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Does any one know how to taper off Trazadone safely? ?

I was put on trazadon because of my severe insomnia and anxiety due to going through hormone change. After Ambien and Lunesta quit cold on me (due to the hormone change), I have been taking 1 ambien and 150 mg. of Trazadone for 3 nights now. I started with one Ambien and 50 mg. of Trazadone, then second night, I couldn't sleep so my regular  doctor said to adjust dosage to 1 Ambien and 100 mg.. Third night I had to use  1 ambien and 150 mg. of Trazadone according to doctor's prescription of 1 to 3 tablets of Trazadone. Now I feel awful because of rapid heartbeat and nervousness, I want to taper off safely so I do not get the insomnia rebound.
  
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Avatar universal
Hi again,

Just wanted to share with everyone out there about the 150 mg. of Trazadone - It took 5 days to clear out of my system even though I took it of only 3 days . I stopped feeing the jittery withdrawal symptoms of heart pounding etc..
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Avatar universal
Sorry. I am in a delirious state and my hormone is going haywire so my mind is clouded right now.
Yes, I received responses - I re-posted the question about Ambien because I made a mistake of putting down four mos. duration instead of four weeks.

Thanks for your response.
michelle    
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Avatar universal
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Avatar universal
Hi,

Currently , I am on hormone treatment and Klonopin, I take Klonopin .5mg before bed time and 1/2 pill either am or afternoon or both depending on my anxiety level.
I was thinking about taking Calms Forte during day time in lieu of Klonopin  and see if it helps.
I was on Paxil and Klonopin 9 yrs. ago for panic attack and anxiety. I was weaning off the Klonopin to the point I only used half of the .5 mg occasionally when I get a headache from being stressed out and know that anxiety was going to set in. I got off Paxil about last June. I was doing o.k. Four months later I had a panic attack due to stress and a night of insomnia . It happened just when you start to fall asleep the panic attack woke me up and I was very scared. there was a time I was afraid of going to sleep.

Anyway, I am going thu menopause and my estrogen fluctuates all the way down to the lowest level and I started having insomnia and anxiety . I later found out when your estrogen dropped down that low no sleep aid could help you. I had  occasional insomnia and was taking .10 mg. Ambien. All of a sudden the next night, it just quit cold on me and no sleep aid was working any more. I was so scared that there was something wrong w/ me. I started to do some resarch about perimenopausal symptoms and found out that was what was wrong with me.
I am going on hormone therapy now , insomnia is currently my biggest problem as it is very severe. I could only fall asleep for an hr. then stay wide awake until 4:00 a.m.

I hate having to use Ambien even for a few weeks until the estrogen replacement  kicks in because I know then I'll have to go through the process of tapering it and suffer more rebound insomnia . So I guess I'll have to keep my new moron psychiatrist
for a while, until I can see whether he is the right one for me in the long run.

Do you whether it's hard to get off 10mg Ambien if you take it for 3 weeks? Do you have any idea how to do it?
I finally found a site that dedicates to hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women and found out that there are other people like me and I am not the only one.
I am so miserable right now that even though the hormone treatment helps to alleviate some of the anxiety symptom , it make me really nervous after half an hour taking it. Sometimes it lasts for half a day, or well into the evening. I asked my doc. and he does not think the HRT is the cause.
I am into my 8th day of treatmnent and I have to wait for another two weeks for the effect to kick in.
One of the memebers told me at the same time last year when she was going through her menopause, she wanted to kill herself. Sometimes, I feel that way too... though I am too scared to do it and thinking about the consequence it has on the loved ones I leave behind.
Talking to you helps me to put  things in perspective. My family has history of breast cancer , so you can see this is risky chance I am taking.  

Thanks for your response and concern. It is comforting for me to have someone to listen to and give me advises.The docs just write prescription and want you to go away not wanting to answer questions because you are taking up their time.

Michelle    

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Avatar universal
Ah, Yea. That's more helpful now that you posted with how much Ambien you were taking and what Ambien specifically.  And for how long. And what your hormonal deal is. Lydia pretty much covered the bases...

And I will agree with her too on her post. And just 3 days, even with the menopause, and you claim Ambien "quit cold on me'?  
Well OK..if you say so. Seems more like the other way around but I am not looking for a tussle. But if taking for only 3 days, you should be clear of the Traz..

Other drugs you're on can/could be a factor. And find a DR you trust and who you gel well with and stick with him/her. Also, have you ever considered a sleep study or done one?  Keep us posted.
Helpful - 0
370181 tn?1595629445
If you were only on the Trazadone and the Ambien for three nights, don't worry about it. Both will be out of your system by now. There will be no "withdrawal" from the Trazadone and your p-doc just proved that he's a moron by not giving you a difinitive answer. Would have taken him all of 25 seconds to look it up in the PDR. Should you find another psychiatrist...........without a doubt!
I don't know how HRT will affect your sleep. I went through menopause without any meds, so I am totally unfamiliar with their side effects.
The best I can tell you to do is get back with your doctor, preferrably your OB/GYN and discuss this with them.
I wish I could tell you how long it will take to get over your insomnia and nervous feeling.........but I think the first thing you need to establish is if your HRT is CAUSING these issues.

You wrote:
"I am going through perimenopause stage. The Ambien I took was just a generic brand, Zolpiderm 10mg. And I found out It was due to fluctuation to my estrogen level. I was so scared and did no know what was wrong with me."

WHAT did you find out was due to "fluctuation to my estrogen level?" And why were you so scared? What the hell happened?

You're off the Trazadone and the Ambien. I believe you said it's been 4 days. Those meds are out of your system.You are on HRT meds. Are you on anything else? You say you have "so many other health issues....." I think we need the whole picture here, Michelle, before we can really begin to attempt to help you.
But I think even if you told us about any other meds you might be taking, we are not doctors here and have no way of knowing if what you're taking could be interacting in a negative way. I really think you need to talk to ONE doctor you trust to get your answer.
But please post again with any other meds you're taking.............the answer may be obvious to someone here.
Peace
Greenlydia  
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Avatar universal
Hi,
I am going through perimenopause stage. The Ambien I took was just a generic brand, Zolpiderm 10mg. And I found out It was due to fluctuation to my estrogen level. I was so scared and did no know what was wrong with me.
But to get back to my question, how long does the withrawal of Trazadone last, if anyoone knows. I was on these tow meds. Trazadone and Ambien for only 3 nights. I am going through Hormone Rpalcement Therapy right now.
  Thanks.
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Avatar universal
OOPS.   Both Ambien and Trazodone have Sedative Properties.

My Fault...Did not PR.
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Avatar universal
Hormone Change...Like Menstrual Period?  Menopause or What?  A Sex Change?   and WTF? How much Ambien were you taking when you say it "quit cold on you"   And for how long were you taking it?
Stating you "have been taking 1 Ambien" is about as clear as mud. Were the Ambien's 5mgs? 10mgs? CRs?  

Both Ambien and Trazodone have Sedative Propertive. Perhaps you were taking too much Ambien?  Why not just stick with one DR. at one health system if you need both Ambien and Trazodone instead of bouncing back and forth across town?  


I have RX. for Ambien too..but I digress.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, my primary physician prescribed Trazadone  for sleep so he is of no help. I am just wondering how long would it take for me to get over this insomnia and nervous feeling I get. I asked my new psychiatrist today as to how long does it take for the withdrawal effect  to go away and he was very vague  something  like he did not know probably a week, which is of no help. Should I get another psychiatrist? I wonder.

If  anyone out there knows, it would help me a great deal as I have so many other health issues right now to deal with. It has been four nights and I still have insomnia and feeling so anxious.
Helpful - 0
370181 tn?1595629445
Your doctor needs to be made aware of the side effects you are experiencing with the increased dosage of Trazadone, and the only one who can help you taper off  this med is your doctor. (And you MUST taper slowly) If your doctor tells you to just quit, please seek a seond opinion!
Trazodone has two side effects that may be contributing to your sleep issues..........stimulation and insomnia. I think an in-depth discussion of meds is called for.
Peace
Grenlydia
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