I currently take ambien to sleep. I have to take 3 or more of them for them to work. My dr just switched me to trazodone, do you think it will work as good. I have horible insomnia and am very worried this med won't work as well as ambien...
Responses (7)
HPoole10 Aug 2011
i assure you that trazodone will work MUCH better for you! i have severe insomnia, restless legs syndrome (RLS), periodic limb movement (PLM), and a host of other sleep disorders and i take 400mg of trazodone every night. i've tried ambien, sonata, doxepin, seroquel, ambien cr, lunesta, gabapentin, restoril, halcion, flurazepam, etc... all of these EXCEPT trazodone, I developed a fast tolerance to and kept having to switch. if your dr. just started you on trazodone, it may be a low dose, so just be patient as you get up to a good dose that works for you. another thing to be cautious of: trazodone has about a 15min window after you take it. lay down and try to go to sleep in these 15min or so after taking it. don't try to stay up because it then could have the opposite effect and maybe keep you up. take care of yourself!
Mary63200910 Aug 2011
I agree with HPoole with her answer about taking trazadone to help you sleep instead of Ambien., but wanted to add that I have read about some horrible side effects that some people on here are having while being on Ambien like sleep walking, eating while asleep, acting out in rage etc... I don't know if this effects you this way or not, but has convinced me to never try it. I have taken Trazadone & it did work for me. Unfortunately after starting at 50mg., & then moving up to 100mg., my doctor would not increase it anymore than that. It was some of the best sleep I have had in years. I have fibomyalgia, & people who have this do not sleep well at all. I wish you all the best...
puckiemull10 Aug 2011
Hi angel235,
I also suffer from depression and lots of sleepless nights,along with anxiety,i'm currently on seroquel but find it useless,could you let me know how the trazadone works out?? I'm sick of chopping and changing meds but i've tried so many,i'm at my wits end waiting for something to work..
If you could please let me know how it goes for you,
Thanks,hope you get some relief soon
Take care
smileyhappy10 Aug 2011
Hi angel235,
I have been prescribed Ambien once. It made me feel very drowsy. Even when I got up. Four years ago I was prescribed Trazodone 100mg. and it works great now like it did then. Trazodone is an antidepressant but is used also for sleep too. Hope this helps you.
strmcliff...10 Aug 2011
Hi angel235,
I take trazodone and it works way better than ambien. I used to take ambien, and it did work but I would feel kinda hung over in the morning. I also had a couple of episodes where i actually feel asleep while I was eating and I didn't remember. the only reason i knew about it was my husband and daughter told me. I agree with HPoole. I would suggest that you take it and go straight to bed, it takes affect in about 15 to 20 minutes and it knocks you out. It's the one thing that helps me get a full night's sleep.
angel235
11 Aug 2011
I took 200mg of Trazodone and didn't even get sleepy . This is horible, I don't think anything is going to work like ambien. But I have built up such a high tolerance for it. I will try the trazodone a few more times.
Anonymous 11 Aug 2011
Hey Stormy (my new moniker for you! sorry)
Many people have had odd reactions to Ambien, one woman on this site awoke with marshmallows stuck to her hair and body!!! LOL, sorry but I find this just hysterical !!!
Lara xx
strmcliffae46
ElizaJane2311 Aug 2011
I was on Trazodone for sleep for 20 years - most of the time at 150mg. It helped a lot. I wanted to get off as many meds as possible, so I weaned off it and spent six months getting only 3 hours sleep a night! Now I use amitryptaline, but use it as it helps with bladder pain too. I'd give trazodone a good try - it helped a lot. Regards -
25 Feb 2012
Angel,
I have taken Trazadone for way to many years and am trying very hard to get off this stuff. It will help you fall asleep, if you do so in a window of time it allows before it just won't work anymore, that night. Sometimes you can up the dose and finally fall asleep. I was put on antideppressants along with Trazadone for about 15 years, and none of it was working. I decided to research and to my horror found out how many dangerous drug interactions Trazadone has with other drugs. I could have ended up with Seratonin Syndrome and actually died from taking antidepressants with Trazadone.
I got myself off the antidepressants first and just doing that I feel so much better. Less depressed for sure, but now having a hard time getting of Trazadone. They gave me Ambien for sleep and it was worthless for me.
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Mary, you never told me about how Trazadone helps with insomnia!! I must try this med!!! It is an antidepressant though, no???
xoxo
Lara
Yes it is, but helps with sleep & chrontic pain:
What is trazodone?
Trazodone is an antidepressant medication. It is thought to increase the activity of one of the brain chemicals (serotonin) which may become unbalanced and cause depression.
Trazodone is used to treat depression. It may also be used for relief of anxiety disorders (eg, sleeplessness, tension) and chronic pain.
Trazodone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide
May be worth a try my friend! Mary
OHHH YEAH my dear friend, it may be worth a try!!! I cannot take the insomnia any longer!!! It, as you well know, sux big time!!!
xoxo
Your li'l sis
thanks guys. ambien works VERY well but I have built up a tolerance to it. Time to switch. some people say trazadone don't work for sleep only depression. I will give it a try. My dr gave me 100mg and directions say to take 2 tablets at bed. I will take it tonight and let you know how I do !!
Hi angel,
I would love to know how it goes on Trazadone!!! Thank you for letting us know!