Trazodone for insomnia

[Totie]

Does anyone here take trazodone? If so, does it work for you, did it take a couple of weeks for it to help you? Any good or bad side effects? Currently taking 100mg for insomnia, but does not seem to be helping, only on it for 10 days.

Thanks.

[hyacynths]

Trying to find out more info on Circaden which is supposed to be the latest medi available for insomnia!? My Dr has never heard of it.  I have tried various remedies but none help!

[Brenndy]

It's been my experience that when a patient presents to their PCP, trazodone is prescribed as the first line of therapy in treating insomnia.  I believe the max dose is 300 mg hs (at bedtime).  If that fails, the PCP then most likely will refer you to a psychiatrist to write the more "potent" scripts, if that's the route you want to go.  

Best wishes.

[Marge61]

I have recently been reading a book by Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, MD who is a leading researcher in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue and he has a whole chapter on sleep disorders--the book is called From Fatigued to Fantastic and you can get it at the library.  He says that the usual dose for Trazodone is 50 mg but you need to experiment to see how much you need---anywhere from 1/2 tablet to 6 pills at bedtime--most need no more than 2 which is what you are taking.  Total daily dose should not exceed 450 mg. If you are on an anti-depressant limit the amount to 150 mg. to avoid risk of excessive serotonin.  Main side effect is next day sedation and if this happens you should either lower your dose or take it earlier in the evening.  This is what he says in his book.   I have some of this but only took it one time because I had never heard of it and I still had some ambien left which I had found helpful at one time.  I am going to try taking the trazodone now that I see this Dr. thinks its OK and I will let you know how I find it to be.

[Totie]

Update: Went to see a sleep doctor last week. Do not need a sleep study :)...

He took me off trazodone and told me it was really meant for depression and since it was not touching me one bit there was not any use in taking it.

He has put me on Lunesta 3mg, but have taken for four nights and nothing. I take it at 9:30pm, look at the clock it is still 1am and no sleep come my way....

I have agreed to try the Cognitive Behavioral Thearpy, he it could not hurt. My insomnia is not a problem for me I have had it for the last 15yrs due to graves/hyperthyroidism, I am use to it. I do not have trouble functioning, nor do I get fatigued, I do not nap, doze, over sleep, call in sick. I do not lack energy. I usually avg. 2-3 hrs of sleep combined in a night if I am lucky. The only thing that works for me is 20mg of Ambien, but I can only take it every 7th day, other than that it will not work....

I will let you know how the CBT goes. I go today...

[skywatcher48]

Hubby takes trazodone for occasional insomnia.   He usually takes 25mg but if he is really having a problem he will take 50mg.  He says at 50mg he wakes up with a "hangover" that he calls being "Trazzed out" but it does work for him.

[Kage_no_Taren]

Trazadone was -originally- intended for depression, but the side effects are pretty heavy, especially sleepiness, so they don't use it much for that anymore.  

[Sunny222]

I was put on Trazadone about 2 weeks ago, and I HATED it. At 50mg, I tried one pill, then two, then three. Not only did it not help me fall asleep, but it actually felt like it was giving me even more problems. I could feel it making my eyes sleepy and my body almost numb with exhaustion, but my mind kept RACING. No relief there. And I'd wake up every night at least 3 times and go through the mind racing again. And when I finally dragged my half-asleep self out of bed in the morning, I felt like I'd been in a coma for weeks. My eyes were swollen, couldn't open them right or focus on anything. SO, that's my vent. It really disappointed me. My doctor put me on Lunesta instead, and though it's only been 3 days, I can already tell the difference. I still wake up in the night, but that could pass. The mind racing is much less with Lunesta.

[swampcritter]

Swampy's aunt takes Trazodone. It works for her, but it did take several weeks to really kick in. She got it to replace an Ambien prescription.

Swampy's aunt also has depression, and it helps that too.