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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ignatz on September 2, 2001, at 8:15:14
I've taken Trazadone 25 mg for a couple of years to help with sleep, but lately I've been having trouble getting to sleep and then waking up a lot. When I kick it up to 50, I go out like a light but am groggy for much of the next day. I'm wondering if others who use it as a sleep aid have noticed that its effectiveness has worn off somewhat. (I also take 300 mg Effexor.)
Posted by susan C on September 2, 2001, at 11:30:36
In reply to Trazodone tolerance?, posted by Ignatz on September 2, 2001, at 8:15:14
Another mouse! maybe it is our biological systems. I took trazadone first for sleep, it helped for years, then finally prozac...both stopped working, eventually.
Mighty Mouse (susan c.)
> I've taken Trazadone 25 mg for a couple of years to help with sleep, but lately I've been having trouble getting to sleep and then waking up a lot. When I kick it up to 50, I go out like a light but am groggy for much of the next day. I'm wondering if others who use it as a sleep aid have noticed that its effectiveness has worn off somewhat. (I also take 300 mg Effexor.)
Posted by SalArmy4me on September 2, 2001, at 15:14:07
In reply to Trazodone tolerance?, posted by Ignatz on September 2, 2001, at 8:15:14
I am the ultimate Trazodone veteran, having taken 600 mg qHS for a couple of months for severe depression and insomnia. I always maintain that trazodone is very difficult to develop a tolerance for, thus perfect for insomnia. But if your problems with drowsiness persist after a 2-week trial of 50 mg, I would suggest you switch to Nefazodone.
Posted by Ignatz on September 2, 2001, at 18:24:09
In reply to Re: Trazodone tolerance? » Ignatz, posted by SalArmy4me on September 2, 2001, at 15:14:07
Holy katz, Sal- how did you take 600 mg of Traz and stay sentient?? Were you ever awake?
Posted by Krazy Kat on September 2, 2001, at 19:04:55
In reply to Re: Trazodone tolerance? » Ignatz, posted by SalArmy4me on September 2, 2001, at 15:14:07
Posted by SalArmy4me on September 2, 2001, at 21:12:08
In reply to Re: Trazodone tolerance?, posted by Ignatz on September 2, 2001, at 18:24:09
That's a good question. I have always been very resistant to drugs' effects...but I took that much of Traz every night and woke up feeling refreshed every day. It was a gift from God of sorts...I suppose if I had been forced to take Traz during the daytime I wouldn't have done so well side-effects-wise.
> Holy katz, Sal- how did you take 600 mg of Traz and stay sentient?? Were you ever awake?
Posted by Hunter77 on September 2, 2001, at 21:59:21
In reply to Trazodone tolerance?, posted by Ignatz on September 2, 2001, at 8:15:14
I took Trazadone at night for about 5 years. Took 1/2 tablet
for the first 4, upped to 1 for about a year, then went to 2 and
finally 3 in the last couple of months before my doctor took
me off of it. I now take Klonopin (.5 - 1 mg) at night along with
Effexor 225 mg.
Posted by Tony P on September 2, 2001, at 22:02:02
In reply to Re: Trazodone tolerance? » Ignatz, posted by SalArmy4me on September 2, 2001, at 15:14:07
Nefazodone (Serzone) is worth a try, although they're closely related, so there might be some cross-tolerance. I never took trazodone, but I have heard Serzone is milder in its sedative effect. On average doses, I just felt like I was normally sleepy and ready for bed - but then I fell asleep without any trouble and stayed asleep (which had been biggest problem for me).
However, like your experience, Serzone has also stopped working as well as it used to for me. After almost 7 years continuous on it, that may not be too surprising! Other meds I was taking recently may also have been a factor in disrupting my sleep beyond where Serzone could help.
Bottom line is, I think our bodies accustom themselves and compensate for almost anything sooner or later. I am very thankful for the years of good sleep - and happy joyous and free waking hours - that Serzone did give me before it, or I, pooped out.
Don't know if you're looking for alternative suggestions, but I am currently having some success for my mixed-type insomnia with low doses of clonazepam (.5-1 mg) and zopiclone / Imovane (sp?) 7.5. The clonazepam is slow acting and persistent, while the zopiclone acts very fast but the hypnotic effect only lasts about 4 hours. Zopiclone in particular is said to have very little tendency to produce tolerance, at least over medium-term use.
Tony P
> I am the ultimate Trazodone veteran, having taken 600 mg qHS for a couple of months for severe depression and insomnia. I always maintain that trazodone is very difficult to develop a tolerance for, thus perfect for insomnia. But if your problems with drowsiness persist after a 2-week trial of 50 mg, I would suggest you switch to Nefazodone.
Posted by susan C on September 3, 2001, at 10:17:22
In reply to Re: Trazodone tolerance?, posted by susan C on September 2, 2001, at 11:30:36
I was at 600 mg at bedtime for years.
> Another mouse! maybe it is our biological systems. I took trazadone first for sleep, it helped for years, then finally prozac...both stopped working, eventually.
>
> Mighty Mouse (susan c.)
>
> > I've taken Trazadone 25 mg for a couple of years to help with sleep, but lately I've been having trouble getting to sleep and then waking up a lot. When I kick it up to 50, I go out like a light but am groggy for much of the next day. I'm wondering if others who use it as a sleep aid have noticed that its effectiveness has worn off somewhat. (I also take 300 mg Effexor.)
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