Trazodone

by **MetazoaMan** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 11:36 pm

I've been prescribed Trazodone today and I was wondering if anybody here has taken it before. I'm also open to knowledge from those familiar with the drug. I would appreciate any feedback. I'm honestly a little apprehensive about taking it because I've read that it is both highly addictive, and not recommended for people with Bipolar Disorder.

I'm on it. (Supposedly... I don't take it anymore...) It's the first time I've heard that it's addictive and not recommended for people who are bipolar. Guess it wasn't too addictive for me since I'm not taking it when I'm supposed to be... lol...

My understanding is it's just your basic sleep aid prescription. Where did you hear about it being addictive and not for the bipolar DX?

by **bamaalice** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 1:09 am

MetazoaMan,

I have been on Trazodone 100mg at bedtime for sleep and have for a little over a year. I've been treated for depression and recently diagnosed with BP II and my pdoc has kept me on it. I take it for sleep and have been advised by my pdoc that it is not physically addictive, but that you can come to rely upon it to get to sleep. It helps me get to sleep, but does not keep me asleep so I have no groggy feelings in the morning. I usually wake up about four to five hours after I've taken it but am able to quickly get back to sleep. He has told me the importance of a good nights sleep in treating depression and BP II, so I'm still comfortable taking it. Is yours prescribed for sleep? If so, I hope it works as good for you as it does for me.

Take good care,
Alice

by **MetazoaMan** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 1:57 am

Exiled. wrote:I'm on it. (Supposedly... I don't take it anymore...) It's the first time I've heard that it's addictive and not recommended for people who are bipolar. Guess it wasn't too addictive for me since I'm not taking it when I'm supposed to be... lol...

My understanding is it's just your basic sleep aid prescription. Where did you hear about it being addictive and not for the bipolar DX?

I stand corrected on the addiction aspect. But it still comes with a pretty ominous warning though. Plus, the potential for an antidepressant to trigger a manic episode.

A small number of children, teenagers, and young adults (up to 24 years of age) who took antidepressants ('mood elevators') such as trazodone during clinical studies became suicidal (thinking about harming or killing oneself or planning or trying to do so). Children, teenagers, and young adults who take antidepressants to treat depression or other mental illnesses may be more likely to become suicidal than children, teenagers, and young adults who do not take antidepressants to treat these conditions. However, experts are not sure about how great this risk is and how much it should be considered in deciding whether a child or teenager should take an antidepressant. Children younger than 18 years of age should not normally take trazodone, but in some cases, a doctor may decide that trazodone is the best medication to treat a child's condition.

You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways when you take trazodone or other antidepressants even if you are an adult over age 24. You may become suicidal, especially at the beginning of your treatment and any time that your dose is increased or decreased. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: new or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; aggressive behavior; irritability; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; and frenzied abnormal excitement. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor when you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000530/

MetazoaMan,

I have been on Trazodone 100mg at bedtime for sleep and have for a little over a year. I've been treated for depression and recently diagnosed with BP II and my pdoc has kept me on it. I take it for sleep and have been advised by my pdoc that it is not physically addictive, but that you can come to rely upon it to get to sleep. It helps me get to sleep, but does not keep me asleep so I have no groggy feelings in the morning. I usually wake up about four to five hours after I've taken it but am able to quickly get back to sleep. He has told me the importance of a good nights sleep in treating depression and BP II, so I'm still comfortable taking it. Is yours prescribed for sleep? If so, I hope it works as good for you as it does for me.

Take good care,
Alice

It's prescribed for sleep, but my psychiatrist said it also aids in treating depression. Has it made any impact on your depression symptoms?

by **bamaalice** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 2:42 am

Most of my time on Trazodone was also a time when I was on Zoloft and Wellbutrin SR as well, so the addition of Trazodone for sleep had no effect on my depression that I could tell, except for sleeping better, so that did help. My pdoc changed my Wellbutrin from 200mg SR to 150mg XL, keeping my other meds the same, and that was when, 2 weeks later, I experienced my first documented manic and psychotic episodes. The Wellbutrin was discontinued and Trileptal was added as a mood stabilizer. My point being, the Trazodone seems to just still help me sleep, nothing more, nothing less.

I think you'll find similar ominous warnings accompanying most, if not all, antidepressants. Also, my understanding is that a higher dose of Trazodone is typically used for antidepressant effects and that it is rarely used for that purpose anymore. It is a safe and effective sleep aid, so my pdoc and therapist say.

Sorry for going on so long, but I hope this helps.

Alice

by **Exiled.** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:58 am

MetazoaMan wrote:
Exiled. wrote:I'm on it. (Supposedly... I don't take it anymore...) It's the first time I've heard that it's addictive and not recommended for people who are bipolar. Guess it wasn't too addictive for me since I'm not taking it when I'm supposed to be... lol...

My understanding is it's just your basic sleep aid prescription. Where did you hear about it being addictive and not for the bipolar DX?

I stand corrected on the addiction aspect. But it still comes with a pretty ominous warning though. Plus, the potential for an antidepressant to trigger a manic episode.

A small number of children, teenagers, and young adults (up to 24 years of age) who took antidepressants ('mood elevators') such as trazodone during clinical studies became suicidal (thinking about harming or killing oneself or planning or trying to do so). Children, teenagers, and young adults who take antidepressants to treat depression or other mental illnesses may be more likely to become suicidal than children, teenagers, and young adults who do not take antidepressants to treat these conditions. However, experts are not sure about how great this risk is and how much it should be considered in deciding whether a child or teenager should take an antidepressant. Children younger than 18 years of age should not normally take trazodone, but in some cases, a doctor may decide that trazodone is the best medication to treat a child's condition.

You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways when you take trazodone or other antidepressants even if you are an adult over age 24. You may become suicidal, especially at the beginning of your treatment and any time that your dose is increased or decreased. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: new or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; aggressive behavior; irritability; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; and frenzied abnormal excitement. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor when you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000530/

I apologize if I seemed a little snippy. I've been somewhat hypo for a long while now. What I said about the addiction was meant to be funny. I wasn't aware it was considered an antidepressant. It was sold to me as just a sleep aid. (Although they did say it had some qualities of uplifting your mood.) I believe in theory if you're on a mood stabillizer taking an antidepressant is fine and is a pretty common med mixture.

Take care.

by **Nupy** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 10:37 pm

Hmm... I know I was on it at some point to help with sleep. What I do remember from it was that it would ALMOST put me to sleep, but could never quite get the job done. It was almost impossible to fall asleep on the stuff.

I'm sticking to melatonin when I absolutely need it. The nurse who gives me my injections said one should take it every night for 2 weeks at a time. I have yet to research this approach (I would just take it whenever), so don't take my word for it. Maybe ask your doctor about melatonin before starting trazodone? I know it has helped me in the past and helped me avoid the groggy feeling the next morning.

Whatever you decide, I hope it works for you!

Nupy

by **crazyguy** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 4:59 am

I'm not sure if I have bipolar, but I tried Trazodone recently when I was on Celexa (citalopram). That was probably the worst week of my life. I will never ever touch that stuff again.

I've been having some mood problems lately and have been to my doctor probably half a dozen times. I was originally prescribed Celexa for depression. I didn't feel as though it did a lot, good or bad, but I continued to take it. When my original prescription ran out, my doctor renewed my prescription for Celexa. At that time, I also mentioned that I was still having sleeping problems, so my doctor prescribed Trazodone. I was told to take 1/2 to 1 tablet as needed for sleep.

I didn't really like the idea of taking a "sleeping pill" so I only took it a couple of times at first and never two nights in a row. I did stay asleep when I took it, but I wouldn't say I slept well. I also felt hung over every morning after I took it. A couple weeks ago I was feeling depressed and having sleeping problems, so I decided to try the Trazodone again. I took 1/2 tablet three nights in a row. In addition to the hang over, I felt like it made my depression a hundred times worse. I couldn't stop worrying and crying and I was afraid to leave my bedroom for fear of hurting myself. I have never felt that bad before.

by **MetazoaMan** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 7:19 pm

@Exiled Nah, you didn't sound snippy. I thought it was funny - I like snark. I shouldn't have made a claim so quickly anyway. Thanks for replying.

@Alice Thanks for sharing your experience. You're right though, I've seen similar warnings on other medications, but they never fail to get me paranoid. Lol.

@Nupy Thanks for sharing your experience. I've been on Melatonin before and it was initially helpful, but before I knew it I was taking like ten of them to sleep. Of course that was during third shift, and I live on a street where all I hear throughout the day is traffic, horns, trucks, sirens, dogs, and people being loud.

I'm not sure if I have bipolar, but I tried Trazodone recently when I was on Celexa (citalopram). That was probably the worst week of my life. I will never ever touch that stuff again.

I've been having some mood problems lately and have been to my doctor probably half a dozen times. I was originally prescribed Celexa for depression. I didn't feel as though it did a lot, good or bad, but I continued to take it. When my original prescription ran out, my doctor renewed my prescription for Celexa. At that time, I also mentioned that I was still having sleeping problems, so my doctor prescribed Trazodone. I was told to take 1/2 to 1 tablet as needed for sleep.

I didn't really like the idea of taking a "sleeping pill" so I only took it a couple of times at first and never two nights in a row. I did stay asleep when I took it, but I wouldn't say I slept well. I also felt hung over every morning after I took it. A couple weeks ago I was feeling depressed and having sleeping problems, so I decided to try the Trazodone again. I took 1/2 tablet three nights in a row. In addition to the hang over, I felt like it made my depression a hundred times worse. I couldn't stop worrying and crying and I was afraid to leave my bedroom for fear of hurting myself. I have never felt that bad before.

That sounds really rough, I'm sorry you went through that. I remember taking Paxil and Celexa years ago and I basically became a sociopath. I was only in fourth grade but I was starting fires, fighting kids, and chasing others with scissors. I've yet to live down my reputation as a "psychopath" since then.

I was also hungover by Seroquel and that's why I switched medications. I was so tired and groggy that I was actually scared to drive to work sometimes, so I would have to get a ride most days. I also used to get sleep paralysis really bad - it taught me a lot about the dreaming process, but it can be absolutely scary and frustrating. The first time it ever happened was the worst - I saw green and red sparks, and heard this buzzing - I thought I was having a seizure or something.

by **srapo123** » Thu Dec 01, 2016 4:31 am

Just got prescribed Trazodone today to help me sleep. I'm currently experiencing a manic episode. I have been able to fall asleep, but I wake up at 3am and that's it. I'm up. I didn't realize this was an anti depressant. If I knew that I would've asked for something else. Anti depressants have caused me to enter full blown mania, so why would someone who knows I am bipolar and knows my history prescribe me Trazodone??? I'm a little worried now...

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