hollywoodfreaks Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 I was wondering if anyone here uses trazodone as a sleep aid. I was prescribed it today to try out if I want to. My mom used it and found it very effective for falling asleep, but I wanted to hear other people's experiences in regard to how fast does it kick in, how does it feel, side effects, etc. I'm assuming she prescribed this to me because I have no insurance and it's much less expensive than sleeping pills. But I really haven't heard of a lot of people using this med. I wonder since it isn't really much of an anti-d if non-MI people can use it as well? P.S. What is this all about? I found this on the Crazy Meds page under Not So Common Side Effects which is a little scary since I found that I got ALL of the Not So Common Side Effects under Lexapro "General cardiac weirdness, so Desyrel shouldn't be used if you have a history or family history of heart issues, at least, not without prior clearance from a cardiologist" Well my grandfather had a massive heart attack but he's also a heavy drinker and smoker, does that count? Oh and my grandma has high blood pressure and cholesterol and my dad has high blood pressure. God I'm so anal. Hehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 It's been a long time, but I have used trazodone as a sleep aid. I recall it as being pleasantly effective, and without the next morning grog that I often get from "real" sleep aids. It also has less chance of dependence, aside from the habitual dependence that can develop with any sleep aid. As for it being an anti-depressant, it is one. The problem is that at the dose it would take to be an effective anti-depressant, most people would be asleep most (all?) of the time. Sometimes using it as a sleep aid can add just a tiny bit to whatever anti-depressant you're already one, but I don't recall how much that was or was not true for me. Fiona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollywoodfreaks Posted September 1, 2005 Author Share Posted September 1, 2005 Thanks Fiona. I assume the sleepiness kicks in immediately, because my doc prescribed for me to take it "as needed"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 Thanks Fiona. I assume the sleepiness kicks in immediately, because my doc prescribed for me to take it "as needed"? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, as I recall the sleepiness hit fairly quickly. And while I didn't take it too late into the night, I do recall being able to take it after falling asleep without help had been demonstrated as unlikely. Fiona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sepia Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 I was on Desyrel quite briefly. My experience was in line with Fiona's in that it was effective and kicked in quickly (around 30-ish minutes, certainly less than an hour), and I had no unusual residual grogginess the next morning. It's supposed to be a safe sedative/AD for the bipolar population. Problem is, I kicked into definite (hypo)mania of unusual severity within a week of starting Desyrel, and I hadn't been diagnosed bipolar yet. I had to stop taking it. The buzzing was too much and too dangerous. Since you're not bipolar, though, this shouldn't be a problem for you. You know how sometimes you're studying at 3 AM, and you're cool, but a sudden muffled whump of exhaustion hits your brain and you're suddenly useless? That's what Desyrel tended to be like for me. I could push through it if I wanted to -- it's not like I was clobbered unconscious -- but sleep suddenly became very pressing, very appealing, and very difficult to resist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firedancer Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 My neuro prescribed this for me after Ambien didn't work. I tried it for almost a month - it was ok. Some nighst were better than others. But not effective enough for me to refill the script. Make sure you eat a little something before taking it. It will make your stomach upset if you don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lidlkidl Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 I take it every night and I LOVE it. I have been taking it for maybe three or four months and I can't say enough good things about it. I was taking 50 mg but the one side effect I've had is that it makes my already super dry eyes beyond dry--so I cut back to 25 mg and it works fine and my eyes are not as dry. I have Lasik dryness which I'm sure is exacerbated by the other meds I'm on (Wellbutrin, Lamictal) so I wouldn't imagine most people would even notice dryer eyes. For me Trazodone works like clockwork--I take it and within 15 minutes I am just out. I find I do have to time it right--it's not the kind of thing I could take earlier in the evening--especially when I was taking 50 mg it was an effort to even walk upstairs 15 minutes after I'd taken it. I am very sensitive to medication in general, so even such a small dose works for me. I have no hangover at all in the morning and get up easily. I sleep for about 7 hours a night--not sure if I'd be groggy if I slept less than that. I also swear that even such a small dose works as a very good antidepressant for me--my mood has been remarkably stable and positive since I've been taking it. Could just be that I've gotten my life in control for the first time in years but I have to say that since I've been taking it my mood is good about 95% of the time with no depression. It also seems to have some anti-anxiety effect, all though not much. My anxiety seems to be reduced but my agitation/restlessness is still the same. It is also dirt cheap--I think a three month supply is like $10 for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest needabrain Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 I recently got prescribed Trazodone as a sleep aid too. It hit very quickly the first night I took it but after that it took longer and longer to kick in. I'm only on 50mg so far. I have the morning after grogginess and the dry mouth. But then again I haven't been taking it all that long, like a little over a week. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dianebea Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 My mom's been taking trazodone for years for sleep. She has heart disease (has had at least 5 angioplasties and 1 open heart) and has not had any problems. I'm thinking of asking my neuro about it---I currently take doxepin for sleep. Diane B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igloo Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 I'm on Wellbutrin and was taking Ambien for sleep but recently prescribed trazodone...50 mg is working great for me to sleep about 7 hours. I have to eat a snack with it, takes about 1/2 hour to kick in and I didn't have grogginess next am after first couple of days. Wonderful side - my developing anxiety attacks seem to have disappeared...7 days now and several potential triggers in that time. (I also take allergy meds that seemed to aggravate anxiety) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollywoodfreaks Posted September 2, 2005 Author Share Posted September 2, 2005 Hmm, it sounds like you all take it every day. I thought she meant for me to only take it sometimes. I'll have to call her and ask if that's okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sepia Posted September 2, 2005 Share Posted September 2, 2005 I was prescribed the Trazodone prn... but because I wasn't sleeping, I took it nightly. The best I could manage without was a quick nap an hour before my alarm went off, if even that. Too much head spinny body wriggly restlessness which were kicked to a whole new realm shortly thereafter. But taking it as needed shouldn't be an issue. It's just that I needed consistent help sleeping at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chlorpromazine Posted September 2, 2005 Share Posted September 2, 2005 I used trazodone twice while hospitalized (Docs didn't want me to take lorazepam because of my benzos abuse), and I found it pretty useless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igloo Posted September 4, 2005 Share Posted September 4, 2005 My rx is 'as needed' as well...just still taking it nightly while catching up on sleep and dealing with other issues. I'm on 4th day of 5 day weekend, so well rested and therefore noticing that as I'm more rested, it's not as effective as when I was desperately tired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dark lord Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 i tried it for a few days and all it did was stuff up my nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 I've suffered from insomnia since I was very young. I started taking 50mgs of Traz in 1997 & I can't imagine being without it. It was simply amazing to me that I could just go to sleep when I wanted to & sleep throughout the night. I've never had any ill side effects. About two years ago I started getting anxiety & no longer sleept through the night. My doc upped the dose to 100mg, which worked like a charm until the beginning of this year when my anxiety became increasingly worse, and I started getting pannic attacks. I went through all sorts of combos of drugs & am finally settling down. I now try to take just 50mg of Traz & .5mg clonazepam (sometimes more of one or the other). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirwriter Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 I replaced Ambien and Xanax with 50mg of Trazodone, which I eventually cut back to half a tab, or 25 mg. I only used it when I could tell I wasn't going to sleep well, then withing 15 minutes I was out. No hangover next am either. Dan~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 Does anyone know if it causes weight gain like Remeron? I love Remeron, but the carb/sugar cravings are unhealthy as well as unsightly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 I don't rememer any carb craving and the like. My main problem with it was that it left me feeling hung over for a few hours in the AM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 I can't remember if you've taken Remeron. Because I'm quite groggy for a couple of hours in the morning after taking it. I don't rememer any carb craving and the like. My main problem with it was that it left me feeling hung over for a few hours in the AM. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat13 Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 Well I say rubbing hands together....I might have to ask my psych about this med. You see I have had bouts of insomnia and have a sleep disorder - as in I cant get my brain to shut up even if my physical body is stuffed. I have had zyprexa that helped a bit but made me want the munchies alot (and with a weight problem now you can imagine that is not the best for me). I am now on seroquel with the occasional (ok my spelling is crap) trimazapan as sleeping pills. I do get the whole grogginess thing too sometimes, that plus the need to stay in bed depression you can see how I can easily fall into a non-productive person of society. Do you think it might help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat13 Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 Well I am still fuckin' around with my night meds as I need to find a right dose and not be addicted to sleeping pills either. I can find that I can sleep through my alarm - a clock radio up loud and goes for 3 hours!!! Oh well, I am sure that it will be sorted eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plazmadroid Posted September 22, 2005 Share Posted September 22, 2005 I have recently been prescribed trazodone for sleep. I've only used it twice so far. It worked wonderfully the first night, however, last night I couldn't sleep at all. I can't take benzo's I must adapt to it too quickly. High tolerance, fast.(ambien doesn't work for me). I took 150mgs the two nights I've used it. I may need 200mgs??..The manic side of my life just won't let me sleep. YaY. I just love my brain disorder...not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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