sleep meds

[REMemberWhen]

Fully understanding that falling asleep naturally without the use of medication is the best for the body, I have a question on which medication is the lesser of two evils. Currently I am prescribed 1-2 150 mg trazadone nightly (with 1 usually doing the job most nights). My question is whether or not ambien is better for people with OSA. I am not sure if trazadone affects the respiratory system, and i am pretty sure ambien does not...though i could be wrong there as well. Does one allow for better REM sleep? I don't go to see my sleep Dr. until mid Sept. but I see my PCP tomorrow. I was wondering if i should ask him to switch me to ambien or not. Just looking for some advice. I've always had a problem with insomnia and am trying to improve my sleep hygene so maybe one day I can fall asleep unassisted, but until then i wanted to know what the safest medication for my situation is. As always, I appreciate any of your advice! There is a lot to learn now that I am fully submerged in the "life of OSA treatment."

[Velbor]

Fully understanding that falling asleep naturally without the use of medication is the best for the body, I have a question on which medication is the lesser of two evils.

Perhaps a fairer and less judgmental wording might be, "It is ideal when we are able to experience restful sleep without the use of medications, but we are indeed fortunate that medications are available to improve the quality of our sleep if they are needed."

"Sleep meds" can not only help us to fall asleep, but can also "lower our arousal threshold" so that we can better remain asleep despite respiratory events, periodic limb movements, or environmental stimuli.

The "Ambien-class" of medications is purported to achieve these benefits with less risk of dependence or tolerance, and with less alteration of the "natural" pattern of sleep architecture (how we move through the various "stages" of sleep) than did older agents.

However, there are a variety of reasons for prescribing Trazodone, some of which may have played a role in the original decision in favor of that medication, and which may still be of relevance.

By all means, full discussion with your physician regarding prescribing decisions, and particularly with your primary care physician who presumably has the best understanding of your overall health issues, is a most desirable activity. But rather than asking for a specific change in medications, the better approach may be to review with your doctor your overall health status and needs, and together determine the best pharmaceutical options for you NOW.

Good luck!!

[OldLincoln]

Excellent reply Velbor. I'll just add to be a bit careful with Ambien. It has an odd side effect in that a lot of people do strange things in their sleep without any recall of it. Police have pulled over sleepers driving a bit erratic (sometimes nude), my cousin found an empty package of cookies on her counter.

[ShirleyDriscoll]

During sleep a region of the brain known as the hippocampus is busy storing memories and recording what was learned during the day. Basically, the hippocampus "replays" important activities during your sleep. Researchers monitoring the activity in the hippocampus of 11 young and 11 old mice. They taught the mice a maze during the day (an important activity which led to food). The young mice's hippocampus "replayed" the event while the older mice's did ot have as strong of a "replay" effect. So aging may impact what the brain does during sleep which, in turn, impacts sleep. More on Increasing Your Memory.

[REMemberWhen]

Good advice! Thanks Velbor.