Join now

Already a member? Sign in

Welcome to Inspire!

What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.

Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.

How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!

corner corner corner

Trazodone for difficulty falling asleep?

Sarah
0 Recommendations

I've been having trouble getting to sleep at night-- just seems like I can't shut my mind off. I talked to my doctor about it and he prescribed me trazodone to take before bed. I researched it a bit, and it seems like trazodone is primarily used to treat depression and anxiety. I'm already on another anti-anxiety medication and a bit nervous about adding trazodone to the mix. Has anyone else ever been prescribed trazodone as a sleep aid? What kinds of results/side effects did you have?

11 replies

sleepyjay

It took a while, but eventually it did cure my insomnia.

sleepyjay

In terms of side effects, I didn't notice any at the time. but years later, I've developed bi-polar disorder and hypersomnia.

drojas

My doctor wanted to put me on Trazodone, but when I picked up the script and saw it's primary use for was for depression, I refused to take it. I don't like taking meds in the first place and refuse to take meds that are meant for one thing and happend to help w/ another. My problem is that I seem to wake up at night, by nightfall, I'm feeling sooo wide awake. Supposed to see a sleep specialist on the 19th. My dad had insomnia and used to sundown at night. Is insonmia hereditary???

pepper1

I have been on 200 mg of trazadone for about 20 years now. I take it just to fall asleep. However, it does not keep me asleep. For that I take 2.5 mg of valium when I awake at 2 or 3 o'clock. If I happen to sleep until 4:00 then its too late to take anything and I just lay there ( and maybe I sleep)

pepper1

By the way, the trazodone is very, very old antidepressant and I did not experience an side affects. Paula

frogcollector

Sarah,

I have never had trazodone. I have had other tricyclics (sp?). Tricyclics predate Prozac. I never liked them, I felt 'hung-over' in the AM.

I have something that has helped. I write / journal/ sketch, when I have not been able to shut my brain down. It has helped me through many periods in my life.

I have been on three different sleep aids. In retrospect, I can say they made me sleep, but day sleep problems magnified. I am glad to have had them based on the sleeplessness I was experiencing at the time. Ambien caused me to move furniture at night!

I can assure you of one thing, so many drugs are meant to relieve certain symptoms....but have other 'positive' or valuable uses, listed under side-effects or known by your DR.

I am still on an antidepressant that 'inhibits' smoking desires, listed as a side effect, it has kept me off cigarettes for three + years. Granted I should have not needed it lately, but the anti-depressant side I have needed.

I can tell you more, but I am tired! I shut down quickly to sleep only to be the worst example of sleep. I just recently learned I am 84% oxygenated at night, and I stop breathing 5 or more times for more than 10 seconds each hour (the definition of sleep apnea).

My positive outlook is 'finally? answers to my sleep problems?'

Oxygen Annie

mimzy

I used it a few years ago...no side effects...kept me asleep and was effective. I also had depression so wanted to kill two birds with one stone...so to speak so did not have a problem taking it.

psychomonkey917

i was prescribed trezadone and it didnt really work more me it kept me up for some reason but thats just me..my body. everyone is different
if your really worried should talk to your doctor
it might help you but idk about taking it with another medication you should call either your doctor or pharmisist..you might be able to take both with it bein safe if you take it within a few hour time period....
dont take both around the same time
unless your doctor or the pharmissit says its ok

psychomonkey917

If the trazadone doesn't work you can try seriquil
That always knocked me out within 5 minutes

Highlander38

Hello,

I used to be on Trazodone 300mg at night-time, which made me very drowsy actually so drowsy I could not stand up, "it has H2 sedative Antihistimine type blockers" in the antidepressant which makes you drowsy.

You can get the very same effect if you go out and buy Phenergan (Promethazine) 25mg Tablets and (take 2x at night)
similar chemical structure, more or less... to the sedative drug in Trazadone.

(Promethazine) is also an H1 & H2 Receptor blocker... and is usually sold as an over the counter as a antihistamine. (Different Brands) in the UK its called Phenergan.

Now back to your worries about (drug-drug) "interactions with each other", each drug, takes a different pathway when it goes down your throat and into your system. So no worries about Trazodone clashing with Ativan or Valium for example, often Psychiatrists can use 2 different anti depressants together if you fail to respond to the first line therapy, so does that answer your question?

Anymore questions feel free to ask.!

Highlander38

"Trazadone" It may be old but certainly NOT obsolete - there are much more older drugs than Trazadone that are still used regular today, Like "Amytriptyline" or "Nortriptyline" for example made in early 1970's.

Take care...

Add to the discussion

Don't have an Inspire account? Join now!
Forgot password?
Keep me signed in on this computer until I sign out

Group leaders

You