So for those of you who have tried this, what's been your experience? :-\
Hi Narablueeyes,
I've been taking Trazodone 50 mg. for a few months now. I take it at bedtime to help me sleep, which it does. I have not noticed any side effects at 50 mg.
Shortly after I started taking Trazodone, my doctor raised the dose to 100 mg. which caused me to have a severe headache when I woke in the mornings. So she lowered the dose back to 50 mg. and the headaches stopped.
My doctor has again raised my dose to 100 mg. since I'm not sleeping quite as well. So, I hope the headaches don't return or it will be back down to 50 mg.
Wishing you good luck with this medicine.
Shade
Been taking 200mg a night for about 9 yrs. I use it as my anti-depressant and sleep aid.
Been using trazodone for years to sleep. Can't sleep without it and have had no problems with side effects.
Hope you get some sleep tonight.
Cat
I tried it once and I really felt weird and my heart rate dropped to 41. I made myself stay awake the rest of the night til the med wore off and never took it again. I'm just weird though. Irish ;D
Irish, I've gone through the low heart rate thing and my blood pressure dropping dangerously low and it's extremely frightening. My cardiologist said that I would experience more palpitations than usual if I took this and I immediately decided that I don't need anymore worries or concerns. So no, I won't be trying trazodone.
I take a very small amount (1/4 of a 50 mg tablet) along with Lunesta to sleep. I was prescribed a much larger dose, but it leaves me feeling hungover the the next day if I take more. I experimented and found that 1/4 tablet (about 12 mg) is enough to help me sleep without the drugged feeling the next morning. It's interesting how we all respond differently to meds.
I'm also with Cheryl. I take a much smaller dose because of the side effects (hungover and the extra dryness mainly), and take like an eighth to a quarter of 50 mg tablet...yeah, it does help.
Patze
I'm glad it works for y'all. I just have to be a little more patient and brave and keep looking.
Nara, in the area of anti-depressants and sleep aids, I go with supplements. I do have a crazy sleep pattern, and getting a good amount of sleep in one night is a problem.
What I use is Melatonin, which is a natural substance produced by the body in response to nightfall. Melatonin is often used by people who have shifted several time zones -- which is how I feel. I just had a bad experience with one brand, Life Extension. Once upon a time, back in "my life as fairy tale existence," I first tried Melatonin by the only dose available in the pharmacy, 3 mg. There are much smaller doses to start with, like 3 micrograms /mcg. Or you can cut a tablet in half to start. Avoid Life Extension brand, which sounds good in relationship to Melatonin, because melatonin itself seems to extend life. But the brand seems to have almost no product in any of its many strengths of Melatonin.
What I have also started using is GABA, since I cannot take the usual anti-anxiety or anti-depression pharmaceuticals because of side effects like Persistent Leg Movement Disorder and/or Restless Leg Syndrome, which interfere with sleep. GABA seems to affect a layer of tension, that isn't the often useful anxiety that sometimes becomes overwhelming. The layer of tension I mean is the disorganizing effect that anxiety can have, so that one is not as effective, while anxious. GABA smooths out that tension layer, so that even while recognizing one's anxiety, one is better able to use "executive functions" to cope effectively with the sources of anxiety.
I don't know that that is clear. The GABA I have now is from Thorne Research, and I'm experimenting with doses, having just started. More later, perhaps.
I've used melatonin. Have it in my nightstand drawer. Most times, I don't need a sleep aid, which is why her prescribing this to "help me sleep" is a little weird because I don't remember ever telling her that I needed help sleeping. I mean, I have the occasional night or two but never asked her for help sleeping. I have Ativan for that. My main complaint has always been pain. now I'm second guessing myself, even on tis forum, about whether I've complained about no sleep or not. That would not be a first She seems to be focused on that now. ??? I seem to recall hearing something about this GABA years ago. I'll have to look it up and research it. Thanks!
Some anti-depressants help with pain. I think trazodone is one of them.
soy... do you take GABA on an empty stomach? I have some and haven't tried it.
I take Trazadone for sleep. I have been taking 1 pill of 50 mgs at night. I've been taking it for about 8 months. I am so glad I have this, as it has helped tremendously! I haven't noticed any side affects, but then I take several other meds, so it is hard to distinguish.
Quote from: jazzlover on November 04, 2011, 03:36:36 PM
Some anti-depressants help with pain. I think trazodone is one of them.
soy... do you take GABA on an empty stomach? I have some and haven't tried it.
Well, as empty as my stomach is at bedtime, which varies, since that's when I generally take GABA.
Yes, the tricyclic antidepressants do help with pain -- and they promote dry mouth!
There is an interaction to avoid, and that is with the supplement 5 HTP, which is a precursor of the amino acid L-tryptophan, in the cycle that produces serotonin naturally. Some of the antidepressants are SSRIs -- Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors -- that increase the amount of serotonin available to the brain, which improves mood and/or sleep.
I have had to stop taking 5 HTP because it makes my restless leg syndrome (RLS) show up and go out on the town dancing! That is, my RLS is very active at night if I take 5 HTP, so I don't. Presumably an SSRI could do the same thing, if you are prone to restless leg syndrome.
Right now, I'm not sure where GABA fits.
Best,
Soycoffee