Doc prescribed trazadone - Does it work right away?

storminnormin · Post by **storminnormin** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 3:02 pm

Doc prescribed trazadone @50 mg to start. I couldn't get to sleep, finally at 3am I took lunesta to fall asleep. I thought I could stop the lunesta because trazadone suppose to help. Anyone else have experience with trazadone?? I can't afford trying it another night if I won't sleep. thanks, for any help or experience. Stormin

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 3:07 pm

are you going to take those drugs the rest of your life?

The don't work but a few weeks once your body becomes adjusted to them. I would suggest trying melatonin (Schiff brand 300 tabs about $11 bucks at Costco pharmacy).

You need to research it out yourself and come to your own conclusions but prescription drugs can impact your body's natural ability to produce melatonin. Supplemental Melatonin has been shown to help with insomnia and offer deeper more restful sleep.

More info can be found at http://www.melatonin.com

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 5:30 pm

My personal experience with trazadone ("Desyrel") was not very good - its effect builds up over time (days to ??) which most drugs do, so that's not a problem, but I found (and learned later it's a known side effect) that I became congested and had trouble breathing - more so as time went on (? 2 wks), so stopped taking it. It is normally prescribed for depression, but given in lesser doses for just sleeping. And the thing, as the other poster asked about, is that these kinds of drugs (almost any really) will have SOME kind of unwanted effects on you over time, so you need to find other ways to deal with the problems and not depend on them.

cillakat · Post by **cillakat** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 6:07 pm

my dh took it with moderate success for some time. it didn't help with the falling asleep as much as the staying asleep. he now uses ambien every night.

i love tranquilnite by new chapter and the sleep formula by Fatigued to Fantastic.

dh needs two of the tanquilnite to fall asleep:
http://www.iherb.com/store/ProductDetai ... =NCR-04069

here is the FtF sleep formula:
http://www.iherb.com/store/ProductDetai ... =EMT-03239

here is some helpful information about the herbal/natural sleep aids:
http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetConte ... kiid=21730

Tryptophan can also be supremely helpful but it must be taken in sufficient quantities and on an empty stomach my preferred tryptophan....tryptophan converts (with the help of b6 and c) to serotonin - and then if there is enough seratonin it will convert to melatonin:
http://www.iherb.com/store/ProductDetai ... =DRB-00145

The conversion is Tryptophan --> 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) --> Serotonin --> N-Acetyl-serotonin --> Melatonin

Many people have odd dreams when taking Melatonin and have difficulty getting the dosage just right. That doesn't seem to be the case with tryptophan. Of course, this is an option if taking rx anti-depressants (ssri or any other class that effects seratonin).

katherine in atl

storminnormin · Post by **storminnormin** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 6:35 pm

Thank you for suggestions. I will try them. One thing I didn't mention is I had been taking a mix of flexeril and effexor for many years. Till abot 1 or 2 years ago when lunesta became available. I also have fibromyaligia, thus chronic pain & sleep disorders par for the course. Flexeril seems to work quite well for me but doesn't keep me asleep long enough. Lunesta same thing. I'm hoping that treating my sleep apnea will allow me to stop most medications at night completely at some point. Herbal/vitamin supplements & exercise are more attractive options. as I like to walk.

Thanks, for ideas, Besides just now finding out I had sleep apnea I've also had insomnia for almost 15 years. Stormin

jrgood27 · Post by **jrgood27** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 6:38 pm

Hi, I have fibromyalgia too. I'm really hoping getting the apnea straightened will help that.

Trazadone actually gave me insomnia. Some people have a paradoxical response to it. I sure did. Rozerem too kept me up all night.

Jenny

storminnormin · Post by **storminnormin** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 6:53 pm

Jenny,
thanks, you understand then the sleep complexities and chronic fatigue and pain endured by fibro sufferers.
I stayed awake till 3am from the trazadone. Also, I found out it can or does reduce REM sleep as shown through numerous research studies. I may go to a fibro support forum to talk and ask about this. Can you recommend any? I've never linked with any before. Feel free to pm me if that's more appropriate. Thanks, Stormin

cillakat · Post by **cillakat** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 6:27 am

for chronic fatigue and fibro I can strongly strongly recommend two things

_Fatigued to Fantastic_ by Jacob Teitlebaum, MD

and getting your 25(OH)D levels tested *asap* and treating this deficiency (that's a given) with appopriate daily amounts of D3 (cholecalciferol) not not not not D2 (as many md's are still unfortunately recommending)

Krispin Sullivan is the best clinical nutritionist I've come across (http://www.krispin.com) and she is well versed in vitamin D issues. In fact, one of the most well versed that there is.

all the best,
katherine

storminnormin · Post by **storminnormin** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:40 am

Thanks, Katherine and everyone else. I started the velarian root last night (the time release mix (sleep md from walgreens) and a couple of the regular capsules) and slept very well. Also, I had no caffeine after 3 PM. I'll look into the vitamin D etc.

Thanks, Stormin