Trazodone for insomnia

[Dolla Bill]

Been having trouble with insomnia and tried several medications. Xanax was working, marginally, for me, but there are a lot of warnings that it can be addictive. A few others left me too groggy after waking up.

My doctor prescribed Trazodone. (which does NOT seem to have addictive warnings)

http://www.drugs.com/trazodone.html

I have been sleeping, at most, 4-5 hours a night, but with this I am sleeping at least 7-8 hours. 9 1/2 hours last night and woke up fine. I do take it about an hour before bedtime.

There is a very nice side effect that my wife likes when I take it, but if you take too much, it can prevent men for rolling out of bed. I'll let you read the side effects to check this out.

[justMongo]

Trazadone is used off label for sleep. Although not per se addictive, it will down regulate neurotransmitter receptors; and there will be a need to taper of if you wish to quit. Unlike Xanax where a slow taper is required; as rapid withdrawal after long term use can result in seizure and death.

And, you could just say Priapism for the last paragraph.

[49er]

Trazadone is used off label for sleep. Although not per se addictive, it will down regulate neurotransmitter receptors; and there will be a need to taper of if you wish to quit. Unlike Xanax where a slow taper is required; as rapid withdrawal after long term use can result in seizure and death.

And, you could just say Priapism for the last paragraph.

On the AD withdrawal board that I am a member of, many people who have been on Trazadone long term have felt the need to taper very slowly because of horrible withdrawal symptoms. Don't want to scare anyone but it is something to be aware of in case you try to come off of any type of sleep med you have been on long term.

Much continued success Dolla Bill with the Trazadone.

[kally]

I have been using the mask for 4 months or so. But I also have had insomnia for a long time. I spent the summer working on it and worked with a really good specialist. We did sleep restriction therapy and now I am on a pretty good schedule. It is a bit hard in the beginning, but bit by bit, my sleep is getting smoother and smoother.

Do ask me anything if you are interested.

[PositiveMe123]

Along with 0.5mg xanax which I've been taking for 25 years, I take 50mg trazodone. That combination has made a huge difference in falling asleep and staying asleep, and I feel fine in the morning.

Since both meds can be addictive, I think it's important to be aware of that fact. As with anything else, YMMV.

[Sleepster]

I take Trazodone, but only as needed. If you take it as a matter of routine I've heard it will be necessary to increase the dose as it stops working after awhile. As do all sleeping meds.

I take it only if I can't get to sleep or if I wake up too early and can't get back to sleep. After doing this for about 18 months I've noticed a gradual improvement. I need it less often now, and I sleep better than before. I attribute this success to an adaptation to CPAP therapy and also to my mind getting used to the fact that it no longer needs to wake me up to breathe.

I probably spent decades with untreated obstructive sleep apnea, so it's taking years for my mind to fully forget that it needs to keep waking me up. I sleep 7-10 hours a night now, with most nights being between 8 and 9 hours. My AHI varies from less than 1 to more than 3, but is usually between 0.5 and 2.5.

[novatom]

I have a prescription for 30Mg of Temazepam which has worked well for me for several years now. I use it sparingly, usually only once or twice a week. I also have a prescription for 10Mg of Sonata for short term sleep (if I wake up at 1 AM and can't get back to sleep), but I found that it is not very effective. Two weeks ago I got a trial prescription for Belsomra, also 10 Mg. That wasn't as effective either so I'm guessing that I need at least 30 Mg of any sleep medication to actually work for me.

[eseedhouse]

That wasn't as effective either so I'm guessing that I need at least 30 Mg of any sleep medication to actually work for me.

That's a really bad conclusion. 30 mg of Xanax, for example, will send you to the emergency room if you are fortunate enough that someone finds you. The "standard" dose is 0.25 mg.

[49er]

I take Trazodone, but only as needed. If you take it as a matter of routine I've heard it will be necessary to increase the dose as it stops working after awhile. As do all sleeping meds.

I take it only if I can't get to sleep or if I wake up too early and can't get back to sleep. After doing this for about 18 months I've noticed a gradual improvement. I need it less often now, and I sleep better than before. I attribute this success to an adaptation to CPAP therapy and also to my mind getting used to the fact that it no longer needs to wake me up to breathe.

I probably spent decades with untreated obstructive sleep apnea, so it's taking years for my mind to fully forget that it needs to keep waking me up. I sleep 7-10 hours a night now, with most nights being between 8 and 9 hours. My AHI varies from less than 1 to more than 3, but is usually between 0.5 and 2.5.

Sleepster,

I find this very interesting since I thought any sleep medicine that is an antidepressant like Trazadone can't be taken on a PRN basis. Glad this has worked for you.

49er

[novatom]

That wasn't as effective either so I'm guessing that I need at least 30 Mg of any sleep medication to actually work for me.

That's a really bad conclusion. 30 mg of Xanax, for example, will send you to the emergency room if you are fortunate enough that someone finds you. The "standard" dose is 0.25 mg.

Excellent point. I should have qualified that to say that 30 Mg of Sonata would probably work better for me. As for the Balsomra, I'm not so sure, seeming that I've heard about some pretty bad side effects from that medication.