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...
Ambien or trazodone - which is best for sleep?
Question posted by angel235 on 10 Aug 2011
Last updated on 17 August 2018 by tsbent
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14 Answers
tsbent
17 Aug 2018
Interesting discussion. It is obvious from comments there is not a one drug fits all for insomnia. I take zolpidem (Ambien) occassionally. I first tried it for overseas travel. It lasts 6 to 6.5 hours for me. When I awake, I am refreshed and ready to go. No hangover. No nightmares or sleepwalking. I have prescribed it for many, but on one condition. Patients must have a trial run at home. They must be accompanied by a responsible person and not consume alcohol or other sedative meds that day. They must set an alarm and awake at a time their airplane will descend to their destination to evaluate whether they are functional. A few have stated it did not induce sleep at 10 mg. None have reported adverse events.
I take zolpidem on occasion as I have had MS for 20 years and flares causing discomfort or periodic limb movement keep me awake. I have never taken more then two in a weeek and never more then every 3 days.
My caveat. Any sleep aid may or may not be beneficial. You never know until you have a trial. No sleep medicine should be taken every night. Only when absolutely needed. Studies have confirmed that antihistamines increase the risk of Alzeiheimers Dementia. Additionally, benzodiazepines and cogeners, ambien, have been shown to increase risk of dementia if taken longer than one month.
Question? Have readers had any experience with Suvorexant, ie. Belsomra. I would love to read of experiences with this Orexin antagonist
Tom Benton MD
mhelcl
16 March 2013
Ambien will be more effective.
mavido
7 March 2013
Many people swear by trazodone but it didn't work for me. One of the possible side effects is severe sinus congestion and that kept me from falling asleep. It's that old game of what's worse, the condition or the side effects from the medicine to treat the condition.
Inactive
26 April 2013
Same for me so I stopped and am so happy to be free of it! My sleep patern came back. It took a while but it comes back. Good luck
Pollyesther
28 Dec 2012
I just found out about trazodone from a family friend who is an e.r. Doctor... he swears by it... i also suffer horrible insomnia and it is my biggest stressor every month because I run out... my doc used to prescribe 45 qty per month which gave me 1-1/2 per night... after a year or so I needed 2 to work... would love to find a doctor that would prescribe me 60 per month but they hesitate to even offer 30... I hate that I depend on this drug:(. Will let you know if trazodone works...
hollyertley
18 Dec 2012
I choose ambien because trazadone makes me groggy and disconnected the next day with terrible head aches. I can hardly even drag myself out of the bed. With ambien I wake up a little too early but I feel good and refreshed.
lovebug76
5 July 2012
hi everyone.
I have been on Ambien 10 mg for the longest time. Had to stop taking it after 3 days as i built up a tolerance. My pain mtg doctor put me on Nortyptilne total up 75 mgs. Dosent do anything at all. So my family doctor said I can take the Nort and he put me on trazodone 50 mg and now 100mg. As per 50 was not good enough. Well lets see neither is 100. I havent added the nort with it to scared. I also am on 1200 mg of neurotin and 10-500 lortabs. So in part cant you see why i don't want to add three more pills, the Nort is 25 mgs a piece. Here is my question, has anyone been on the meds im on now at bedtime and had no luck, and used the Nortypiline? Im in a lot of pain and want to sleep through the night. PLEASE HELP Thanks
bobo04
7 June 2012
I have been taking Trazodone for 7 months now. I took Ambien once and it knocked me out cold INSTANTLY!! I fell and broke 3 ribs /It was not for me.Trazodone doesn't MAKE me go to sleep until I lay down and get still. Then I go to sleep and sleep well! When I wake up I feel great. I say give it a try. Let us know how it works.
Cheroke
25 Feb 2012
Angel,
I have taken trazodone 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 antidepressants along with trazodone 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 trazodone has with other drugs. I could have ended up with Seratonin Syndrome and actually died from taking antidepressants with trazodone.
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 trazodone. They gave me Ambien for sleep and it was worthless for me.
Please , if you are taking trazodone and other medicnes, just go to Drug Interactions and check what you take againt trazodone. It scared me to know that I was never informed of the serious danger I could have been in.
In fact, from now on check everything you take against other drugs before you take them. It could save your life.
I am going to try some natural sleep remedies from the health food store and see if any of them work.
Insomnia is a terrible thing to have. I did have some great luck for about a week, when I was able to get some Xanax. I didn't have any anxiety before falling asleep, and I sleep wonderful and felt great when waking. This with only one pill. But my Doctor will not give it to me, nor any other alike drug. I do not and have never abused any medication, so I don't have a clue.
Just be careful, with what you are prescribed and check it out first.
Inactive
11 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 -
Inactive
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.
Inactive
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
Inactive
11 Aug 2011
I know! I kinda like the nickname Stormy. But that dinner thing was funny. I fell asleep in my plate of spaghetti! LOL
Inactive
11 Aug 2011
Stormy, LOL, oh my gosh that is hilarious!!! My Irish eejit bro's once convinced me to (I was 3 yrs old) overturn a plate of spaghetti on me noggin once! We even have pics to prove this!!
laughing meself silly right now, picturing you with your head in your spaghetti!!!
Ambien sure does make people do strange things!
Angel, I am so sorry for adding my inane silly comments to your very important question!!!
xoxo
Lara
Inactive
11 Aug 2011
I know it's a serious question, but sometimes you have to laugh at yourself every once in a while. let us know how everything goes angel.
Liz
smileyhappy
10 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.
puckiemull
10 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 trazodone 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
Inactive
10 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...
Inactive
10 Aug 2011
Mary, you never told me about how Trazadone helps with insomnia!! I must try this med!!! It is an antidepressant though, no???
xoxo
Lara
Inactive
10 Aug 2011
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
Inactive
10 Aug 2011
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
angel235
10 Aug 2011
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 !!
Inactive
10 Aug 2011
Hi angel,
I would love to know how it goes on Trazadone!!! Thank you for letting us know!
mommaTRB
17 June 2012
Food for thought wats worse sleepwalkin and talkin or tryon to cause physical harm to ur spouse over somepthing as small as them waking u up
hankd2
20 Aug 2012
Hi, I am new here but I need help. I have been taking clorazapate for 20 + years. Now my Doctor said I have to stop because it causes memory loss. He put me on Trazodone 50mg one at bedtime. The first night I took it I fell asleep right away but the next night it did nothing. I think I am in withdrawl and I wonder if this has happened to anyone else. Its only been four days since I had clorazapate. I feel anxious and headache and clumsy. Does anyone else have any related experiences.
Inactive
21 Aug 2012
handk, I think you will get more responses on your question if you would post it as a new question. I am just now weeing this because I have been ill & not on the site for a couple of days. If you go to the right of the screen & scroll down it will have in bleu, 'Ask a Question'. Pklease repost so it is a new question & will go out to the entire community. I fear I am the only one that has seen this. Ask as a conversation rather than a direct question too, so people can comment more than once. I think you will get a lot of replies from the right people... Mary
Inactive
21 Aug 2012
hankd, sorry I got your name wrong in my last post to you, but really think you should repost as your own question. Clorazapate is a benzodiazopine as you probably already know, & it sounds depending on the dose you were taking evey day, that you are in withdrawals from this med. It happens especially after using it for 20 some years. Your doctor should have weaned you off of it slowly before staring the trazadone depending on the dose of trazadone he gave you. I would contact him & let him know you are in withdrawal from the bezo. I take xnax at bedtime for sleep, & have since 1994. I too would have to be weaned down or go into what is caled withdrawals, & they can be horrible. Please call your doctor & explain your symtoms ASAP...
HPoole
10 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!
mommaTRB
17 June 2012
Trazadone may work better and it may not it worked for u but every one is diffrent i take ambien and it works great i have horrible nightmares and it keeps me from dreaming most nights. And however ive also taken trazadone and it made me crazy i had the worst nightmares of my life i was always in a horrible mood and i was very iritable, me and my oleman got into it and i threw the tv at him. It may work 4 u and that would b great just don't underestimate it every ones body chem is difrent just b careful and very mindful of ur mood and emotions
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ambien, insomnia, sleep disorders, trazodone, sleep
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