Posted by spoc on May 7, 2004, at 8:11:58
In reply to How sedating is Trazadone, posted by 1980Monroe on May 6, 2004, at 23:31:11
> I've heard the first time you take it, it produces a sedative effect, is this true?
>
> Can you have a dosage where you only take it at night?
>
> Is it the most sedating AD outthere? Please just give me some general info on how it works. THanks----
Hi, I am guessing that you are taking it (or considering taking it) as an AD, *not* a sleep aid? And want to *avoid* any drowsiness properties? In that case, while drowsiness is very common and also not just an initial effect of this drug, it's important to remember that everything works differently for everyone and not get discouraged until you try it yourself. Although (especially with the advent of newer types of ADs) it may not be all that popular anymore, there are indeed some who have come to it for various reasons and found it to be the most effective for them.I think that most who take therapeutic doses of trazodone as an AD do take most of it at night, to help minimize this s/e. And if you look into it, I think from what I've read myself, you may see that the incidence of other 'strange' s/e is in reality minute.
Btw, I take traz occasionally *for* the purpose of sleep, at 25 to 50 mgs, but have a bad habit of waiting too late to decide that I need it, which will exacerbate any sleepiness the next day. I am also kind of a light weight and can't take it as a sleep aid for many days in a row (or, you could say that after a few days I get a "bonus" night of sleep without it). But a lot of that may be due to how late I wait to take it when I do.
But I do like it; and think I would like it even more if I were also taking something else by day, perhaps one of the many psy drugs that tend to make sleep difficult. Then it would be offset, and vice versa. Anyway, in the event that sleep is your objective, traz is a very common and popular thing to be tried early on, although of course it won't fill the bill for everyone. It's also very cheap, no harm done to try.
But, back to usage as an AD -- I don't have any chemical expertise, but I wanted to mention another thing that maybe you could look into. I don't know the "specs" on this myself. I believe there is a drug called something like nefazodone, which is pretty much traz with a lot of the sleepiness properties "removed..." I don't know whether it is a "favored" medication... Or maybe you could talk to your doc about combining traz with something else? Good luck!
poster:spoc
thread:344210
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040505/msgs/344324.html