Sleep without trazadone

Hi Evelyn, welcome. Stopping cold turkey can be rough. I'm sorry that you're not getting more support from your doctors to help with the symptoms of withdrawal. You'll notice that I moved your question about insomnia after stopping trazadone to this existing discussion that @mommabird74 started. She references using CBD oil, 5HTP and melatonin to help with sleep. I did this so you can connect with others like @wigreenthumb @falon @acaringe @gingerw @lioness @sandytoes14 along with mommabird.

You may also be interested in this related discussion:
- Depression and Anxiety at an older age https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/depression-and-anxiety-at-an-older-age/

I'm unqualified to answer your question about whether your symptoms are trazadone withdrawal or anxiety uncontrolled, but I do know that you want more sleep and sleep would help both. Have you tried non-medicinal approaches like white noise, listening to soothing meditative sleep programs or over the counter supplements like melatonin?

It most certainly is withdrawal and sounds like detox reaction. Try dry brushing ( YouTube) followed by epison salt & baking soda bath. Slowly work up to 2 cups epison salt and 1 cup baking soda in fairly hot water for up to 20 mins, 3 times week. Castor oil packs in skin at night. Eat high food fats, olive oil, boiled eggs, Avacado, and good carbs throughout day. MCT oil in coffee in morning. Try to walk around 20 mins a day, outside if you can, to get some sun shine. I take Gaia sleep through now along with progesterone cream, magnesium glycinate and malate to sleep. I was on trazadone 20 years and I’m sleeping fairly well now. High BP I bet relates to the body needing more water and trying to detox itself. The tremors sounds like the body is having a hard time releasing the trash from the meds that builds up in the system causing inflammation. It will present as neurological symptoms. I suggest a functional medicine practitioner in your area if you need testing. I’d get a Dutch test, organic acid test, and full blood panel. My root problem was mold. I found out through mycotoxin test. More prescription drugs will make it worse because your body is trying to heal.

@evelyncooks Welcome to connect I can't speak to coming of Trazedon but I've had probl falling and staying asleep.. I use naturel products and for sleep I drink a nightly calm tea .It has Chamomile Spearmint and several other herbs Lately after I drink it I don't even remember putting it on the table It keeps me asleep right away.

I have tried several supplements for sleep. I don't have a problem falling asleep. I wake up 3 times a night. I take Theanine with Relora at night and it's very calming but doesn't help with staying asleep. I did not have a good experience with Trazadone. Nightmares, headaches, and I've tried Ambian. Would love a suggestion. I heard that 1mg of Melatonin is worth trying apprised to 3 or more.

Hello @l22s, Welcome to Connect. I also wake up a few times a night but mine is normally due to a needed bathroom trip. There are a couple of discussions on Melatonin you might want to read through to learn what others have shared.

-- What is the starting dose for Melatonin? Is this good for Insomnia?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-is-the-starting-dose-for-melatonin-is-this-good-for-insomnia/
-- Melatonin: Is it safe for people who are immunosuppressed?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/melatonin/

Have you discussed your symptoms of waking up with your doctor to see if they have any suggestions?

Thank you! Melatonin does not work at all. Cbd was tried but made me feel energized. Tried a herbal product with kava kava, valerian, passion fruit, araghanawista, no help, also amino acids for sleep. None of which have helped . I have many nights where I do not sleep at all. This has been going on for 7 mos. Kaiser permanente just keeps trying different meds. I am too old to take them have gone back on Trazadone x2and last week was trialed on Zoloft which was a Disaster. Ativan was somewhat helpful but only for 2 hrs of sedated ‘sleep” although the Ativan did calm me down and helped with leg tremors but was not long lasting. this is just another bad drug with side effects. I am hard of hearing white noise haven’t tried thinking of light therapy… anything proven effective that is not a Addictive.
Thank you
Evelyn

Instead of changing your dosage and thinking what is right I think you should contact your doctor. Mixing and matching on your own could affect how the meds react.
My doctor recommended Tylenol PM. Seems to help.

I've taken Benadryl for years to help me sleep. Last year my brother told me that Gabapenten helped him with the pain of neuropathy. My doctor had prescribed it for me in the past, but failed to mention that it would take a while before I felt any benefit so I stopped too soon apparently. After my brother told me his experience with it I began to use it for pain. My feet ache and burn at night after I go to bed, so I added it to the Benadryl and finally started getting a good nights sleep. Now I find it requires more than it did before and I'm getting concerned about over medicating. Last night I only took the Gabapenten and fell asleep within a half hour, but woke up 2 hours later and could not get to sleep again. I didn't take anything at that time, but finally just got up and stayed up.
I will be moving cross country in a couple of months and will have to find a new doctor. That means to me that I will need to have my meds covered here for several months and my doctor assured me that they will be. My quandary is what to do about my sleep meds now to get myself adapted to sleeping through the nights now. Naturally, the move is anxiety inducing enough already. Any suggestions for me? Many thanks for your help..

I have chronic fatigue and when I decided to go off all my medications, the sleep med was the last one and I cut it in half and then half again and one day when I knew I had a few days to be sleep deprived I went off it. I used essential oils and an app with calm music. I've never looked back! I sleep so much better now. I started using lavender oil but found I slept way too hard and would have weird dreams. I then changed to Valor which has been working for 8 years. When I've overdone it and don't get great sleep I will add in my oral CBD but just 1/4 of the dose. I rub the oils on the back of my neck and sometimes my ears as those are vitaflex points for your brain - helps mine shut off. The app I use is BetterSleep. Good luck!

Hello Kelly @kellyamunrud, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing tips on what helped you go off medications including the sleep med. Hopefully other members trying to taper off of trazadone and other sleep meds will benefit from your experience.

Do you mind sharing how you found Connect, what information you were searching for?