OT: Trazadone for sleep?

[Janknitz]

My husband has been prescribed Trazadone for sleep by his doctor (with whom I'm not impressed!). Hubby wakes about 4:30 am (welcome to MY world) and has trouble going back to sleep.

Does anybody have any knowledge of or experience with this drug? I've read it only works for a few weeks, can cause excessive day time sleepiness, but they gave him 30 pills and lots of refills.

[Holden4th]

Trazodone is not a sleeping pill, it's an anti depressant used to treat major depression.

It's side effects include hypotension which can induce dizziness and an increased risk of falling.

Unless your husband has anxiety or depression issues I can't see why a doctor would have prescribed this, especially for sleep. I think you need to ask.

[49er]

My husband has been prescribed Trazadone for sleep by his doctor (with whom I'm not impressed!). Hubby wakes about 4:30 am (welcome to MY world) and has trouble going back to sleep.

Does anybody have any knowledge of or experience with this drug? I've read it only works for a few weeks, can cause excessive day time sleepiness, but they gave him 30 pills and lots of refills.

Someone I know who doesn't have sleep apnea has taken it for quite awhile and is generally happy with it. When she has extra stress in her life, it doesn't work as well but that is fortunately seems to only be for a short time.

I tried it very briefly a few years ago. Not only did my sleep on the machine worsen but the next day, I had the excessive day time sleepiness that felt like a big time hangover.

Holden4th, Trazadone is commonly prescribed as a sleeping pill by doctors as apparently, it doesn't work well as an antidepressant but as an off label prescription for sleep, does work well. I have no scientific links to back this up but am just telling you what seems to be the philosophy of doctors.

[Julie]

I took it 30 yrs ago and stopped when I woke up with breathing problems within 2 wks.

[Jay Aitchsee]

Yes, it's often used off label (as well as some other older antidepressants/antihistimines) as a sleep aid. I tried it, it seemed to work for sleep, but it left me so groggy the next day I discontinued it's use. As drugs go, it's well tested and the reported side effects seem rather benign.

The only thing I've found that seems to work for us older folks (me) plagued by that early morning waking is just to go with it. Take care that all aspects of excellent sleep hygiene are being followed, watch the caffeine, get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily (I prefer early outdoors), and adjust the sleep schedule accordingly. Since I know that I will wake around 5 am or a little earlier regardless of the time I go to bed, I now religiously start to bed at 10 PM, even though I would rather stay up much later. It's a little strange, but it seems that the going to bed earlier routine sometimes allows me to sleep a little later than 5, but going to bed later does not.

[M'ohms]

I took Trazadone too for a couple of weeks. I had the same groggy headache all day and no benefit of better/longer sleep with it. I discontinued it.

[JDS74]

My doctor prescribed it for me a while ago and, because of our relationship in managing my own health care, indicated that I could self-titrate for best effects. For the first few days, I had the morning grogginess that has been mentioned. Then I began cutting back on the dose until I found a dose that improved my sleep and didn't have the morning after symptoms.

So, if it works at all, as your doctor if it is all right to cut back on the dose to see if the grogginess goes away and sleep is better. Perhaps the problem is only in the dosage. Elderly patients seem to be more sensitive to medications so that a "normal" dose for a young person is way too much for them. At least that is my personal experience.

[PEF]

I have had a lot experience with various anti-depressant drugs. I agree with Jay. If you need to take it for sleep, this is definitely one of the very few drugs that is probably not dangerous for older people. I would just have him take the lowest dose possible for sleep.

I take Amitriptiline. But I would prefer Trazadone if I could get it where I live.

[Julie]

Elavil (amitrip) is known to cause depression in many people - whether it's about the dose or another element.

[Violet West]

took it for a long time (for depression); put me right to sleep. Also affected my libido and weight, negatively.

[Lucyhere]

I've taken 50mg before bed time for around a year. It seems to relax me a little and I have no problem in the morning.

[robysue]

Trazadone is often prescribed off label for "middle of the night" insomnia---i.e. where you have trouble with waking up in the middle of the night and find yourself unable to get back to sleep. Trazadone has a half-life of 3-6 hours, which is longer than most of the newer sleeping pills like Ambien, and that's why it is assumed to be more effective at dealing with this particular kind of insomnia. And, of course, it's cheap since it's available as a generic.

Alternatives might include Intermezzo, which is a special formulation of a small dose of Ambien that is designed to be taken in the middle of the night, and possibly Sonata, which has a very short half-life (1 hour), and hence can be take in the middle of the night. The guidelines for both Intermezzo and Sonata say that they should only be taken if there are at least 4 hours of "sleep time" left after the middle of the night wake. Intermezzo is not yet available as a generic. Sonata is.

[Hopeful50]

About two years ago my doctor prescribed trazadone for my insomnia, with instructions to use anywhere from half a pill to two pills (25mg each). It worked really well with no side effects for a year and a half, then suddenly stopped working at all in early December (just a week or so before my sleep study). So I stopped taking it mid-December.

I've been on CPAP now for about 10 weeks, and having more and more difficulty sleeping. I decided to try the trazadone again last night, knowing I'd need to watch for an increase in my AHI. I had the best night's sleep I've had in months, and my AHI was even a bit lower than usual . . . 0.6.

[tmoody]

The only thing I've found that seems to work for us older folks (me) plagued by that early morning waking is just to go with it. Take care that all aspects of excellent sleep hygiene are being followed, watch the caffeine, get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily (I prefer early outdoors), and adjust the sleep schedule accordingly. Since I know that I will wake around 5 am or a little earlier regardless of the time I go to bed, I now religiously start to bed at 10 PM, even though I would rather stay up much later. It's a little strange, but it seems that the going to bed earlier routine sometimes allows me to sleep a little later than 5, but going to bed later does not.

Same here. I consider it a victory if I sleep til 6 or so. Going to bed later does nothing. But even getting to bed early, there are nights when it just doesn't work. Last night, for example, I turned off the lights at 9:45, and felt like I dropped off to sleep quickly and easily. At 4:50 this morning...Ding! Wide awake. Didn't have any feeling of having to go to the bathroom, but of course after I lie there for a few minutes and think about it, I end up going anyway. After that, I didn't have much luck; a little light dozing, that's all. My AHI was fine, but of course I'm feeling pretty ragged today. Fortunately, I usually make it closer to 6 before I'm seriously awake.

[cancun]

My doctor prescribed this for me three weeks ago because I have no problem falling asleep but can' stay asleep. I would get 4-5 hours a night and would get up 3-4 times in that time. Since taking this I only get up about twice a night and I am staying in bed 7-8 hours. It has been about 15 years since I have slept that much. Sometimes I am a little groggy when I first get up but it is worth it!

I was also surprised it was an anti depressant so called my niece who is a pharmacy tech (before calling my doctor and asking her what the hell she prescribed me) and she said that it is prescribed as a sleep aid more often than as an anti depressant.