1. < Sleep Health

Sleep without trazadone

Posted by mommabird74 @mommabird74, Apr 17, 2019

I’ve been taking trazadone for 15 years for sleep at 50 mg. I have been following a diet of no sugar, gluten or diary to come off all medicine. Also run 3 miles a day. I have successfully come off lexapro 10 mg after a long taper and feel better than when I was on meds. My problem now is tapering the trazadone. I have been able to decrease to 25 mg but when I go lower, I can’t sleep. I’ve been taking CBD oil, 5htp, and another natural pill with melatonin called best rest (I think). Have any of you gone through a similar situation or successfully come off trazadone? I think it’s affecting my memory. Any tips would be great.

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lioness | @lioness | May 20, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@lioness I cannot tolerate dairy very well, and at this point I am limited to 4..." + (show)
@gingerw

@lioness I cannot tolerate dairy very well, and at this point I am limited to 4 ounces of dairy a day due to my health issues. But I have heard warm milk works for many people. My dad would bring my mother a couple of soft cookies and warm milk in her late years.
Ginger

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@gingerw That wouldn't work maybe some turkey? I don't know if there is a tryptophin pill or not

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Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 20, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@gingerw That wouldn't work maybe some turkey? I don't know if there is a tryptophin pill..." + (show)
@lioness

@gingerw That wouldn't work maybe some turkey? I don't know if there is a tryptophin pill or not

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@lioness That's okay. I have learned to live with bouts of sleep, not a full night any night. It's just the way I'm wired I guess.
Ginger

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mommabird74 | @mommabird74 | May 22, 2019
In reply to @acaringe "We are on similar paths but I stopped taking the trazadone first before attempting the lexapro...." + (show)
@acaringe

We are on similar paths but I stopped taking the trazadone first before attempting the lexapro. I have just started the process for lexapro so any advice would be appreciated! I had been on each for about 6 years.

As for the trazadone, I started by taking half my dosage each night for 2 weeks to see how I felt. After that I stopped completely and took magnesium citrate and zinc before bed. It has worked great and helps calm nerves before bed. I sleep through the night and am happy I do not rely on the trazadone anymore.

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For the lexapro, I started on 10mg and my first cut was 5 mg. After that, I decreased by 10% every 4-6 weeks. If I felt bad, I’d wait longer for the cut. I allowed myself bad days & would hang out on the couch & just relax, not my typical day!!!

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mommabird74 | @mommabird74 | May 22, 2019
In reply to @sandytoes14 "@mommabird74 Are you worrying you will not be able to sleep without the Trazadone? Or is..." + (show)
@sandytoes14

@mommabird74 Are you worrying you will not be able to sleep without the Trazadone? Or is it not effective at 25 mg? I used to take 125-150 mg per night but then I went into the hospital and it was days before I had it. When it was finally prescribed, I felt over-medicated and reduced the doseage to 50 mg that I was given in the hospital. I slept fine.I am a chronic pain patient and take oxycodone. When I took the pain meds at night, I had nightmares.
Since menopause, I sleep in 2-3 hour cycles, but rarely get in 8 hours a night.
You mentioned that you thought you were losing your memory on higher doseage of Trazadone. How are you feeling taking a lower amount?
Only you can decide what is right for you. I would talk to a psychiatrist for his opinion.
I hope you find a happy medium that leaves you getting a good quality sleep.

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I’m worried I will not sleep & I think my worry keeps me awake. I’m having a horrible time still. Taking 50 mg trazadone, visteral and a unisom and still having a hard time. I recently had my hormones checked because dr thinks I’m in menapause 😳 Do you take hormone replacement for menopause? If so, does that help you. I’ve given up on trazadone withdrawal for now. I think I’m still in lexapro withdrawal.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 22, 2019
In reply to @mommabird74 "I’m worried I will not sleep & I think my worry keeps me awake. I’m having..." + (show)
@mommabird74

I’m worried I will not sleep & I think my worry keeps me awake. I’m having a horrible time still. Taking 50 mg trazadone, visteral and a unisom and still having a hard time. I recently had my hormones checked because dr thinks I’m in menapause 😳 Do you take hormone replacement for menopause? If so, does that help you. I’ve given up on trazadone withdrawal for now. I think I’m still in lexapro withdrawal.

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@mommabird74 Good morning. It is just after 5AM, and already up for almost an hour. But I was an "early bird" even as a youngster. Menopause, or perimenopause, or monthly fluctuations in hormone levels can all play into sleep disturbances. It will be interesting to see what your blood results show to you. Will you report back and let us know? I had a hysterectomy in January 1999, and never took any replacement hormones. That was my choice and my doctor's opinion.
Ginger

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mommabird74 | @mommabird74 | May 22, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@mommabird74 Good morning. It is just after 5AM, and already up for almost an hour. But..." + (show)
@gingerw

@mommabird74 Good morning. It is just after 5AM, and already up for almost an hour. But I was an "early bird" even as a youngster. Menopause, or perimenopause, or monthly fluctuations in hormone levels can all play into sleep disturbances. It will be interesting to see what your blood results show to you. Will you report back and let us know? I had a hysterectomy in January 1999, and never took any replacement hormones. That was my choice and my doctor's opinion.
Ginger

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Sure I will let you know the results. Can I ask why did you not try the replacement therapy? Is there a risk to it? My dr says it’s safe but he may not know everything 😬

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Jen, Alumna Mentor | @sandytoes14 | May 22, 2019
In reply to @mommabird74 "I’m worried I will not sleep & I think my worry keeps me awake. I’m having..." + (show)
@mommabird74

I’m worried I will not sleep & I think my worry keeps me awake. I’m having a horrible time still. Taking 50 mg trazadone, visteral and a unisom and still having a hard time. I recently had my hormones checked because dr thinks I’m in menapause 😳 Do you take hormone replacement for menopause? If so, does that help you. I’ve given up on trazadone withdrawal for now. I think I’m still in lexapro withdrawal.

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@mommabird74 The worry is even worse than not sleeping in my opinion. When I first had a hysterectomy I was on HRT for less than a year, mostly for hot flashes. What do you think of melatonin? Have you tried that? I know some people swear by it. My iPhone has an app called CALM for meditation,sleep and anxiety. That has been helping me calm my nerves. It plays soothing music. I like the nature sounds the best. Do you think something like this would help you?

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 22, 2019
In reply to @mommabird74 "Sure I will let you know the results. Can I ask why did you not try..." + (show)
@mommabird74

Sure I will let you know the results. Can I ask why did you not try the replacement therapy? Is there a risk to it? My dr says it’s safe but he may not know everything 😬

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@mommabird74 This was 20 years ago. At that time they had a concern about my family history of breast cancer on maternal side. Beyond that since I have experienced hot flashes since I was a teenager, there would be no guarantee that HRT would end those hot flashes. Along with some other health concerns it was low on my priority list to have HRT. Hope this helps you! BTW I still have hot flashes but not quite so severe.
Ginger

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lioness | @lioness | May 22, 2019

@gingerw My Mother had hot flashes in her 80,s I still have then 77 but I use Black Cohash naturel product Some drugstore carry it or health food store .

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evelyncooks | @evelyncooks | Nov 25, 2021

After stopping Trazadone 50 mg cold Turkey after 5 yrs 90 yr old experiencing Insomnia, severe chills associated with with 90/60 BP, high BP up to 194/100 esp in AM
severe sweats, leg tremors, generalized weakness,
Has been dealing with insomnia after 7 months. After having suicidal idéations and through the ER 4 times in a week. Was put back on Trazadone twice made symptoms worse.
Tried ambien, benzodiazepine. And mirtrazipine none helped in the ER. Zoloft was tried one night at 25mg felt like I was going to die. Ativan at .25mg helps a little but 0.5 mg too much. All labs are normal as well as basic neurological exam. Need help! my MDs are trivializing my symptoms due to my age. “Elders have trouble sleeping”. Elders don’t need much sleep….
I thought this could be Trazadone withdrawal??? Or is it anxiety that is uncontrolled?
I am interested in CBD or other modalities

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