I'm getting put on antidepressants next week?

Question

And my sleeping schedule is really screwed up because I work 11pm-7am, how do I get on a regular schedule is taking my meds so I wont forget, before I go to sleep in the morning or before work? Anybody have this problem?

Answer 1

I'm also on a antidepressant, and I works nights (7:00 pm - 7:30 am).

I take mine in the morning after I get off work because it makes me a little sleepy. When I'm not working I will set an alarm on my cell phone, when it goes off I take my pill.

Some days it's hard but it will make you see life in a better light.

Good luck, and try to take a little time each week to do something you like to do; that's peaceful (i.e. take a walk) Things like that seem to help me feel better.

Answer 2

If you're working a schedule like that, and you're given meds that you're supposed to take at night, you should take them when you go to bed. Generally this is done because many antidepressants (Remeron, SSRIs occasionally) tend to make you drowsy. So you would simply shift your schedule, take night time meds when you get off work/go to bed, take day time meds in the evening when you get up for work.

You can buy a cheap pill-sorter box at most pharmacies for under ten dollars. Sort your pills weekly into them, and put the box somewhere you'll see it - with your tooth brush if they're night time pills, or somewhere you will see them when you get up.

If you're switching to a normal daylight schedule when you're not working, that complicates things, if you're going to go nocturnal you should generally switch your whole week to that, and only vary it by a few hours either way on your time off - this will keep your medication timing regular, which is important for many antidepressants.

Another thing that's helpful is getting a small pill container you can put on your keychain. Put one or two pills of the med you're on in it, and that way if you forget, you won't miss a dose. As always, if you miss it by a good gap of time, it's better to skip it and just take it the next day. For the most part, antidepressants aren't like birth control or seizure medication. A single missed dose won't mess you up, especially if you're on something that lasts a while like prozac.