Generic Name: Desyrel (trazodone)
Desyrel Reviews
For Sedation "Unless I take this at bedtime, I have difficulty falling asleep as well as staying asleep. I am on the 50mg tabs, but usually only need to take half of the pill. Works VERY quickly, so it needs to be taken when in bed, and ready to sleep! It is just as effective now as it was many, many years ago when first prescribed, no need to adjust the dosage. It allows me to sleep later in the morning, and I no longer wake up every 2 hours. I take several other antidepressants during the day, but suffer from chronic pain. A good night's sleep makes a huge difference in my comfort level with no side effects either. I wake up feeling refreshed, ready to take on the day! I highly suggest you try this medication if the doctor suggests it."
For Depression "I have taken about 10 different antidepressants and always had to stop because of the severity of side effects. I have been on Trazodone for over 6 years and love it. It is the only medicine I have tried that doesn't give me horrible side effects. I had to keep upping the dosage in the beginning but soon found a dose that worked. The greatest benefit is that it helps me sleep. I have severe insomnia and my depression gets out of control after too many days of not sleeping and trazodone combined with Ambien is helpful. I have no other side effects from it. The difference in depressive symptoms is not dramatic but is helpful. I recommend it for people who have a rough time with side effects from other medicines and for those who can't fall asleep."
For Sedation "I took it for insomnia. I'll give it a two because it definitely knocked me out. I tried it for about a week or so, and the side effects didn't go away. I was mindless - a zombie. I was interested in absolutely nothing. A friend would point out hot chicks walking by, and the most I could give was a 'meh'. I did my school work, ate food, and sat around with friends - just sat there as everyone else had fun."
For Fibromyalgia "I have had insomnia related to my fibromyalgia for some time. When my doctor suggested I try trazodone, I was skeptical. Now I never want to be without it. It has done wonders for my sleep and the quality of my sleep. No grogginess or trouble waking up. I would recommend it for those who have trouble both getting to sleep and staying asleep."
For Sedation "I really like trazodone. It helps me sleep and makes me feel more like getting up the next day instead of wanting to stay in bed. There have been a few times, however, that I took 100 mg instead of 50, and it made me so faint/lightheaded that I had to lay down on the floor where I was at. I couldn't make it to the bed. 100 mg doesn't always do that, but there have been 3 or 4 times that it did."
For Sedation "I take a 50 mg Desyrel at night, about 10 min before I'm ready to go to sleep. I have been on it for 5 years, with no side effects. I used to not be able to stay asleep. Now, I sleep like a baby. I also take Zoloft in conjunction with Trazodone."
For Depression "I've taken trazodone for about 6 years after a brain injury caused severe depression and anxiety. I take 200mg (down from 300 mg) at night, and it really helps me sleep. I've had no unpleasant side effects."
For Sedation "I have been on trazodone for about five years, ever since I was going through a nasty downward spiral due to my personal situation at the time and couldn't sleep for three days/nights in a row. The doctor who prescribed it for me was an 'old-time' doc who wasn't into unnecessary medication (or any, most of the time) but saw there was a need that day with me. The fact that it was also an antidepressant was also a plus (but ultimately it wasn't effective enough on its own for that purpose). Taking trazodone at night (50mg) plus 1/2 a typical Ambien pill helps me sleep a good five or six hours straight--beats the way I used to sleep and thought was normal for most of my life; waking up every two or three hours."
For Sedation "I had been taking 30 mg of temazepam but after getting out of the hospital recently, I have not been able to sleep. My psychiatrist added trazodone 100 mg tablets. This is a moderate dose and has helped tremendously. The only downside to the use of trazodone as treatment for insomnia is the early morning hangover, especially during the first few days of therapy. It's not addictive. You WILL go to sleep, just takes a little time."
For Sedation "I was prescribed Trazadone so I could get to sleep-many nights of awake all night with no relief! I am a very healthy and active 76 year old woman. This drug is the worst excuse for "medicine" I have ever tried. I vomited all night, had the trots and the stabbing pains in my back, chest and acid burning stomach was the worst pain, including childbirth I had ever had. I really thought I was going to die. I took one (50mg) pill. I fell on the floor and was literally paralyzed. If I could have reach a phone I would have called 911. Don't take this trash-EVER."
For Fibromyalgia "This medication does not do anything for my fibromyalgia pain, it does lessen anxiety and treats insomnia. I was given six different sleep meds, none of them worked. My sleep study showed 15 minutes as the longest period of sleep that night. I went 6 days with only 2 hours on night 3. I thought I was going crazy. I can't explain how it feels to go that long without sleep. This medication was the one that finally knocked me out and kept me out. The problem is I sleep too long when I take it. I have fibromyalgia and multiple disc issues and bursitis in my hips. If I do not turn over frequently, my back and hip pain increases radically. I slept like I was in a coma for 8 hours. I only take it when sleep is more important than pain relief."
For Sedation "I actually was taking this through high school because of depression and severe insomnia, and it worked wonders. As I got older, though, I stopped taking it, and recently the sleep problems have started back up again. My doctor gave me 100 mg tabs of trazodone (the generic), and I had really bad headaches when I woke up in the mornings. I think it was because when I was in high school, I was taking between 25-50 mg. Bought a pill splitter, and I split the 100 mg tablets into quarters and take 1-2 of them to equal the approximate dose of 25-50 mg I was taking. So far, so good, and I haven't had the headaches so far... been doing this for a couple of days so far."
For Fibromyalgia "I have taken this medicine for 15 years. My pain is up and down depending on life's circumstances. It helps me fall asleep, but the quality of my sleep is still poor. I have tried several times to withdraw from it or to change medications. I have never been able to because I end up not sleeping at all."
For Fibromyalgia "This medicine helped me sleep. I felt tired most of the morning hours. I've tried varying doses. Now I'm trying to get off of it. I'm taking 5 HTP, which seems to help me. But it didn't do anything for my fibromyalgia."
For Insomnia "I reluctantly started taking this for insomnia. Because I put up a fuss about it, my MD started me on 25 mg at bedtime (half of a 50 mg tablet). So far, so good. I go to sleep, I stay asleep. What a gift."
For Insomnia "It worked very well in making me stay asleep, but it gave me such a stuffy nose. I had trouble falling asleep, but when I finally did fall asleep, it was great. Needless to say, I couldn't handle the stuffy nose, so I stopped taking them."
For Sedation "I am taking 200 mg a night for sleep for a little over a year. No problems, except when I miss a nightly dose, I feel hung over the next day. Recently, I have been waking with a headache. I am going to cut my dosage down by 25 mg and see if that will help. My worry is to have an uncomfortable withdrawal period."
For Depression "Was given Trazodone to help fall asleep. While it did do that a few times. But it more or less simply made me lazy. Each day I had zip motivation to do anything but sit around. I wasn't sleepy just seemed to cause me not to want to do anything. Didn't even want to engage in conversation with anyone although I did not feel moody. While I do take Klonopin in the AM for anxiety, it doesn't help with my sleep. And also Klonopin didn't cause the extreme groggy, malaise or drugged feeling. But this medication did 'sedate' somewhat so it may be helpful in certain situations. I am looking for a more long-term everyday kind of med."
For Insomnia "I was taking regular Trazodone on and off for a couple of years, it stopped working, so my doctor switched me to Desyrel. It's a good pill for the fact that it does make you tired, but I'd make sure you're going to get 8 or more hours of sleep before you take it. I was prescribed 100 mg pills, and I only took half of a pill whenever I took it, and I had the hardest time waking up the next day. Also, with the reg Trazodone and with Desyrel, it took a long time for it to kick in for me (2 hours), but that might be because I have a high tolerance to pills. If you're new to this medicine, take it on the weekend or whenever you can sleep in, so you can see how it works."
For Insomnia "I have taken trazadone for the last ten years for insomnia and depression associated with a 100% disabled PTSD diagnosis. I have found no reason to change my prescription other than to lower the dosage from 300mg to 150mg which I find adequate, to accomplish its intended use."
For Anxiety "I have anxiety disorder but I take it to sleep. It works very well to get a good night's sleep. One 50 mg pill at bedtime."
For Anxiety "Definitely puts you to sleep. Lay down, then take it."
For Depression "Trazodone felt good at night, and I slept well, but I would be so nauseous the next day that all I could eat was crackers and drink 7-Up, and I got the poops."
For Sedation "50 mg Desyrel. Took it to help sleep. Worked very quickly, but gave me a stuffy nose. Also made me have weird dreams."
For Fibromyalgia "Couldn't live without it. Keeps me somewhat mobile, otherwise, I'd be unable to get around and unable to sleep at night."
More about Desyrel (trazodone)
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- Drug class: phenylpiperazine antidepressants
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Other brands
Oleptro, Desyrel Dividose
Professional resources
- Desyrel prescribing information
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Other brands
Oleptro
Related treatment guides
- Depression
- Fibromyalgia
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Sedation
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
