Generic Name: Trazodone for Insomnia (trazodone)
Trazodone for Insomnia Reviews
"I'm mostly leaving this review not to tell you that this prescription works for me (which it does). Been on it for years and have had no side effects (50mg to 100mg) but to tell you to take these reviews with a grain of salt. Each person's body reacts differently to medications because our internal makeup is incredibly unique. If you've been prescribed this medication, give it a go for a week or two, and if it doesn't work, go back to your doctor and try something else. Just don't let these reviews scare you out of trying it (or any other prescription for that matter). What is one person's 'poison' is another person's 'savior'."
"My doctor gave Trazodone to me for insomnia. I take 75-100mg at night 30 mins before bed. This medication has given me my life back. 1. I sleep through the night. If I do wake up to go to the bathroom, I’m back to sleep right away. (Before I’d wake up every few hours if I did fall asleep. I’d be consumed with thoughts and worry.) 2. I wake up happy, relaxed and looking forward to the new day. (Before I would dread even waking up.) 3. I now have energy that lasts me until bedtime. 4. My major depression, negative thinking, social anxiety are gone. (I’ve been dealing with these for years now.) 5. My drive is back. I now get small and big tasks done every day. (I had no drive to do anything.) 6. I’m reconnecting with friends and family as well. Again, this medication has given me my life back but in a more pleasant mood doing so. Downside: my eyes are a little blurry for about a half-hour or so upon waking, but I’ll take that over the nonexistent life I was living."
"Took 50 mg trazodone for insomnia. It took about 45 mins to kick in. I've had over 8 hours sleep for 3 nights in a row. I haven't had sleep like this in months and months. I've been trying to function on 3 or 4 hours sleep. Now I'm starting to feel like my old self again. After reading some reviews, I will share what the pharmacist instructed me to do. I have not had any side effects. Take 30 mins before bed, with a snack—more than a couple of crackers but obviously not a heavy meal. Stay upright for those 30 mins. The pharmacist said it will bother my stomach if I don't. No issues whatsoever. Feel rested and not groggy at all the next day."
"Trazodone has one active metabolite (mCPP) which is a well-known anxiety-provoking agent. It also generates headaches for testing potential anti-migraine medications. mCPP leads to breathing trouble, feelings of suffocation, heart palpitations, decreased motor control, confusion, OCD, bipolar behavior, mania and alcohol cravings. mCPP is banned in 12 countries where it's only permitted for scientific research. Trazodone significantly impairs memory, verbal learning, and eyesight. I've taken this medication for 20 years and am now legally blind without a prescription. Trazodone gave me chronic fatigue syndrome, orthostatic intolerance, arrhythmia, and cerebral ischemia. It triggers seizures and heart attack in the elderly which occurred to both my parents. It decreases blood flow to the brain, causes oxidative stress, reduces sodium and glutathione levels, limits oxygen uptake, and depletes mitochondria."
"I have been taking Trazodone for severe insomnia for 10 months. I take 100mg nightly. It has literally saved my life. I notice that many of the reviewers that write negatively about the drug are taking other medications at the same time. This could cause bad interactions. I can never thank my doctor enough for matching me up with a non-addictive sleep aid after suffering from the dreadful affliction of insomnia for so many years."
"Gave a 9 instead of 10 because of the Traz 'hangover' when you begin (headaches, fog, laziness) - coffee and aspirin should help this. I recommend starting at the lowest dose possible and moving up. I take 50mg and it works wonders. Was on Ambien for 7 years but got tired of eating randomly, not remembering things I did, and the short amount of sleep time. With Trazodone, you will have a deep and restful sleep (6-8 hrs). Any side effects should go away within a week. Word of caution... you HAVE to lay down, turn out the lights, and close your eyes within 30-45 minutes of taking this. Otherwise, you risk missing the sleep window and could be up all night. Best sleep aid I've tried."
"Works great for sleep. Tried Ambien, Melatonin, others. With Trazodone I fall asleep about 30-60 minutes after taking and wake in the morning feeling refreshed. No side effects. If need to be awake, no problem. Prescribed by a 'natural' doc who does not like antidepressants but swears by this for sleep issues, which are very common for menopausal women."
"I started trazodone at 150mg for insomnia on April 22. The side effects I experienced were dry mouth, mild headache, dizziness, nervousness, and shakiness. I told my primary doctor about it, so he lowered my dose to 100mg after three weeks. I’ve been on the new dose since May 15, and I still feel the same side effects. I actually feel my anxiety getting worse as I wake up in a panic, and I can feel my heart beating fast. I love that I’m able to sleep, but I hate the side effects. I really don’t want to take it anymore, but I’m scared of stopping it. Anyone else experiencing this? Please help."
"I've taken this medicine for 20 years. I've never had a single problem with the medicine. It's not addictive and helps me sleep 7-8 hours each night without feeling groggy in the morning. I have never had to increase the dose to get the same effect."
"I was prescribed trazodone for insomnia, but I have anxiety and depression as well. I'm very wary of all medications and don't take anything for my other conditions, but after almost a week of no sleep, I finally gave in to taking this. I think it saved me. I'm finally able to fall asleep before 5 AM and stay asleep for more than a couple of hours. Additionally, I feel less anxious and dreadful upon waking up in the morning. I'm only taking 50 mg. The only side effect I've had is a slight headache upon waking up and still a little sleepy/groggy, but that goes away upon really waking."
"I've been on 135 milligrams of trazodone nightly for insomnia for several years, and it was absolutely lifesaving. Before that, I was on Klonopin, Benadryl, Tylenol PM, Ambien, etc. None of which worked well. I had also had a doctor who didn't know what he was doing, prescribing me various antidepressants for insomnia. I finally consulted a psychiatrist who suggested trazodone, in part because it's been around for a while (on the market nearly 4 decades), and its effects are well documented. Over a couple of months, we figured out the best dosage for me. I take it at the same time each night just before bed. It puts me to sleep, and I stay asleep for the night. I usually wake up a little groggy, but that goes away within 10-15 minutes. You can't just try a single dose of it one night and expect it to work. It will take a little time to work out how much you should take to work for you. It's best to work with a good psychiatrist or a doctor who knows what she or he is doing."
"I’ve been on 50 to 150 mg of trazodone for a little more than two years. Honestly, trazodone is a lifesaver for me. After years and years of insomnia related to ADHD, I finally know what getting sleepy and falling asleep is! (Weird to think that’s not normal, I know.) I can wake up and attend to anything I need to while medicated with no ‘drugged up’ feeling or fog. I would give trazodone 15 points if I could."
"I have been on Trazodone for about a year and a half now. I never have had a good night's sleep until I started Trazodone. I started with 50mg and it worked decently, but I only slept for 6 hours. About 6 months ago, I started taking 100mg, and I sleep like a baby for 7-9 hours straight. The intense vivid dreams are actually quite fun. I have never had nightmares on it. When I wake up, I am no more out of it than when I didn't take the medicine. I would highly recommend Trazodone to anyone with sleeping problems."
"I am 75 years old and have been taking trazodone for sleep for about ten years. I take 150 mg. It is a miracle for insomnia. I sleep 8 hours a night straight through. Yes, you do feel groggy in the morning when you first start taking it, but it goes away with time, so don't give up too soon when you start it because of grogginess. I have never heard of taking it with food as one person said. It is non-addictive and I feel so rested that I do not feel the need for naps that I always used to take before trazodone."
"I am almost 62 and been having trouble sleeping for several years. After knee replacement surgery in late March, this became even worse. After taking Xanax, Aleve PM, and many other meds, I was getting only 2 hours sleep. I'd lay awake until 6 am and doze until 8 am. Between no sleep, COVID brain fog, autoimmune disease, I couldn't think straight all day and then still not sleep. On May 5th, my doc prescribed 100mg of trazodone each night to help me sleep and it really worked! I now get an average of 7-9 hours sleep each night which helps keep the fatigue and brain fog down. It's not completely gone but so much better. My PCP told me 1 week ago that I had lost 25 pounds since my visit on 4/1/21. Got on the scale this morning and down another 3.5 this last week. Haven't been as hungry and it's coming off easily. Since I have another 100 pounds to go, I'm embracing the positive effects."
"Stopping Trazodone ASAP and here's why. Worked for me for about 4 or 5 months but when I needed a higher dosage of it (100-150 mg), the REALLY BAD SIDE EFFECTS began. I'm talking the worst hand TREMORS ever, to the point where I have trouble holding a pen and writing. I am writing this on my phone and can barely hold it steady. The mental/cognitive effects are worse, I mean seriously I thought I had a brain tumor or something along those lines!!! Extreme CONFUSION, SEVERE SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS, I'm dizzy pretty much all the time and the lack of coordination is so bad that my driving suffered. The effects were never at night after I took it, always the next day. If you feel like you're losing it, you aren't. Just stop taking Trazodone."
"Prior to Covid-19, I was taking 10mg of melatonin, and it wasn’t working for post-menopause sleep issues. The weekend that 'Lockdown' began, I didn’t sleep for 3 days straight and had rapid weight loss. My PCP put me on trazodone, and it was a miracle for me. Instructions said 1-2 for insomnia, so I have just been taking 1 at bedtime. I go to bed at 9 pm and get up every morning at 4 am wide awake. 40 days later, it’s not working as well, so I may increase to 1.5 and see if that helps. I’m 5’3” and 123 pounds for reference. I’ve only had 3 morning headaches, which Advil took care of, but I forgot to drink water those days prior. I could not have made it this far through the Covid-19 lockdown without it."
"I have taken trazodone for two weeks. I have emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) but was put on it for insomnia. Yes, I'm sleeping much better on 50mg but effects are wearing off. I have weird dreams about work, but at least I'm sleeping. The main effect has been on my anxiety. I used to worry about everything, but now I'm so calm and bubbly like I used to be. It's helped more for mood and anxiety, which is not what it was prescribed for, but I'll take it. The issue though is constipation."
"I have been taking this for about 6 months. I have anxiety and depression, and can't fall asleep because my mind is constantly going like a video recorder. I love it. No side effects, feel good waking up, sleep like a baby all night long. Look forward to going to bed at night knowing I will sleep through the night."
"I have been taking trazodone for about a year, and it has really helped with my chronic insomnia, but it definitely comes at a price. I feel very tired the next day that doesn't really go away unless I'm drinking caffeine. The only other side effect I have had is mild headaches, but that's it. I was taking 50 mg, but now I take anywhere between 75-100 mg due to building up a tolerance. I would only recommend this drug to someone (like myself) who has tried every other type of sleep aid and it did nothing for them and also suffers from things like anxiety and depression."
"I have had major insomnia for years now, and nothing ever got me to sleep. Last year, I was admitted to the hospital and they put me on Trazodone, and it works wonders for me. I can take it at 9 pm and not fall asleep until 11 pm, but that's because I keep myself busy, and it still puts me to sleep. However, when I don't take it, I don't sleep, so I definitely recommend it."
"I have been taking 50mg of trazodone at bedtime for 19 years. More than 50mg does not help me sleep any better, and I am groggy in the morning. 50mg is perfect for me as it hits fast and no morning time sedation. It is not a controlled drug, does not have any drug abuse potential, and is not addicting. My first doctor would not prescribe it to me for fear of priapism. After 19 years—still no priapism!"
"I have a lot of health problems (Physical, not mental). Trying to sleep some nights is an absolute nightmare. I've taken Ambien, would sleep an hour or two and then wake. I've done the other stronger Benzodiazepines (Temazepam). If you take those more than 3 or 4 nights in a row, your body is addicted, and you need them to sleep, and your body won't let you take a nap because it wants another pill. After I weaned myself off those, I had a friend who told me about Trazodone. I asked my doctor, and he said sure. This is the best sleep I have ever had, and I never wake up groggy. IT IS THE BEST!"
"I had insomnia for many years and had taken over-the-counter antihistamine sleep aids, but they always gave me a weird sleep hangover. Melatonin never really worked. I hate narcotic-based sleep aids because they make you feel intoxicated, and they seem to interfere with my REM (restful) sleep. I went to a psychiatrist, and she prescribed trazodone 50mg, and this has worked like a charm for the last three years. I can get to sleep as soon as I take one and sleep straight through the night, but when I wake up, I don’t feel like a zombie. I don’t have to take it every night, but if I’m having trouble sleeping, it never fails to work. My doctor said it was a medication developed for depression. She said it didn’t work at all for depression, but it was discovered to be a very good sleep medication with the least risk for side effects compared to even over-the-counter sleep medications. With my insurance, it costs almost nothing, but it apparently isn’t expensive even without insurance."
"Very good medicine. Helps with sleep. Also, I feel more happy and relaxed the following day. I am very sensitive to medicine. I take 100 mg and literally break off a tiny piece (probably not even 25 mg). That does the trick! Highly recommend to anyone for sleep/anxiety or depression."
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