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Can I take antidepressants and melatonin?

8 replies

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 13/02/2019 12:43

I have depression and anxiety, for which I take fluoxetine and mirtazipine.

I also have insomnia - it is very rare indeed for me to fall asleep before 2-2.30am - but then in the mornings, I sleep as if I've been stunned - and I have a habit of falling asleep in the afternoons. I have tried the things that are supposed to help - getting up early, using pillow sprays, taking magnesium, no screens in the bedroom, cool, dark bedroom, shower before bed, lavender etc etc, but nothing seems to help. I've also tried over the counter sleeping pills, which don't work that well for me, and even prescription ones - my GP gave me enough for five days, in the hope that, once back in a more sensible sleep pattern, I would stay there. I didn't.

I saw mention of melatonin, and people saying how it helped them to fall asleep - and I could order it online - but I was wondering if anyone here has taken melatonin alongside ADs, and whether it was OK. I did do a bit of googling yesterday, and one site said that fluoxetine can deplete your body's own melatonin, which might explain why my sleep is so bad.

I am getting desperate - I am tired all the time, and can't remember what it is like to get a good night's sleep, where I fall asleep easily before midnight, and can wake up easily, at a sensible time the next day. Left to myself, I can sleep until midday - though I do my best not to do this.

The fatigue is impacting my mental health (or lack thereof) and makes me eat all the wrong things because I crave carbs and because I am too knackered to go to the extra effort to make something healthy.

OP posts:
thesnapandfartisinfallible · 13/02/2019 16:47

I'd ask a pharmacist. I was fine taking nytol with antidepressants but I think it varies.

SexNotJenga · 13/02/2019 16:50

Both depression and anxiety are associated with crap sleep, unfortunately.

Definitely check with a pharmacist - it's their job to know about interactions.

Are you getting any exercise? That makes a massive difference to me.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 13/02/2019 19:05

Unfortunately I’m not very mobile at the moment, and the dragging fatigue makes motivating myself very hard indeed. But I have a Fitbit and am trying to get a minimum number of steps a day (not however many thousand it is supposed to be - that is beyond me).

I will ask the pharmacist the next time I pick up my ADs, and see what they suggest.

OP posts:
Fatboysmudge · 13/02/2019 19:15

Mirtazipan is supposed to help you sleep, it did me. I think the reason why you're very sleepy in the morning is because of the 'hangover' from them? Maybe speak to your doctor about changing your pills? I have Fluoxetine in the morning (as it's more of an 'upper') & Amitriptiline to help me sleep at night when I'm having trouble dropping off.

I personally think the two you're prescribed together aren't working, I wouldn't want it for myself Flowers

Fatboysmudge · 13/02/2019 19:18

Also, Mirtazipan is used for people with eating disorders to give them an appetite. That's why I came off them as I was binge eating so much

Pindlesandneedles · 13/02/2019 19:22

Hey I think you can take them both. Why don’t you talk to your GP though? They can prescribe melatonin and then you’d know what you’re getting rather than trusting the internet?
Hope you manage to get some sleep soon Flowers

PeterPiperPickedWrong · 13/02/2019 19:45

this says it may interfere with an SSRI and also mentions a study of people on fluoxetine having more melatonin than the placebo group.

www.livestrong.com/article/444220-is-it-safe-to-take-melatonin-with-ssris/

Definately go and speak to the GP.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 13/02/2019 20:53

Thank you all for the advice. I will go and talk to my GP - but he can’t change me onto a different combination of drugs - my GPS say that they can prescribe an antidepressant but not a combination - for that, I would have to see a psychiatrist.

I will definitely ask about the melatonin.

OP posts:
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