When starting a new medication especially an antidepressant, it usually takes about six weeks for it to start to really work. Research has shown that getting at least eight hours of sleep helps antidepressants be more effective within those taking them. Researchers at the University of Michigan who specialize in both psychiatry and sleep medicine made the discovery.

The hypothesis on this theory was based on previous studies with inpatient subjects. Researchers found total that those who slept about four/five hours a night had a slightly improved mood in the morning. Then when they did tests with those that got the full eight hours of sleep in a night, the patients showed greater improvements on all fronts. The subjects were almost twice as likely to achieve symptom remission with eight hours of sleep after the full eight weeks of antidepressant treatment.

For more on the study visit Psych Central by clicking HERE