Generic Name: Trazodone for Fibromyalgia (trazodone)
Desyrel (trazodone) "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."
"I have been using trazodone for about 21 years. I take 50mg every night. I have chronic pain from fibromyalgia. If I don’t sleep, that pain is worse, much worse. Trazodone gets me below the pain so I can get to sleep. Does it act like a painkiller? No, but getting sleep does."
"Trazodone has given me a much improved life with fibromyalgia. I have to say Wow, Yay, and Wahoo! My fibromyalgia was diagnosed over 25 years ago (not widely recognized as a legitimate medical condition back then). Also, I had back injuries during government employment. Because of both, I took ibuprofen 600-1200 mg and acetaminophen 1500 mg daily to function normally. Post-bariatric surgery, I couldn't take NSAIDs. For the dual pain control, 15 years ago I was prescribed Norco 3/25 mg daily (after 5 years increased to 3/50 mg) as needed (still fits my pain management needs). Depression increased > Venlafaxine ER 300 mg/day. Anxiety increased > Xanax 0.25 mg x2 daily as needed. Chronic insomnia > OTC sleep aids ineffective (2 hrs - 6 hrs very interrupted). One month ago, my doctor prescribed, at bedtime, Trazodone 50 mg to increase to 200 mg. Now, 100 mg/1 hour before sleep is the dose. Depression gone - the sun's shining. Anxiety - much less. Insomnia - sleep 6-8 hrs, no grogginess. Pain levels - same, but more psychologically manageable."
"I have fibromyalgia and chronic insomnia. I began taking Trazodone for chronic insomnia of about 7 years. I tried every medication out there to get even 3 to 4 hours a night. I started on 50 mg at bedtime, and it did nothing. So, I then took 100 mg a night and would sleep 3-4 hours and then wake up. My doctor added Lunesta 3 mg to take with the Trazodone, and I sleep all night, every night, for the first time in at least 7 years. I had tried Lunesta a few years back, and it did not work for me at all, but taken along with Trazodone, I get a peaceful sleep all night long. I also take Cymbalta and Gabapentin for my fibromyalgia, and my life is pretty good. I still get fibro flares every so often, but nothing like I used to get when first diagnosed 14 years ago."
"Some reviewers are commenting that Trazodone 'does nothing' for their fibromyalgia and only helps them sleep. Yet, insomnia is a HUGE part of the illness! For me, pain is the most crucial factor keeping me from sleeping. However, I find that when I sleep, I have a much better day afterward—usually with less pain. [It's a cycle.] I look forward to my quality of life continuing to improve. I have used a much lower dose of Trazodone in the past, and it worked excellently for sleep. This time, I've had to take 150 mg (plus muscle relaxers sometimes). I need and plan for 10 hours of sleep. Sometimes I wake up feeling great. When I awaken groggy, it wears off after a while and is usually because I didn't go to bed early enough."
"I have been on trazodone for over 7 years. My doctor prescribed this to me to help me get a good night's sleep because my fibromyalgia wouldn't let me sleep through the night. It isn't intended to help with fibro pain, just to help fall asleep and stay asleep. I have had to up the dosage over the years, but I have no major side effects, except dry mouth. I can't possibly sleep without it. I also figured out that if I work out (my fibro is in my shoulders and neck) and exhaust those muscles so that they are too tired to burn, my symptoms are kept at bay."
Desyrel (trazodone) "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."
"I started Trazodone 2 weeks ago and have had major side effects to the point I had to stop it! Severe muscle and joint pain, fibromyalgia (hurting everywhere on the body), severe headaches, serious memory loss, dry eyes and sinus congestion, vivid dreams, dizziness, blurred vision! I stopped it yesterday and now everything has significantly improved, thank God!! I know this drug affects everyone differently, but my husband tried it for his insomnia as well and he had the SAME symptoms. We both feel much better now... hope this was helpful. I was taking 50 mg and tried 100 mg a couple of times... Symptoms were getting worse each day."
Desyrel (trazodone) "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."
"Trazodone has taken away my fibromyalgia almost entirely. I started at 50 mg/night and gradually over the 12 years got up to 150 mg. My one problem with it had been an addictive appetite for sugar, which has now gone away completely by taking Pristiq as my antidepressant! When I cut the dose in half, I got terrible fibromyalgia back. It also greatly helps my sleep."
Desyrel (trazodone) "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."
"I have been newly diagnosed with a moderate fibromyalgia. Not getting enough sleep and waking up with severe pain when trying to sleep. My doctor started me with 50 MG of trazodone taking 1/2 tablet at bedtime. This is the first week and it's working well. My sleep has increased to 6-8 hours as recommended by MD. At the onset of the pain it has subsided quickly. I am a busy healthcare professional , I exercise daily and drink plenty of fluids. It was also recommended that I go to counselling because I have a lot of personal related stress."
"Great for getting a good night's sleep without the hangover feeling the next day. Tried to stop taking it and had terrible withdrawals and didn't sleep for 3 nights. Will not try that again! Doesn't do much for the pain."
"I have had insomnia for 10 years. I feel as though I have tried everything. I was diagnosed 2 years ago with fully body progressive fibromyalgia. Tramodol was the biggest mistake. My husband takes it and said your body has to adapt to it, I was constantly saying it doesn't help. My doctor raised my dose to 100 mg. I had a terrible flare up for 3 weeks. I felt like I was dieing. I decided to stop taking the trazodone because A. it wasnt helping me sleep and B. I felt like since I started taking it my pain was worse everyday. I quit taking it 4 days ago and I am feeling a little better every day. I was to the point I was in so much pain I seriously thought I was going to die from the pain."
"I've been taking trazodone for the past year to help me sleep. I get anxious when I go to bed because I'm afraid I won't sleep well, and I have to because I also have fibromyalgia. I'm taking 150 mg now. If I take 200 mg, I can barely wake up and am hungover all day. I take 50 mg about 30 minutes before bed and the other 100 mg right before. I do this because it sometimes makes me feel weird and nauseous if I take it all at once. It does nothing for my pain. Just helps me sleep and relaxes me at night. It's good for now."
"I started taking Trazodone in combination with Seroquel about a year ago for chronic insomnia. I had become addicted to hypnotic sleep aids and needed to change medicines. A dosage of 200mg in conjunction with 150mg of Seroquel enables me to get uninterrupted sleep. I would like to get off of this medicine eventually, but haven't found anything that works as well."
"I take this when my insomnia gets very bad, because it helps me not wake up every few hours. However, I've found that it makes my fibromyalgia pain much worse the next morning, so I only use it as a last resort."
"I've been on every anti-depressant, preventative migraine drug, and odd and sundry 'experiments' for fibromyaligia in many years. As a long time insomniac, I tried Trazodone. The dose necessary for sleep is too much for me. I feel groggy and drop off to sleep the next day. However, if I take half of a dose with an anti-anxiety medicine, I'll sleep. The truly wonderful discovery is that for the first time, I rarely have the really bad and impossible to exorcise migraines I've had since childhood, now that I'm taking the modest dose of Trazodone! Often, they can be knocked out with a prescription painkiller, and only rarely do I need to resort to the Imitrex 'family' to rid myself of them! My doctor is surprised, but it's surely worth a try!"
"I began taking trazadone 20 years ago for depression and insomnia. It has working very well for all these years. Unfortunately I have myalgias and began taking tramadol for pain this last year. I have had a rare reaction called serotonin syndrome. I can't move without the pain control medicines so I've had to give up my faithful trazadone."
"I had to cut the doses in half. I felt like a maniac and very anxious. I'm taking it a bedtime in combination with Gabapentin, I feel a lot better, but I don't really know, which one is responsible. I think both."
"I've been taking trazodone for the last few years and it does help me sleep. It helps me relax and fall asleep, but there are times that I wake in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep. There are also times where I'm still groggy in the morning."
"Just began taking trazadone for fibromyalgia about 1 week ago. Some nights I sleep better, others I wake up jittery and can't fall back to sleep. Pain has subsided slightly. If others other taking for fibromyalgia, please post opinions."
"I have taken various doses of trazodone for fibromyalgia and insomnia. I can fall asleep but wake up 3 hours later. I take 50-100 mg and fall back to sleep. Finally, a more restful sleep. Ahhh!"
Desyrel (trazodone) "Couldn't live without it. Keeps me somewhat mobile, otherwise, I'd be unable to get around and unable to sleep at night."
"I get much better sleep only since I've been taking trazodone. Good sleep is essential in my overall ability to stay above debilitating pain. I'm very thankful for this medication."
Desyrel, Oleptro, Desyrel Dividose
Desyrel, Oleptro
