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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tracer98 on September 11, 2006, at 15:48:20
I take 300mg of effexor for anxiety and panic. CANNOT sleep at all. My pdoc just wrote trazadone for sleep. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanx
Posted by linkadge on September 11, 2006, at 16:59:30
In reply to Anyone Have Info On Trazadone 4 Sleep?, posted by Tracer98 on September 11, 2006, at 15:48:20
Trazodone is a sedating SSRI-like antidepressant. It has hypnotic qualities and can be used for long term treatment of certain sleep disorders.
It has less potential for dependance than do benzodiazapines.Linkadge
Posted by fca on September 11, 2006, at 17:18:20
In reply to Anyone Have Info On Trazadone 4 Sleep?, posted by Tracer98 on September 11, 2006, at 15:48:20
I have found it extremely helpful--it is taken in much smaller doses than as an AD--(usually between 25-75mg). My ex-wife (and a good friend) recently was put on low dose trazodone for insomnia after becoming dependent on Ambien follow surgery and Tx for Breast Ca. She has been very pleased with trazodone--there may be a bit of morning groginess but it clears up quickly for most people.
Posted by Phillipa on September 11, 2006, at 18:57:59
In reply to Re: Anyone Have Info On Trazadone 4 Sleep?, posted by fca on September 11, 2006, at 17:18:20
Sorry about your ex-wife. Obviously you still care for her. Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on September 12, 2006, at 1:49:49
In reply to Anyone Have Info On Trazadone 4 Sleep?, posted by Tracer98 on September 11, 2006, at 15:48:20
> I take 300mg of effexor for anxiety and panic. CANNOT sleep at all. My pdoc just wrote trazadone for sleep. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanx
Its not surprising that you cannot sleep on that much Effexor. Trazodone is frequently written by doctors who don't wish to prescribe medications that actually are meant for sleep, such as Ambien, because they may feel it promotes depression or have not had experience with patients taking it long term. (I have, just submitting my bias towards true sleep medications.)
My experience with it was not terribly pleasant, it tends to make you very lightheaded and you want to be in bed immediately when that happens. It is non habit forming, but it has a potential for dose escalation, as the patient becomes used to the side effect for what it is being used for, namely sleep.
It is an antidepressant that was introduced in December 1981 as Desyrel, and the average adult dose of it would put an individual asleep, which would probably cure depression as the patient is not terribly awake.
I experienced dose escalation with it, it usually starts at 50, and eventually sometimes one notices they're already up to 150, which begins to have serotonin activating features. Then you have to go down on it and rinse and repeat unless you want to have morning after hangovers.
If you're a male, there is more than a slight chance that a priapism can occur (unwanted and unprovoked erection), although in a younger patient this is probably not as dangerous. It happens more than the black box notes, or at least to me anyhow.
Do not drink alcohol around taking it as it can cause one to pass out (it already lowers the blood pressure typically).
But give it a shot -- your doctor knows your history and maybe it will work for you and you won't need medications like Lunesta. Do know though that there are quite a host of sleep medications out there that will help, including benzodiazepines, pseudobenzodiazepines (Ambien, etc.), tricyclics, etc.
-- tidingsJay
Posted by Crazy Horse on September 12, 2006, at 9:31:20
In reply to Anyone Have Info On Trazadone 4 Sleep?, posted by Tracer98 on September 11, 2006, at 15:48:20
> I take 300mg of effexor for anxiety and panic. CANNOT sleep at all. My pdoc just wrote trazadone for sleep. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanx
It's a good Choice. I have been on it for 8 mos. and it works great for me. My doc likens it to benzodiazapenes like ativan and valium, and sleep meds like ambien and lunesta because of the dependance factor, and also because the forementioned drugs may cause depression for some people. Good Luck.
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