I am 71 years if age and I have been taking Paxil for 15 years to treat depression. I also have not had a good nights sleep in many many years.
I had a heart attack 30 days ago and my Dr put me on Trazadone to help sleep. What if anything are the problems these two drugs taken together may cause. I have tried to stop Paxil many times with negative results. I am resigned to takeing paxil for my life time but I need to find out if the two drugs are toxic if taken together. I have been sleeping better with Trazadone than I have for many many years. There for I'm thinking to myself, this is too good to be true. There has to be a down side mixing these two drugs. I have been taking paxil in the a.m. and tarazadone at night , of course. Am I asking for trouble? Or is this the sleeping solution I have been looking for so long.
Thanks,
Ed
Can I safely take Paxil and Trazodone together?
Question posted by ebrantley on 25 June 2012
Last updated on 29 April 2015
4 Answers
I also am on Paxil and on trazodone at night . I am only on 50 mg of trazodone which is a very low dose. Like you I also had concerns about taking two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and I did extensive research after finding a drug interaction can exist between these two which is called serotonin syndrome which is caused from taking too much serotonin . After doing further research and getting several other doctors opinions this is not dangerous because of the low dose of trazodone and the 20 mg of Paxil. The 50 mg of trazodone I was given was not only for sleep but also for depression. I take paxil in the morning and Xanax that I take 1 mg three times today and I also take Ambien at night along with the 50 mg of trazodone . I have depression and anxiety but there is no reason to be fearful of getting serotonin syndrome from the very small amount of trazodone that you are given at night along with your paxil.
I was on 40 mg of Celexa along with the trazodone before recently switching to the paxil so there is absolutely no risk with these amounts .
Well, I was taking paxil 40mg 2 day a time. Trazadone 50mg aday and tramadol 100mg 3 daily OMG I almost died I was afraid to go to sleep.I live alone I had to call the neighbor to stay with me just in case for 911. Sertonin syndrome is no joke. I had cold sweat, aura of having a siezure, palpitations agitated restlessness diarrhea my pharmacyst and the urgent care clinic suggested I go the hospital so I did. Please please seek a dr when you start feeling funny and you are on such combinatio. M dr did not warn me of these side effects since its not so common. However my pharmacyst insisted that I did not the combination. My dr instisted back and forth. My pharmacist was off and the tech filled it. A word of caution the first sign of unease oh you will know please seek medical help.
Desv01
Hello ebrantley. It really depends on the person taking the drug. There are many combinations that carry what I call "red flag" warnings. Serotonin Syndrome, as mentioned previously usually always in the warnings. Throughout the years, I have been on these types of combinations and knock on wood, now in my senior years and doing well on them. Its really up to the individual and the doctor. As you stated are the gains worth the risk? All be the risk great or possibly less than. Best of wishes to you, pledge
I see myself giving this combination (paxil/trazodone) a try due to my lack of deep sleep rest. I am experimenting with different dosages and have not come up with a proper dosage yet. However I have only taken it 5 or 6 times. The Rx is for 50mg as needed.
I understand and I do wish you the best of luck so to speak. I am an insomniac, and take Remeron (off label) for sleep). Some years back was on Trazodone and my system built up an immunity to the drug, as has been the case with all the hypnotics and other drugs that have been used over the years to help get myself a few hours of sleep.
I might add that you let your prescribing doctor know as to your intentions.
How does Remeron work for you? And how long have you taken it?
Ed
Hello ebrantley, I been in ambiece 12.5 cr and also clonasepan 2mg, but only had 4hrs sleep,so i explained to my dc a she recomended to split 2 mg of clonasepan 1mg. at night and when wake up after four hrs. sleep to take 1 mg. at that time and I sleep again until 10am,which is good rest. However i have mood swing until couple hrs ater wake up,but I working in this aspect and try to find any meds. that helps with the mood swing. However with the approval of my dc. I hope you find the right combo for your sleep problem.
Regards; Alcon1502
Hello Ed I bel;ieve just under 4 years now. There is a downside to it, and its weight gain. Its the first and most common side effect to taking the drug. It works fairly well. Its not the end all of sleep aids but I do manage to get some sleep, all be it broken.
I take 300 mg trazadone at night, sometimes skipping does and/or cutting back. Never gave up trying to get my system to sleep on its own. Doc retired, used up odd old pills by severely limiting use. Almost a year later, crazies really bad when they hit and common to go 8 days with little to no sleep. New doc, now back on it but passing on the dangerous new expensive drug I was to also start. Never found anything else for depression or sleep that worked but there was many I refused when I saw possible side effects. What good is a med that works but gives you bladder cancer or stroke later, right? Docs push new meds because big money is behind it; give me older ones considered safe now. With all due respect, trying to make me take something I consider too dangerous is MY call, the doc isn't the one taking the risk. For me, I'd keep the traz and ditch or cut the Paxil, but its a personal decision for all of us.
I understand your point and much appreciated for your feedback and have a great weekend.
In addition to the very low risk of serotonin syndrome with trazadone and SSRIs (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, Viibryd), there is another significant drug interaction with antidepressants that are inhibitors of the CYP 2D6 enzyme--Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, and some others--accumulation of the toxic metabolite of trazadone, mCPP, normally rapidly metabolized by CYP2D6. The result is increased anxiety and dysphoria (depression, mental discomfort).
How many mg of Trazadone are you on? If you are on 100mg, BEWARE! IT CAN KNOCK YOU OUT LIKE A HORSE! No disrespect intended, but I was on 100mg at one time, and I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, and I swear to God, I couldn't SEE where I was going! 25mg or 50 mg wasn't enough, and 75 mg was ok. Check on the internet for mg strengths and CHECK WITH YOUR DOCOTR about this potentially LETHAL combo: PLEASE! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{hug}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Also, ask your doctor about Tamazepam. Great sleep aid! I believe I take 50 mg. Don't know off the top of my head. Sorry!
Rx is for 50 mg dosage as needed. I tryed half dosages (no effect), I tryed one and one half pills and was so tired the next day I could hardley get out of bed I was so weak and tired, I tryed one pill and it worked great one night and not at all the next night. I see I have a lot of experimenting to do. When it does work it is wonderful. I have had this drug for 6 weeks but have only tried it 4 or 5 times. My sleeping habits are so bad I decided to give it a try regardless of the consiquences.
Do not experiment with switching dosages of drugs (of any kind) WITHOUT consulting your doctor first.
Unfortunately this combination is not good.
You are at risk of developing Serotonin syndrome (a potentially life threatening drug reaction) because of this prescribed combination.
Serotonin syndrome most often occurs when two drugs that affect the body's level of serotonin are taken together at the same time. The drugs cause too much serotonin to be released or to remain in the brain area.
Paxil and Trazodone both prevent the re-uptake of serotonin.
The syndrome is rare, but serious. You should talk with your doctor.
You could show your doctor this:
https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=2228-0,1800-1156
I am not suprised, however I will look into it deaper. Why is it that a heart specialist will prescribe the two drugs together? I mean I'm not buying underground drugs from India. Does the doctor feel the risks out way the side effects?
I wonder what level of risk I am taking by using both drugs together. This guy (doctor) is not an idiot. However what you say makes sense. I am a vetran and go to the VA Hospital for my healthcare and I do feel I am being brushed off at times.
Ed
This Doc also prescribed amiodarone for me. I have not started taking this drug yet until I get more info. So far I see it is quite toxic. To say the least.
Ed
Related topics
paxil, depression, heart attack, sleep disorders, trazodone, sleep, heart
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