prescribed fluoxetine for 2 months and now he has become more lethargic and his sleep has increased. He has no interest in anything and there is lack of motivation and ambition. As per my opinion the symptoms he is showing are not due to the side effect of medicine. These are common depressive symptoms and most likely occurring due to depressive disorder. Most likely he has not responded to the drug or the doses are not adequate or there is need to add one adjuvant drug in his therapy. The symptoms are not due to fluoxetine on the contrary fluoxetine treats these symptoms. Consult his psychiatrist again for reevaluation. Thanks