Trazodone and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Pan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2019

For Headache "After decades of insomnia, I thought I had found the help I needed. I slept for 7-9 hours every night. It was great for the first month, then the headaches started every few days, and they would last for 2-3 days. I also have a history of migraines, but researched and discovered I could not take sumatriptan with trazodone. Taking NSAIDs is not good either. So I’m going to discontinue."

• Unk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2022

For Insomnia "Firstly, everyone has different experiences. Mine has been absolutely terrible. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I'm on my 4th night (25 mg), and I've been vomiting, have severe headaches, and am so dizzy, and I started getting body shakes/tremors. I'm not taking any more, and I'm terrified I'll have withdrawal symptoms."

• ehm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2017

For Insomnia "Absolutely did not work for me. Slept for a short time at 50 MG (lowest dose) & anything above that gave me a terrible headache the following morning. I tried it in lieu of Dalmane & a combo of Dalmane (30 mg), Gabapentin (600 mg) & 15 mg Remeron (VERY careful re: weight gain side effect, gained 20 lbs in short order), dramatically increases your appetite for carbs & sugars & overall appetite (what they don't tell you is that they give this to patients in the hospital who won't eat to increase their appetite)."

• TSL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2018

For Insomnia "I’ve now been taking Trazodone for 3 months. I had insomnia (a side effect of low-end depression) for 7 years. This medication has helped with sleep 9/10 nights and has stabilized my mood. I noticed a significant improvement with sleep immediately. It's nice to not be gaining weight on it too. First thing in the morning, I do need coffee to wake up both my mind and body. I’m also quite stuffed up. But it’s worth it! Also, I’ve noticed a dull headache if I haven’t slept well (from life’s stress)."

• Cla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2022

For Insomnia "I was prescribed this medication (50 mg before bed) in the hospital for sleep. Initially, I had no side effects, and it did help me get to sleep. After a couple of weeks, I developed massive hangover-type headaches in the morning. Mind you, I do not drink, so it was not from alcohol. Also, my blood pressure dropped after moderate exercise to the point where I almost fainted. I have since switched to melatonin for sleep (5 mg). It took about 4 days before the headaches disappeared and my blood pressure returned to normal. I'd stay away from this one."

• San...
• June 2, 2016

For Insomnia "I had an absolutely horrible interaction with this medication. I was prescribed 50 mg to treat insomnia because I literally have not slept for more than an hour a night in 8 days. I cut the pill in half and took 25 mg last night. Within 30 minutes, I had bed spins, my heart was beating so hard and fast you could see it, and my husband, who was in bed next to me, could feel the bed moving to the rhythm of it without us even touching, a blinding headache and the shakes. Needless to say, I did not sleep, and my head still hurts so bad I cannot lift it. I have heard so many great things about this treating insomnia, and for me personally, it was a bad experience. Doesn't mean it will not be great for someone else though. Good luck with your decision."

• Anonymous
• January 5, 2020

For Insomnia "My doctor prescribed this for me for insomnia. I took it for 5 days, half of a 50 mg pill. I never have a problem falling asleep but tend to wake up during the night. I may have slept a little more soundly, but I had some nightmares on it. By the fourth day, I was slightly nauseous and had diarrhea. My neck muscles became very tight, and I had a headache and a strange clicking in my ears. I also had a disconcerting feeling in the right side of my chest that was a strange palpitation. I also felt groggy during the day. I will not take this again and do not recommend it."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2022

For Headache "I've spent 20+ years on Ambien and needed something different, so my Dr. put me on 100 mg of Trazodone. I didn't put two and two together when I started getting severe and longer-lasting headaches. I went to the ER during one of these headaches because my BP was elevated and I thought it was hypertension. The ER Drs. checked EVERYTHING and couldn't figure out what was wrong, the reason for the headaches. I was even given morphine in the ER for the pain, and that didn't help at all. Not until I read all these comments did I now realize Trazodone has been causing my headaches. Please stay away, sleeping is NOT worth the constant pain from headaches, oh and one eye is also blurry and the eye Dr. can't figure out why, he said all is normal. Trazodone will change your life and NOT for the better, stay away from it. I'm titrating now to get off of this drug."

• Cat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 22, 2019

For Depression "I was prescribed 50 mg trazodone in conjunction with 150 mg Wellbutrin as the Wellbutrin alone wasn't sufficiently lifting my mood, and I couldn't tolerate the 300 mg Wellbutrin. I took it for several months, it definitely helps for sleep, didn't have trouble sleeping once while on it-which is unusual for me. But I felt awful in the mornings, foggy and headachy, like I'd been drinking a lot. I do drink a glass of wine a night, so that may exacerbate the side effects, I did feel a little better when I stopped drinking for a while. Eventually, I got tired of feeling garbage all day and have gone off it. I've been off two days, had trouble sleeping last night but can't believe how much better I feel! This is the first time in months I've woken up with a clear head. My depression is under control at the moment, so I will continue with just the Wellbutrin."

• nos...
• August 2, 2019

For Insomnia "I'm sharing my experience with trazodone because reading other reviews helped me a lot. I have ADHD and am struggling with depression (also on Wellbutrin). I'm using trazodone for 3 days now, which is very early, but I'm already able to confirm some of the effects. I started with 75 mg because I wanted to make sure I would fall asleep, which I did, but the next morning was terrible. I had a very bad headache, and I was very drowsy the whole day. The next night, I took 25 mg, which seemed to work. I slept through the whole night, but the next day I still felt a little drowsy/tired. The next night, I took 25 mg again, but I woke up in the night. I was thinking about taking another 25 mg, but I figured that would only ruin my next day by being drowsy. However, you do have the most vivid and realistic dreams. If you have nice dreams, this is not a problem, but last night I watched Stranger Things before going to bed, and I had some very weird dreams, and it's very hard to distinguish reality from dream."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2022

For Headache "Was prescribed 100 mg for insomnia. I have experienced migraines all my life, had ovarian cysts rupture, broken a few bones, had appendicitis. I have never experienced pain as terrible as the trazodone headache. It woke me up and wouldn’t leave for 2 days, nothing helps, you can’t sleep it off. There is no relief. I would never recommend this medication on the off chance you experience this headache as well."

• Emm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2023

For Insomnia "If you are looking for something to put you to sleep, look no further. I have been on Lunesta, Ambien, used Benadryl and Flexeril off-label as a sleep aid... they all worked-hit or miss-but Trazodone will tell you g'night, and there is no negotiating-it hits quick too, from what I have noticed. Within 20 or 30 minutes, I am wanting to crawl into bed. So sleep procrastination with this one, it does not mess around. As a smaller person, (5'3" and 100 lbs) I have to cut the tablets in half, so 25 mg is more than effective. One thing I am not crazy about is my Garmin watch reports that my sleep is not restorative on the nights I do take it. It is easier to wake up from than a muscle relaxer or actual sleeping pill, but just be sure to give yourself enough time to sleep after taking it. I also do wake up with a headache, but that's not out of the ordinary for me when it comes to side effects and medications or just having headaches in general."

• Oca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2016

For Depression "I started out on a quarter of a 50 mg trazodone tablet every other night at bedtime. I did this for a week, then increased to a quarter tab every night. After two nights of one quarter tablet, I started waking with a stuffy nose and a headache. Morning 3, I was in a full-blown migraine and had to take Zomig. I have attempted this exact process 4 times now, with weeks in between (no trazodone) to make sure it is a side effect of the medicine. Now, I am sure trazodone is causing the headaches, and I never have taken more than 1/4."

• Bra...
• July 14, 2016

For Headache "Granted, it does make you sleep. But when I get up in the morning, I always have a headache. Most of the day, I felt bad and tired. I have no energy. I do not like to take it unless I need to. I find out clonazepam 0.5, two of them, and two of hydroxyzine 25 mg make me sleep just as well as trazodone 50 mg. That gives me a headache every time. The other two pills I take."

• Har...
• November 23, 2009

Trazodone for Sedation "I am taking 200 mg a night for sleep for a little over a year. No problems, except when I miss a nightly dose, I feel hung over the next day. Recently, I have been waking with a headache. I am going to cut my dosage down by 25 mg and see if that will help. My worry is to have an uncomfortable withdrawal period."

• Psy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2017

For Insomnia "Dr. prescribed this for my insomnia. Took 50 mg last night, felt drowsy and was hopeful I would sleep. Kept waking up every hour or so, then falling back asleep. Woke up with a horrible headache, felt disoriented, dizzy, and like I was really badly hungover. Won't be trying trazodone again - ever!"

• Bla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 17, 2022

For Insomnia "Because there haven't been many recent reviews about trazodone written on this forum, I thought I'd share a more recent experience of mine and additionally try to halt some of the fearmongering going on in the comments. Medication affects each person differently, and trazodone is definitely a testament to that fact. I started to take trazodone in mid-February because I was having trouble sleeping (like bad trouble). At first, it was great; I'd take it and fall (and stay) asleep. However, as time went on, I did occasionally feel some of the side effects: grogginess, occasional anxiety, occasional headaches. All of these symptoms are manageable, but for what I use trazodone for, I am okay with that price. It is now November, and I am reaching my 8th month using trazodone, and today was especially rough. I felt completely off and really just need a hug, lol. But it usually helps put me to sleep, which I am forever grateful for because not getting sleep will really derail life."

• Den...
• July 28, 2016

For Insomnia "I have suffered with insomnia for about a year. My doctor gave me this medication 5 months ago, and I finally decided to try it. Haven't slept in 4 days. I was completely exhausted. I only took one 50 mg tablet at bedtime. Within 10 minutes, I was extremely dizzy, the room started spinning, and I was very nauseated. It was ten times worse than any hangover. I woke up still in the same condition, but now there is an added severe headache and horrible dry mouth. 24 hours later, you would think I'd feel better, but no! Still have the hangover, and I feel like complete crap! Will this ever end? I poured 29 out of 30 pills in the bottle, added bleach, and disposed of them. I will never suggest this medication to anyone or take it again myself. Worst side effects ever!"

• ejp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2018

For Anxiety "Been put on trazodone for anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and insomnia. Initially on 50 mg, it helped with sleep and calmed nerves, but for some reason, felt irritable. I was then upped to 100 mg and am now having constant awful headaches, I now know why I was feeling irritable."

• Anonymous
• February 24, 2012

For Insomnia "Love it. My body has always been exhausted, but my brain just couldn't flip the switch to turn off and go to bed. I would always be up until 3-4 a.m. without yawning. Trazodone makes me very drowsy, and I fall asleep typically 30-45 minutes after taking it. I sleep straight through the night, but I usually wake up with a lingering headache in the morning. Never take this if you are going to get less than 8 hours of sleep."

• Lov...
• August 23, 2015

For Insomnia "I have had problems with insomnia for years. After 8 years of taking Ambien, which worked great for several years, I built up a tolerance and asked my doctor about switching medications. He prescribed Trazodone, and after reading reviews, I had high hopes for the medication. Unfortunately, it did little to help my insomnia and left me with severe congestion and a headache. After 4 or so hours, I would wake up with my mind racing and was unable to sleep. My doctor added Klonopin. I fell asleep quickly but rarely got more than 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night. Very disappointed."

• 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."

• Jer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2021

For Depression "Started this just a week ago, 50 mg. I’ve never had anxiety, stress, or depression. But had a lot happen within a month and just brought me down. The anxiety was causing me to lose sleep or wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to go back to sleep. Brain fog and trouble focusing. The first night (Sunday) taking this, I slept all night and woke up less stressed and started feeling like myself. Brain fog has slowly gone away. Today is Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, and I can tell such a difference. I missed a dose on Wednesday and definitely can tell. But I recommend this for sure. I’ve had no side effects other than a headache."

• 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."

• 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."