Trazodone and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2017

For Insomnia "Been on Trazodone for 2 months for insomnia and traumatic nightmares associated with PTSD and depression. Helps me somewhat in falling asleep, but I still can't stay asleep. Wake up repeatedly during the night with awful nightmares. When I wake up the next morning (11 hours after taking 50 mg), I am unsteady on my feet, sometimes fall. Exhausted all day. Feeling more depressed and despairing (also taking fluoxetine 40 mg)."

• JES...
• October 25, 2009

For Insomnia "I was prescribed trazodone to help me sleep and for severe back pain. I started at 50 mg at bedtime and worked my way up to 300 mg. Trazodone helped me to sleep and definitely decreased my severe back pain. Within one to two hours, I was asleep. I awoke being groggy and uncoordinated. As the day went along, the grogginess and lack of coordination totally disappeared. I would awaken with a very dry mouth. My doctor even consented to my taking an additional 50 mg during the day to help with pain relief. I received no information about cessation. Withdrawal occurs with decreasing or abrupt cessation. A slow taper must be used!"

• Sto...
• September 6, 2010

For Depression "I have been taking trazodone for nearly 18 years. For the most part of this period, I have taken a 150 mg dose. I have never experienced any severe side effects on this medication. However, if I miss a dose, I have incredibly bad nightmares and feel very agitated. To a lesser degree, while taking these tablets, I have a very dry mouth and slight dizziness when standing. The positives are a slightly lifted mood and reduced anxiety. More recently, I have been prescribed 300 mg, this was to help with anxiety and extreme depression. The increased dose worked brilliantly for the anxiety and depression, however, I experienced priapism and was reduced back to 150 mg."

• Viv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2019

For Anxiety "So far, anxiety has dropped, sleep is like REM all night, up and down to the loo several times, but back to sleep. No signs of depression lifted, but early days. Problems are dizziness all morning, fatigue a lot, stomach issues. Waiting to see how many weeks to see what happens."

• Mis...
• August 21, 2018

For Insomnia "I've suffered with chronic insomnia for over 10 years. It was getting so bad that I asked my psychiatrist if she could prescribe something to help. She offered trazodone since it didn't cause addiction like benzodiazepines, but I find that I have dizziness, headache, and eye problems when I take it. I only took it twice and refuse to use it again."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2020

For Insomnia "Dr. wants me off of Ambien, gave me Trazodone 50 mg tabs. Was told to try one, then two if needed. One didn't do anything, so I took another. Couldn't sleep all night, ended up with the worst sinus headache I've had in years. Had bad vertigo all the next day and was groggy. Couldn't drive today, so had to stay home. I'll try it again but will take only one and much earlier, then decide. Not for everyone."

• Fec...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 10, 2019

For Insomnia "On and off Trazodone for 9+ years. In the first year, my doc raised the 100 mg to 150 mg and then 200 mg. I declined anything higher. Then the Ambien - I would wake up finding a mess in my kitchen... it was from me sleep eating, NO! Back to the Trazodone. Then Lunesta, which kept me sleeping but also induced sleepwalking/activity. I've tried Doxepin, Vistaril, Amitriptyline, Trazodone, Ambien, Lunesta, Melatonin (a complete joke for me), and many others I can't remember. I still have yet to find anything that works. My doc put me on Remeron (Mirtazapine) on Thursday, last night I still woke up 4 times and got up at 6:30 a.m. and hate the way I feel. I also take Suboxone and feel like I took something I shouldn't have, like it's a bad mix or something. I've napped all day today and still feel dizzy and lightheaded. Maybe all I need is a Trazodone vacation. I can't take hypnotics or benzos due to being on Suboxone. The only thing left to try, in my opinion, is the occasional vacation from Trazodone."

• Ano...
• May 6, 2021

For Sedation "I took 100 mg of Trazodone to help me stay asleep through the night. It was the worst experience. Not only did it take hours for me to fall asleep, but the next day I had a headache that persisted the entire day, was extremely dizzy when standing, I had muffled hearing and ringing, and just felt terrible. This is day 2. The headache pain is slightly better, but I feel like a zombie and can’t think straight. Never will I take this drug again! I hope these side effects pass."

• Sum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2017

For Anxiety "I am in my mid-fifties, and my anxiety has gradually worsened over the past 6 years or so. I'm now off work. I have tried a few meds, but this is the most recent. I only took 50 mg for 3 weeks. I found my sleep to be a little better, and I seemed slightly less self-conscious, if that makes sense. The negatives far outweighed any benefits, though. Within the first week, I had lost my appetite, and when I ate, I would just bloat. I also got stomach pains. It basically shut my metabolism down. I have extreme headaches and dizziness as well, and zero motivation. I have to say that I am one of those people that are very sensitive to medications, so this drug may benefit some people."

• CHl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 11, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "My psychiatrist prescribed Trazodone for a combination of issues: depression, mood swings, insomnia, and anxiety. I took it for 1.5 years, and overall I'm positive about it. I started with 100 mg per day, and the first few weeks were horrible as I experienced severe dizziness and nausea; however, it did help with the insomnia right away. After a month, the side effects subsided, and I started feeling better; I was calmer, slept well, and was not as anxious anymore. While it really helped with the insomnia, it knocked me out for 9 hours, and I could not get out of bed at all in the morning if I took the pills too late the evening before. Two months ago, my doctor and I decided I could stop taking it. For 1 month, I went back to 50 mg and then stopped completely. This again was a horrible period: all issues that I had before taking it came back, and I had terrible headaches for a couple of weeks. I'm not sleeping as well anymore as with the medication, but otherwise feeling fine now."

• whe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2022

For Insomnia "Never had a migraine, tried trazodone for the first time yesterday, and the headache started shortly after, and it hasn’t disappeared for 23 hours now. I woke up feeling insanely hungover, was nauseous, lost my coordination, and my head was pounding. Around 12 pm, I started getting delirious and had to leave my class. Took pain medication, slept for 4 hours, spent the rest of the day with the blinds down, and the pain has gone down to a strong headache, but I still can’t really study or move normally. I just hope it’s going to be gone when I wake up tomorrow. I won’t be taking this again, my worst hangovers felt better than this. Didn’t really help with sleep either :’)"

• Sle...
• November 28, 2015

For Insomnia "I've been taking 100 mg of Trazodone for four months now. At first, it worked great in helping me sleep. Now I'm noticing that the side effects are worse than insomnia itself. I now have vertigo, migraines, fast pounding heartbeat, vision changes, and no libido at all. It sucks."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "My psychiatrist prescribed me trazodone for sleep, since my anxiety was causing me to wake up almost every hour. I was started at 50 mg, and for the first couple of weeks of taking it, I felt extremely dizzy and my vision was blurred. My sleep was good, but I still woke up around 6-7 every morning. I was put on 75 mg, and I sleep like a rock now. Although my friends have noticed that I’ve started to talk in my sleep. It’s also extremely hard to wake up during the night, and my friends/family almost find it impossible to wake me up from a deep sleep. Overall, for depression, this medication doesn’t really work. However, if you’re taking it for insomnia, you’re more likely to have better results."

• 201...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2021

For Sedation "I have been on trazodone 50 mg for 2 weeks now for insomnia. With trazodone, I can fall asleep within 20-30 minutes, but I still wake up after only sleeping about 2 hours. I do fall back to sleep easier with this med, but I continue waking up several times during the night. The last couple of nights, I have had terrible night sweats and bad dreams that I jerk awake from. I get up in the morning feeling very tired and lightheaded, dizzy with heart palpitations. I took my blood pressure this morning just to check it out, and it was 98/63 with a pulse of 96. I will not continue with this med because, for one, it doesn't work for me, and another, it has too many side effects I can't handle."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2018

For Insomnia "Be very careful with this medication. I was given it for insomnia, but after 10 minutes, I became very dizzy, with palpitations, dry mouth, and a stuffed-up nose. Within 30 minutes, I had extreme diarrhea, vomiting, and had to lay down on the bathroom floor to stop me from fainting. Later, looking on the internet, I read that it shouldn't really be mixed with other antidepressants - I take escitalopram. Let's just say the throwing up and diarrhea, etc., didn't help me sleep."

• red...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2016

For Insomnia "I was given trazodone 50 mg for insomnia, which I took last night. Within a matter of time, I became a bit dizzy, and my RLS became uncomfortable. This continued for a few hours. I did fall asleep after about 4 hours and slept for about 6 hours. Upon awakening, I was no longer dizzy, but I felt a little off to the point of being light-headed. I will not take this med again. It is very hard to deal with the restless legs while being dizzy and tired. This medication is not for me."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2022

For Anxiety "Avoid this drug at all costs. I have a panic disorder, which is quite severe. One of the worst symptoms is agoraphobia, which was bad before I took trazodone. Now I do not leave the house whatsoever. Firstly, does this help your condition? In my case, no, it made it far more severe and has set me back months, possibly years. Are there side effects? Yes, with a capital Y. You may end up with a heartbeat that feels like your heart is about to burst out of your chest for 4-5 hours immediately after taking it, so forget sleep. The minutest of movements, and your heart continues to pound rapidly. You will feel weak, lightheaded, dizzy pretty much all the time. I was nauseous, had extreme photosensitivity, seizures, a break from reality for two days. I was doing and saying things I do not remember, unfortunately. The NHS provided very little help. The worst thing is it made me-and I still am-suicidal. Avoid this awful drug."

• Lov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2018

For Insomnia "I'm VERY impressed with this medication and so grateful my doctor gave this to me. I take this primarily for insomnia, but also for moderate anxiety. There was a mild hangover effect in the first few weeks, but that subsided. The only thing that has really stuck around is I often feel dizzy when I stand up. This only came about once I started the medication and has been around ever since, so I'm pretty sure it's related. It only lasts a few seconds, and then it's fine, but it can be annoying. But honestly, it's still worth the amazing benefits. I was worried about building a tolerance to this medication as I've heard that can happen, however, I've been on 50mg for 4 months now, and the med still works great!"

• Jan...
• August 17, 2018

For Insomnia "I have been taking 100 mg, and I still have issues falling asleep and staying asleep. I feel sick during the day with an upset stomach. I am dizzy a lot trying to find something else to help with sleep that’s natural."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2021

For Sedation "I was prescribed a very low dose to help me sleep at night. The first night, about an hour after I took it, I felt like I was weighed down; I could barely stand to go to bed from the couch. I slept hard for the first time in months; but the next day, I had the worst headache all day, and I was dizzy every time I stood up. The second night I took it, it didn't make me even a little bit sleepy, and I had insomnia all night; no headache or dizziness the next day, though. Tonight is the third night, and it's the same as last night. I took it 3 hours ago, and I'm still not sleepy. I don't understand how something could make me have such severe side effects the first night and none any day afterward."

• Fed...
• June 10, 2016

For Depression "I have taken 50 mg of Trazodone on two non-consecutive nights and have had very severe side effects. Both nights, I recall having an extremely high heart rate, a massive headache caused by sinus pressure, it caused extreme post-nasal drip, and I had trouble swallowing because of the dry mouth. By 4:30 a.m. on the second night that I tried taking Trazodone, I took an Ativan because I was panicking because I could not sleep. Afterwards, I felt incredibly dizzy because the two medications don't mix well together. Tonight I decided I would skip the medication and see if I could sleep without it. It is 12:47 a.m., and I'm still awake. I spent a night last week in a sleep disorder lab, but I was unable to sleep there either."

• Poo...
• October 18, 2016

For Insomnia "It is now 36 hours since I took the first and only dose (100 mg) of this drug for intermittent insomnia. I am still drowsy and having balance problems caused by dizziness. This is a very dangerous drug, IMO, and I wish I hadn't taken it. I only hope these disturbing side effects eventually subside."

• Poo...
• October 18, 2016

For Insomnia "It is now 36 hours since I took the first and only dose (100 mg) of this drug for intermittent insomnia. I am still drowsy and having balance problems caused by dizziness. This is a very dangerous drug, IMO, and I wish I hadn't taken it. I only hope these disturbing side effects eventually subside."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2021

For Insomnia "I was prescribed 50 mg once daily before bed for insomnia. The first night I took it 30 minutes before bed, but I did not last 30 minutes, as I was sedated on my bed and could hardly lift my arms. I was extremely dizzy and off-balance when I tried to stand up. I experienced one large heart palpitation when the effects kicked in. I fell asleep right after that and stayed asleep the whole night. The next night I did not experience any aid in getting to sleep when taken 30 minutes prior to bed. I moved the dosing to 2 hours before bed after that and it did regain its effectiveness, however, I woke up many times early the next morning. Some mornings after dosing I experience extreme fatigue, and some mornings I don't. It can take longer to feel fully awake while on trazodone. I was then prescribed 100 mg nightly so I could take it 30 minutes before bed again and to not wake up multiple times too early. 100 mg seems to work best for me. Dry mouth is the most prevalent unwanted side effect."

• Ebe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2016

For Insomnia "After taking 1 50 gm pill, I was awake all night with my toes and fingers burning, diarrhea, light-headed and dizzy, dry mouth, and generally a bad feeling all over. I am very sensitive to narcotics, and even after surgery, I can't tolerate them. The only meds I take are Tylenol, so there shouldn't be any interaction. This was worse than any experience I've had. This was the first time, and it will be my last. My doctor has prescribed Rameron (Auro-Mirtazapine 15 mg) as an alternative, but I am afraid to do what that will do. I know I won't try Teva-Trazodone again, no matter if I can never sleep again!"