Trazodone For Insomnia (Top voted first)

I have read the leaflet that came w/ my meds. Its listed as an antidepressant but was prescribed to me for insomnia. Two questions now.

1. Do I have to take it every night?
2. How worried should I be about the side effects?

Frankly, I've put off taking it because I've never been diagnosed w/ depression, just insomnia & migraine. Any concise info you can provide would be great! Just speak to me like a person, not a doctor. Thanks!

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Trazodone has made me miserable. I have been taking it for 6 months and I am nervous, jittery, sleepy, dopy and appear to be drunk to some people. It helps with sleep but I want off of it now and need to know what to do.

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I'm on 100mg of trzadone for insomnia, never been diagnosed with depression, but I tell you it works. And I have no side affects. It is a personal choice and everyone reacts differently.

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2

Ellie Zarrabian, Ph.D. Says:
Tue, February 24, 2009

Hi,

I like to respond to your comment and I'll try not to sounds like a doctor but in case I do, I apologize :) It sounds like you are hesitant about taking the medication for insomnia. I would say listen to your self. If you feel uncomfortable with it, then try other routes that are not as invasive as mind altering medications with side effects. For example, mindfulness meditation has been shown to be very effective in alleviating pain, reducing anxiety and depression and insomnia. Look for works by Jon Kabat Zinn. He has authored many books and pioneered a program that I think you may benefit from. Take care.

Ellie Zarrabian, Ph.D.
California, United States
http://www.centeronpeace.com

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i just filled my script for 50mg trazadone for insomnia, my doc told me that dose is commonly used for just that and the higher doses are more for the other things.i will only take it after a few nights of restless sleep and he said that's not a problem.i took it monday and woke slept better but, i woke up feeling like every hair on my body was standing on end. it went away after a few hrs...

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Beware with this medication. I was taking 150mg for 3 years, which was prescribed for depression and insomnia. I was not given any warning by my GP how my mind & body would become addicted to the medication and how bad the withdrawal symptoms are. I'm coming of the drug now but having to reduce the dosage bit by bit as the withdrawl effects are so bad. If you do decide to take the medication becareful that you do not become dependant on it as it's really hard to get off

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I was prescribed Trazadone 100 years ago for depressikon and the nice side effect was it helped me sleep. But when I told my doc that I would awaken in the middle of the night cuz I couldn't breathe thru my nose; he looked at me like I was green. Maybe that was another side effect. Hee

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I was prescribed Trazodone for a sleep problem which I think the doctor, incorrectly in my view, assumed was due to depression. I found it to be absolutely useless. The dose was increased until I felt more ill than I've ever been in my life. I stopped it! I would advise you to steer well clear of any of these drugs. No one has a clue how they work. The simplistic explanations about Serotonin vastly underestimate the complexity of brain function. The best way to solve a sleep problem, as well as addressing obvious causes like pain, noise, lack of comfort etc. is to stop worrying about it. Lack of sleep never killed anyone. Its the anxiety and worrying that causes most of the suffering. I'm not being flippant. I had a really bad problem which nearly drove me over the edge. It takes time but if you can find a way to accept the situation and stop worrying, it will correct itself eventually.

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Duh, no it isn't a coke withdrawal drug. Its an antidepressant! It's calming and sedating, which is probably what helps your withdrawal.

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Re: Rob (# 5)

Yes, you have to be careful with Trazodone. You can’t take with: pain meds like Opioids or Norco and Percocet, Antianxiety/Depression meds like Paxil and the like, bcuz these meds ALSO cause drowsiness! Combined with Trazodone it could be dangerous-monitor closely!! CHECK ALL YOUR MEDS!

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ive been taking these tabs 6 weeks now 50 mg however after reading the side affect profile i was put off checked it out on wiki it looks bad on the surface but when u look a little deeper i found a lot of the articles for deaths possibly attributed and the negative side effects and to be fair without sounding to insensesitive
they were all on high doses taking lots of other drugs and in a real bad way check it out google it again and again i have a strong backgound in chemsitry and human biology however im not a doctor thats the disclaimer by the way ha ha ha please sign here
take care ps you cant drink gratefruit juice best to avoid it

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My partner was prescribed this medication after sleepless nights following triple bypass surgury. I don't recall why he decided to stop taking it but he ended up giving it to me. I know it is not wise to take anything without seeing a doctor first but that's just the way I roll lol. Anyway... as far as an effective sleep aid is concerned i find it mildly effective at best. Seems like it takes alot longer to take effect than others I have tried. I also find that it is not effective at all as far as staying asleep is concerned. I don't have any of the other side effects that others have mentioned here but I have noticed that my dreams are much more vivid and alot stranger than normal for me. Years ago I was on morphine for an extended period and the dreams and nightmares I experienced then are similar to the ones I have with Trazadone.

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I have been on Trazodone for several years and my new Dr. wanted me to gradually stop taking it and switch to MyoCalm, which is a more natural alternative. I have been taking 100-150mg. at bedtime for sleep. It has been a very difficult thing getting off it. I have experienced all kinds of withdrawal symptoms, the worst being a crawling feeling all over my body. To make things worse, the MyoCalm is not really as effective as I need it to be. I will need to contact my Dr. to see what alternatives I have. I have been off the Trazodone for about 2 weeks and still my skin crawls etc. It's awful!!!

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I too am prescribed this medication for insomnia. I began taking it after notifying my specialist of difficulty falling asleep, juast after the slightly over-a-hour night drive home from work, the lights and attention required to make it home safely prevented me from sleeping. When I first took the medication I did oversleep. But the medication has in fact solved the issue of getting into bed at a reasonable time. I can not speak on behalf of nasal pathway issues as I do take antihistimines from the get-go. As for the claim about useage for illegal drug therapy, this is the first I ever heard of such a use, then again I don't go around huffing glue and dime bags of drywall.

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I had heard that Trazodone in doses of 200mg or less is for sleeplessness - and higher doses are used for depression. Just my $0.02

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I was just prescribed this 3 weeks ago for insomnia and night time anxiety. Started off at 150 mg before bed which helped my sleep and anxiety throughout the day but left me in pain from muscle stiffness and also extremely fatigued They lowered my dose to 75 mg and the pain and lessened but my anxiety returned ten fold accompanied by the feeling that I am going completely psychotic. This medication is definitely one to watch out for. Know that it is extremely addicting and the withdrawals are some of the worst I've ever had. Take cautiously at low doses to save yourself from "losing it."

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Re: Diana (# 26)

What do you mean the state of Missouri took your right to have xanax? Xanax is banned in Missouri?

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Re: Sweets (# 28)

I have no clue. I was asking Diana (#26). She stated that Missouri took away her right to xanax. I don't understand it either and am hoping Diana can clarify.

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I am taking 100mg of Trazodone before bed for insomnia. Sometimes it would work and sometimes not. Then I read an info sheet on it. If taken before bed, eat a light snack first, then take the Trazodone. Now it works EVERY night! The snack could be a couple slices of toast, for example.

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Re: Diane (# 8)

My PCP prescribed Arm & Hammer “Simply Saline” OTC when I told her I was having stuffiness at night while on Trazodone. It works great!

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to Blondieslp-
How did you taper off? How long did it take?Did you cut the pill in tiny pieces? I am having very scary symptoms when I try to cut off even a tiny amount.
I have racing, pounding heart,irreg. beat, electric jolts all over. I don't know what to do.

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