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Trazodone vs. seroquel


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I'm taking 100mg trazodone for sleep. The first couple of nights of the increase from 50mg, I managed 3 or 4 hours sleep. The past few nights, though, I've gone back to barely sleeping an hour a night. I can't keep this up. My first thought is to call pdoc on Monday and ask for another increase, but I'm also thinking I'm tired of playing games, maybe trazodone isn't the right med.

I've been toying with asking him for a low dose of seroquel. I was on it several years ago, 400mg I think, and I do remember it knocking me out, but not severely. From what I've read on the boards, the sleep dosage of it is more sedating, correct? Right now is the perfect time, school's out, no alarm.

I'm fairly new to this whole insomnia thing, so I don't know, is there another med that could be recommended first? I really don't want to spend the summer experimenting, but I'm a bit nervous about the seroquel.

Any thoughts, please? Thank you.

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I've never been on trazodone, but have been on seroquel for over two years and for sleep, it works wonders. I used to be on 600mg which was completely overwhelming and I would sleep for at least 12 hours a day. Now, on 200mg, it takes me a little while to drift off but manages to keep me asleep for long enough to function the next day. Melatonin is good for an extra boost, and the sleep feels more natural with it too. Seroquel does make me drowsy in the mornings but I recommend it.

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I was on the Seroquel and Trazadone combo for sleep for years up until recently and it worked WONDERFULLY! When I was on it, I was taking 150mgs of Trazadone and 50-100 mgs of Seroquel. Before I switched to the XL version, I was up to 200mgs of Seroquel and 150mgs of Trazadone. The combination of the two is the only thing that ever helped me sleep. Classic sleep medication (Ambien, Lunesta, etc) would not work for me. When I was taking this combo I was getting the best sleep of my life! I was sleeping around 12 hours a night(if not more), and when I went to sleep, I did not wake up at all during the night. Unfortunately I started seeing a new pdoc, and she told me that it "wasn't healthy" to be sleeping so much. :wall:  So I was weaned off the Trazadone, and my Seroquel was changed to Seroquel XL 300 mgs. That's when I started not being able to sleep good again. Just last week, she put me on Elavil to take with my Seroquel at night. The first couple nights taking it, I got about 11 hours of sleep but I was extremely drowsy the next day. The daytime drowsiness did wear off, but so did the sleep. I only got about 6 hours last night. In my opinion for me, nothing has yet to come close to the Seroquel+Trazadone combo.

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Thank you both. After the morning I've had, I think I'm definitely leaning toward seroquel now. I really don't remember much of it from previous years, I was having a very hard time with mixed episodes, I do know that while I was on it I was able to paint and pull together enough pieces for a two person exhibit, while maintaining a house and two young kids, so it must not have been that bad. Did gain about 30 lbs tho, that concerns me once again.

I seriously doubt that my pdoc would go for the trazodone/seroquel combo, he's very conservative with meds. Then again, I haven't asked yet, so who knows.

All I know is, I must sleep, soon. I'm not that young anymore, and this is taking a physical toll.

Again, thank you both.

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Thank you both. After the morning I've had, I think I'm definitely leaning toward seroquel now. I really don't remember much of it from previous years, I was having a very hard time with mixed episodes, I do know that while I was on it I was able to paint and pull together enough pieces for a two person exhibit, while maintaining a house and two young kids, so it must not have been that bad. Did gain about 30 lbs tho, that concerns me once again.

I seriously doubt that my pdoc would go for the trazodone/seroquel combo, he's very conservative with meds. Then again, I haven't asked yet, so who knows.

All I know is, I must sleep, soon. I'm not that young anymore, and this is taking a physical toll.

Again, thank you both.

That is the downside the immediate release Seroquel. For some weird reason, it gives you "the munchies". It's similar to the after effect of marijuana, but worse in my opinion. I would just eat and eat and eat! I also gained some weight from my late night snacking, some I wouldn't even remember until the next day when I woke up and seen it next to my bed. But, there is good news! I'm now on Seroquel XL, and "the munchies" is no where near as bad as the IR. But I will give you a heads up, unless you have insurance, Seroquel XL is extremely expensive. I just checked when I picked it up a few days ago. My co-pay is only $3, but my insurance is having to pay $667 for a months supply of the stuff. The reason it's so expensive is because Seroquel XL is relatively new, so there is no generic version of it, only the brand name. But like you said, talk to your doctor. Seroquel IR or Seroquel XL+Trazadone has never failed me. I hope everything works out for you! I know how it is to not get to sleep properly. It can make you feel even more unstable, that's why it's so important that we get enough sleep.

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Unfortunately, at this moment, I don't have insurance, husband lost his job, so the XL version is out. I'm just grateful that the IR version is generic now, it wasn't back when I was on it.

As far as the munchies, I've been trying to only buy healthy fresh foods. The kids demand snacks, but it's all stuff I don't like, so I don't know, maybe I'll be okay. Ha, I really don't care anymore, I just want sleep. I told husband about potential weight gain, and he said "there'll be more of you to love". Fucking sappy, but that made me feel better.

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Sounds like a good idea. I feel like I'm some kind of prisoner of my pdoc. I have to see her every 2 weeks, and give a urine sample for a drug test every time I go. Of coarse we are in the midst of re hauling my whole cocktail of medication. Maybe I should be grateful I see her 2 weeks, but sometimes I feel otherwise. Good luck with everything! Let me know what he says about the meds.

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