Trazadone use for insomnia for seniors

Posted by briarrose @briarrose, Nov 22, 2023

I am 68 years young and suffering from insomnia since age 53. Multiple life stressors/changes kicked it off. I had hoped once I retired, remarried and relocated to a lovely home it would finally stop but it has not. I can fall asleep fairly quickly, my issue is staying asleep & once I wake up can take up to 3 hours to fall back to sleep. 3 AM I am always awake to about 530...but always after just 3 1/2 hours of sleep I start my awakenings. Tried sleeping aids, ambien the best but suffered from the amnesia side effects...& belsomra same. Now looking at trazadone. I am also on Zoloft for a severe panic d/o, some depression & PTSD. Multiple health issues. Any thoughts on trazadone for a 68 y.o. woman?

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mmwagner46 | @mmwagner46 | Jun 24 7:44am

I'm 79 years old and have been taking Trazedone 150mg for about 15 years.It works for me.

marialyce | @marialyce | Jun 24 5:21pm

In reply to @orioncecilebarnes "I have been on Trazadone for years does not work I am awake most of the..." + (show)

Why are you still taking it? There are other options for you out there.

jefaho | @jefaho | Jun 24 5:36pm

In reply to @adrienne9484 "I take 200mg Trazadone at bedtime. It works" + (show)

I do as well, but 150mg with 225mg of quetiapine.

thisfatoldlady | @thisfatoldlady | Jun 25 10:38am

I used Trazadone for years as a sleep aid. My problem, though, was falling asleep. But for me it worked great - fairly mild, just enough to keep you drowsy and sleeping. Not a lot of grogginess in the morning. I took it "as needed" (I'd get into a spiral of insomnia, but once I broke the spiral, I'd be fine for a while). I stopped taking it some years ago when I stopped needing it. I say give it a try and see if it works for you.

19sfca47 | @19sfca47 | Jun 25 10:59am

I’m 78 and will be going to see my family practice doctor in about 3 weeks. He gave me a script 6 months ago for Ambien (Zolpidem,10mg). Most nights it gets me to sleep, but I still wake up numerous times during the night. Since I also have depression and anxiety, I will be talking to him about Trazodone. As it is, I have become dependent on Zolpidem. My mother used it every night for the last 20 years of her life. I guess biology is destiny.

raebaby | @raebaby | Jun 30 1:10am

I'm 83 now , I've since stopped taking trazadone and now use an over the counter sleep aid called Unisom.I sleep well. I recently returned from Cancun and Texas where my plane got caught in a tornado. Hang in there all you oldsters!

mw2023 | @mw2023 | Jun 30 6:55pm

In reply to @19sfca47 "I’m 78 and will be going to see my family practice doctor in about 3 weeks...." + (show)

Ask your doctor about Zolpidem ER 6.25. It is an extended release dose which helps decrease the waking up during the night.
Medicare part D doesn't cover as much as the regular zolpidem so I use the pharmacy discount plans and not Medicare. It's usually around $20 for 90 days since it's a generic drug.

19sfca47 | @19sfca47 | Jun 30 8:16pm

In reply to @mw2023 "Ask your doctor about Zolpidem ER 6.25. It is an extended release dose which helps decrease..." + (show)

Since September I have been getting the Zolpidem (10mg) free. I will ask my doc about ER 6.25.
Thank you.

mmwagner46 | @mmwagner46 | Jul 5 7:50am

I'm 79 and have been taking Trazedone (150mg) for about 10 years...I had tried all sorts of over the counter
products and none worked. Now I sleep between 7-8 hours each night with absolutely no side effects. Have you tried it?

briarrose | @briarrose | Jul 5 9:30am

Yes, I am now 70 and on it for almost 2 years.
Is it a miracle for me? No.
But I am sleeping, somewhat, better. I can fall asleep quickly but it is the night time wake ups the problem.
Some nights, it's 2 hours before I fall back to sleep. Some nights it's quick.
100 mg. trazadone. 150 mg. gave me headaches.
I guess I will continue to take it.