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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on September 4, 2006, at 4:36:44
I am having increasingly worse problems with falling asleep - the meds I have been on for a long time seem to be *pooping out* (or inconsistent - sometimes they work, other nights they don't).
My pdoc had given me some Trazodone awhile ago and one recent night after lying awake and feeling increasingly frustrated and anxious about it a couple of hours after I had taken my supposed sleep meds which apparentlydidn't work), I felt *desparate* and decided to try the Trazodone.
OMG - it knocked me out just fine, put me to sleep, but then it had me in a stupor ALL of the following day. I could not lift my head off the pillow. I just slept and slept and finally in the early evening the fog lifted.
I'm going to be *brave*, lol, and try it again, WITHOUT taking my usual sleep meds to see if taking the Trazodone with those meds already in my system may have contributed to that drugged-out stupor I was in all of the following day.
I'd appreciate hearing people's experiences with Trazodone; It's classfied as an anti-depressant, but all I've ever heard it used for is as a sleeping aid.
For those who take Trazodone, what dose are you on and does it leave you feeling like a zombie the next morning, whole day, etc.? In other words, do you have a hang-over effect from it?
Any info and experiences with Trazodone greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Posted by linkadge on September 4, 2006, at 5:28:59
In reply to Would like to know of experiences with TRAZODONE, posted by Janelle on September 4, 2006, at 4:36:44
How much were you taking?
Linkadge
Posted by Oppycat on September 4, 2006, at 8:30:28
In reply to Would like to know of experiences with TRAZODONE, posted by Janelle on September 4, 2006, at 4:36:44
> I am having increasingly worse problems with falling asleep - the meds I have been on for a long time seem to be *pooping out* (or inconsistent - sometimes they work, other nights they don't).
>
> My pdoc had given me some Trazodone awhile ago and one recent night after lying awake and feeling increasingly frustrated and anxious about it a couple of hours after I had taken my supposed sleep meds which apparentlydidn't work), I felt *desparate* and decided to try the Trazodone.
>
> OMG - it knocked me out just fine, put me to sleep, but then it had me in a stupor ALL of the following day. I could not lift my head off the pillow. I just slept and slept and finally in the early evening the fog lifted.
>
> I'm going to be *brave*, lol, and try it again, WITHOUT taking my usual sleep meds to see if taking the Trazodone with those meds already in my system may have contributed to that drugged-out stupor I was in all of the following day.
>
> I'd appreciate hearing people's experiences with Trazodone; It's classfied as an anti-depressant, but all I've ever heard it used for is as a sleeping aid.
>
> For those who take Trazodone, what dose are you on and does it leave you feeling like a zombie the next morning, whole day, etc.? In other words, do you have a hang-over effect from it?
>
> Any info and experiences with Trazodone greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I took Trazodone for about 12 years as a sleep aid when I was taking Parnate. I could sleep through anything. Although getting up in the morning was difficult, after a couple of cups of coffee, I had no further ill effects. In fact, I found the sedation of Remeron and Amitryptylene much more difficult to live with. Give the Traz a few more days before you give up on it.Over the years, I took between 50 and 150mg per night, but the amount didn't increase over time. In fact, I was taking less at the end than I was previously.
Michael
Posted by Phillipa on September 4, 2006, at 10:01:49
In reply to Re: Would like to know of experiences with TRAZODONE » Janelle, posted by Oppycat on September 4, 2006, at 8:30:28
Yeah low dose first. Love Phillipa
Posted by Janelle on September 4, 2006, at 23:36:47
In reply to Re: Would like to know of experiences with TRAZODONE, posted by linkadge on September 4, 2006, at 5:28:59
Hi, I took 50 mg of Trazodone that night (I think 50 is the lowest dose available?), but I took it a couple of hours after my usual sleep meds, one of which is Klonopin and I read in a Trazdone fact sheet that a person should be careful combining Trazodone with "Central Nervous System (CNS) meds (meds that cause drowsiness) -- I THINK that Klonopin is a CNS med, so it could be that even though I took the 50 mg of Trazodone a few hours AFTER the Klonopin, with the Klonopin having been absorbed in my system, taking Trazodone on top of it (even separated by a few hours) was what knocked me out and basically kept me asleep all of the following day.
Based on all this info, what do you think was going on? Thanks.
Posted by linkadge on September 5, 2006, at 1:22:16
In reply to Dosage info and a wee bit more relevant info: » linkadge, posted by Janelle on September 4, 2006, at 23:36:47
You could try taking less trazodone (1/2 of 50mg tablet), a little earlier, or if you decide to reduce other sleeping meds, perhaps try that a little slower so as to not create rebound insomnia which might confuse the issue?
Linadge
Posted by Oppycat on September 5, 2006, at 9:29:49
In reply to Dosage info and a wee bit more relevant info: » linkadge, posted by Janelle on September 4, 2006, at 23:36:47
While it is certainly true that adding Trazodone to Klonopin will potentiate the sedative effect, there is a good possibility your body will adjust quickly. However, my experience is with Trazodone and Ativan, which has a much shorter half-life than Klonopin. This could make a big difference.
Also, you mentioned multiple sleep meds. What else did you take besides Klonopin and Trazodone?
Michael
Posted by Janelle on September 5, 2006, at 21:12:51
In reply to Re: Dosage info and a wee bit more relevant info: » Janelle, posted by Oppycat on September 5, 2006, at 9:29:49
To answer your question about my sleep meds ... for years now, I have taken 1mg Klonopin and Seroquel (started at low dose, had to keep increasing it until I reached 300mg; this worked for a long time, then it suddenly started making me sick, giving me side effects that one might get when first starting a med, kinda weird ... so I've gradually reduced the Seroquel to 200mg/night with the 1mg of Klonopin and it works okay.
So there were two nights I took Trazodone: the first was the night I just couldn't get to sleep and added the Trazodone a couple of hours after taking the Seroquel/Klonopin.
The other night I took the Trazodone ONLY. I decided not to combine it with those other (strong for me at least) sleep meds, only to find that the Trazodone didn't do a thing; I was up that WHOLE night.
Posted by Phillipa on September 5, 2006, at 21:41:54
In reply to Reply to your question: » Oppycat, posted by Janelle on September 5, 2006, at 21:12:51
No wonder you didn't sleep. Klonopin is a benzo and you don't just stop them. And seroquel at that dose is hefty. I think you were in withdrawal. Love Phillipa
Posted by Janelle on September 6, 2006, at 1:54:36
In reply to Re: Reply to your question: » Janelle, posted by Phillipa on September 5, 2006, at 21:41:54
I was so desparate for sleep I had completely lost sight of the fact that Klonopin is a benzo (I've known this forever!)and I know that you don't just stop them.
Although I did think that just one night without the 1mg of Klonopin would be okay, but I guess withdrawal sets in right away, from the very first Klonopin dose that is missed.
Gee, I didn't know that Seroquel at 200 mg is "hefty". I'll have to try to find out the minimal therapeutic dose. I do know that Seroquel is used at 900 mg, imagine that(!), for schizophrenia. I knew of two people who were on it at this dose.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on September 6, 2006, at 2:37:46
In reply to OMG!! That could explain it! » Phillipa, posted by Janelle on September 6, 2006, at 1:54:36
Every med affects everyone differently. Ppl take between 25 to 300 mg for sleep/anxiety. Much more for schiz, etc. You know your body the best.
Posted by Phillipa on September 6, 2006, at 17:51:32
In reply to Re: Reply to your question: » Janelle, posted by Phillipa on September 5, 2006, at 21:41:54
The beginning of withdrawal from klonopin. Love Phillipa ps sorry I wasn't clearer. And Michael's right seroquel is an individual doseage you have to find your best dose. And did you say everything was working til the trazadone was added and you stopped the others?
Posted by Janelle on September 6, 2006, at 22:41:12
In reply to Re: Your dose of Seroquel is just fine, posted by UgottaHaveHope on September 6, 2006, at 2:37:46
Thanks. What you wrote is precisely what I've been told about Seroquel dosages, knowing one's body best, etc.
Posted by Janelle on September 6, 2006, at 22:49:23
In reply to Re: Reply to your question:, posted by Phillipa on September 6, 2006, at 17:51:32
You asked "did you say everything was working til the trazadone was added and you stopped the others?"
I guess I'd answer by saying that everything was not working, which is why I tried the Trazodone ... BUT when I took ONLY the Trazodone and NOT the others (as you asked about), that night I did NOT SLEEP AT ALL. That was the time I just lie around, saw the dawn and daylight arriving from my window.
Since neither Trazodone combined with the others nor Trazodone by itself (50 mg) worked, in fact I had bad results with each of these scenarios, I'm back to my usual Seroquel/Klonopin combo.
It doesn't work like it used to in terms of making me very drowsy and fall right asleep, but it must be doing something (knock on wood it continues) because I fall asleep fairly easily and then STAY asleep through the night.
Posted by antigua on September 8, 2006, at 9:09:09
In reply to Would like to know of experiences with TRAZODONE, posted by Janelle on September 4, 2006, at 4:36:44
I was on Trazadone before and am taking it again because of sleeping troubles. The best combo I've found is to take the Klonopin earlier in the evening and take the Traz at bedtime. I only take half a tablet; otherwise I'm worthless the next day. I've also found that if I take it with a bite of something to eat, it works much better. .50 was just too much for me; .25 with .50 Klonopin usually keeps me asleep.
antigua
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