Thank goodness for this board. I've been taking trazadone for 13 years for insomnia and it worked like a charm. My usual dose has been 25 MG. I also take 10 MG prozac. about two weeks ago, trazadone simply stopped working and started to create some kind of nervous reaction. I had noticed that I wasn't sleeping as well as usual in the months preceeding this reaction, but chalked it up to current world events. Anyway, following this extreme reaction, my psychiatrist told me to stop cold turkey. I quit 5 nights ago and I've been going through hell. complete insomnia, hallucinations on the second night, some cravings (which seem to have subsided) and now just general anxiety and insomnia. I expected the insomnia - but not this other mind altering stuff. I refuse to take it again, even if it did alleviate these symptoms, because I want this episode behind me. I fully expect that it will take more than a few nights to undo 13 years of trazodone, but can can someone please verify for me that they have gone through this and that their brain reverted to some kind of normal state? I'm terrified that my brain was ruined by this drug.
I am taking 150mg of trazadone. Because it wasn't really making me feel drowsy i didn't take it every night.... no real upsets from doing that. I also have immovane 7.5 mg, effexor 300 mg, and wellbutrin, 300mg, and clonazepam 1.0 mg at night too. Effexor has a deadly withdrawal affect to the point of vomiting. I was, at one time, on seroquel 100mg, tryptophan 1000, and epival 700mg. I gained almost 30 pounds from my normal weight of 120 give or take. I have managed to lose 20 pounds, but fighting the last 10. And as most have said they can't figure out which one causes weight gain. Where do I begin? to figure out which one is doing this.
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I'm checking back in from my post, above. FYI, for those who want or need to stop using Trazodone, I'm in my 3rd week. The extreme anxiety and near hysteria have diminished, but insomnia is still a signficant issue. On a good night, I can get about 2-4 hours of sleep, which is much better than the first week when I could only get about 45 minutes of sleep. It's been an odd journey - I can almost feel my brain struggling to adjust while I lay awake in bed - definitely a strange feeling, but not completely horrible. I also know from previous withdrawals that these sensations are probably necessary; any effort to cover them up with another drug will likely slow my progress.
However, unless conditions forced you to, as they did me, I would definitely suggest tapering off this drug.
However, unless conditions forced you to, as they did me, I would definitely suggest tapering off this drug.
I was put on trazadone about 15 months ago have tried to get off of 3 or 4 times i tapered down to 12.5 milligrams basically a little crumb! and still had the worst withdrawal symptoms ive ever experienced talk to the doctor he said there's no withdrawal from trazadone and that is BS well i finally made it a week without trazadone the real bad anxiety attacks went away after about 4 days but the first 4 days are hell i couldn't even be around people i felt so crazy so ive done 7 nights now and haven't really slept at all and when i do sleep its like day dreams where im still awake im hoping this goes away my mind trys to tell me to take the drug but if i do that i know i have to start the process over again Im pretty sure i will never take any kind of prescription again cause this is friken ridiculous glad for these posts or i wouldn't make it thru this and think im crazy haha hopefully tonight i sleep and all the people trying to get off it just keep on trying don't take it it gets better
My deepest thanks to everyone here for helping me gain some perspective! I've been free from Traz for about 3 weeks now, but it's been a tough go. I think I tried to go off too fast because I got so excited when I started to feel like I didn't need it anymore for my anxiety. I had been on it for 5 years starting slightly before I had a nervous breakdown. I'm sure that drug is a big part of what kept me from committing suicide, but life is better now, and I'm SO ready to be myself again.
Some natural things I am finding that are helping with my symptoms of withdrawal are my daily 1 oz of dark chocolate (good for cholesterol and other health benefits as well), love making with my husband, crochet (which helps keep my jittery hands busy), repetitive pattern-matching computer games, and exercise, all of which help boost serotonin levels without addictive side-effects. My cravings for these things are way up, but I'm keeping things in balance mostly.
The one thing I haven't nailed down is the sleep. I can get to sleep easily with Excedrin PM, but I stay asleep waaaay too long and have trouble clearing my head for hours after getting out of bed. I would like to find a natural alternative for sleep that is non-addictive and can be taken only as needed. If anyone knows of such a thing, I would love to hear your advice. :-)
Good luck to everyone else who's trying to kick this beast!
Some natural things I am finding that are helping with my symptoms of withdrawal are my daily 1 oz of dark chocolate (good for cholesterol and other health benefits as well), love making with my husband, crochet (which helps keep my jittery hands busy), repetitive pattern-matching computer games, and exercise, all of which help boost serotonin levels without addictive side-effects. My cravings for these things are way up, but I'm keeping things in balance mostly.
The one thing I haven't nailed down is the sleep. I can get to sleep easily with Excedrin PM, but I stay asleep waaaay too long and have trouble clearing my head for hours after getting out of bed. I would like to find a natural alternative for sleep that is non-addictive and can be taken only as needed. If anyone knows of such a thing, I would love to hear your advice. :-)
Good luck to everyone else who's trying to kick this beast!
Well, cudos to you for the 1 gram of dark chocolate, LOVE MAKING, and exercise etc. I didn't really that I have or had withdrawal symptoms from stopping trazodone. but that said I am extremely miserable! I too have taken sleep eze.... and I've also taken it with trazodone 150mg.... I have found that the combination of these 2 drugs can cause insomnia, and extreme agitation. Pretty much listen to my heart beat all night... with no sleep. and, I did find myself in my closet one night too!!! That's when my doctor stopped prescribing it. I now take immovane and clonazepam at night.
I simply have zero energy level. I just can't motivate myself to do anything. I am off effexor now and am taking wellbutrin and cymbalta... but I hear it may be a weight gainer. the one thing I didn't fight in my life was my weight..... and now I am struggling there too.
how to i become more energetic?
I simply have zero energy level. I just can't motivate myself to do anything. I am off effexor now and am taking wellbutrin and cymbalta... but I hear it may be a weight gainer. the one thing I didn't fight in my life was my weight..... and now I am struggling there too.
how to i become more energetic?
been addicted to trazadone for 13 years. you won't know yourself once you break free ! energy ! can think straight again ! do it very slowly though, 5mg every month worked for me.
Response to J Gilliver: I've been on trazodone 200mg for insomnia for 2 years. I switched to seroquel 200-300 mg 4 weeks ago because the traz was no longer working. I've gained 15 lbs and I've never had a problem with weight gain before. In fact I'm usually too thin - I'm sure it's the seroquel, because I can't stop eating since I began taking it. It worked great for insomnia but I'm going off of it.
I take 25mg of Trazodone every night to help me sleep and for anxiety, heart palpitations, severe depression, bipolar, etc. This medication literally saved my life for many of my struggles. If you want to go off of Trazodone, make sure you know you really don't need it! Some people are born with disorders and they are in need of a certain chemical compounds in order to balance their body. I have never known Trazodone to be mentally addictive, only physical dependence. I tried to abruptly stop taking Trazodone and I literally went psychotic without sleep or mood stabilization. I've found that if I take 25mg every night sometimes it doesn't help me sleep that well, so occasionally I'll take 50mg, but you should never keep taking the higher mg because your body will depend on it and build a higher tolerance. If you find yourself gaining too much weight, and if diet change and exercise don't help, then you might want to consider a lower dosage of your medication, and you may want to talk to your doctor about substituting with another medication that doesn't have weight gain side effects/such as another anti-depressant and won't contradict your health or the effects of the other drug severely. I also take Cymbalta 30mg every night and this combination has been working for over 8 years. You will have to discipline your body in order to control the effects of medication on your body, or you will build a high tolerance and dependence all to much. Medication isn't the only answer, everyone has severe issues and you will have to face them, or they will control your life, but medication can help you with the imbalance if your body isn't functioning correctly, so be careful. Hope this helps you all, God Bless.
I have been on 50 mg Trazodone for about 5 years to help me sleep. about 6 months ago i cut back to a half a tab. I went a sleep doctor and he said I have restless leg syndrom. So he put me on Requip which has helped. However he told me to quit taking my 25 mh Trazadone. And for 3 weeks now I have not slept more then 3 hours a night. I now dread going to bed cuz i cant sleep. I do not want to go back on The Traz. Melatonin and OTC sleeping pills have not helped. Anything help any of you sleep that I can try
Hello all. I am the same guest poster from late January who was talking about kicking the withdrawal with natural sources of serotonin like dark chocolate and exercise. I'm happy to report that by late February, this strategy had completely kicked my cravings for the Trazodone! In fact, as I started to get more and more involved in activities at the gym, my entire confidence levels went up, and I am definitely feeling less anxiety than I ever have before. I'm up to 4 days of activity per week at the gym (two with my trainer and two in the water), and things are going very well.
As for the insomnia, I tried melatonin and had a bad reaction to it. It got me to sleep just fine, but I had massive trouble waking up the next day and experienced a lot of anxiety in my efforts to do so. I tried Valerian next, and that worked okay the one night I used it. Honestly, these days I'm so tired from my workouts that I get to sleep pretty easily.
So I guess my whole point is that exercise seemed to be the main ingredient for me getting over the need for Trazodone and the withdrawal symptoms. I don't even crave some of the other stuff like the pattern-matching computer games and crochet as much as I used to. I feel more balanced and in control. I think it might be that whole mind-body connection. I'm getting control of my physical health, and it's helping me with my mental health.
I wish everyone here the best in dealing with their demons and medications. It's a tough enough life to live without all the added anxiety! May we all find our way to better places.
As for the insomnia, I tried melatonin and had a bad reaction to it. It got me to sleep just fine, but I had massive trouble waking up the next day and experienced a lot of anxiety in my efforts to do so. I tried Valerian next, and that worked okay the one night I used it. Honestly, these days I'm so tired from my workouts that I get to sleep pretty easily.
So I guess my whole point is that exercise seemed to be the main ingredient for me getting over the need for Trazodone and the withdrawal symptoms. I don't even crave some of the other stuff like the pattern-matching computer games and crochet as much as I used to. I feel more balanced and in control. I think it might be that whole mind-body connection. I'm getting control of my physical health, and it's helping me with my mental health.
I wish everyone here the best in dealing with their demons and medications. It's a tough enough life to live without all the added anxiety! May we all find our way to better places.
I've been on trazadone (in various doses) for around 8 years now. I started the medication for IBS and constant diarrhea. As was the case it seemed to help.
We'll last week I had my gallbladder removed, and in a state of not really thinking I cut the trazadone (100 mg by this point) out cold turkey). My crazy thought process was that I'm now constipated, why use something that was helping me with the opposite.
Now it's about a week 1/2 later and I'm having trouble sleeping. I'm more aggitated and jittery. Plus I've been sweating like a pig.
At first I didn't think anything of these side effects - I was taking Percocet until about Wednesday and now I'm taking Ibprofin for the pains associated with the surgery - but now I'm wondering.
I've placed calls into my family care doctor and my gastrologist (who prescribed the medication) - but my big issue is that I'm out of state going to graduate school...so making an appointment with my regular doctors is hard.
I can always go to see someone new or go to the student health clinic (where I've been a few times since I've been up here) but I would think you'd want to see the person who's worked the most on your case.
Any advice - suggestions?
I've been off for over a week - seems stupid to go back on it...but I'd rather get solid sleep (lack of sleep is not helping me recover post surgery)!
We'll last week I had my gallbladder removed, and in a state of not really thinking I cut the trazadone (100 mg by this point) out cold turkey). My crazy thought process was that I'm now constipated, why use something that was helping me with the opposite.
Now it's about a week 1/2 later and I'm having trouble sleeping. I'm more aggitated and jittery. Plus I've been sweating like a pig.
At first I didn't think anything of these side effects - I was taking Percocet until about Wednesday and now I'm taking Ibprofin for the pains associated with the surgery - but now I'm wondering.
I've placed calls into my family care doctor and my gastrologist (who prescribed the medication) - but my big issue is that I'm out of state going to graduate school...so making an appointment with my regular doctors is hard.
I can always go to see someone new or go to the student health clinic (where I've been a few times since I've been up here) but I would think you'd want to see the person who's worked the most on your case.
Any advice - suggestions?
I've been off for over a week - seems stupid to go back on it...but I'd rather get solid sleep (lack of sleep is not helping me recover post surgery)!
I never thought I'd be writing in like this, but I have been really suffering from trazadone withdrawal, cold sweats, hot flashes, dizziness, tingly numbing ataxic-like muscle movements, crying, depression. I've been tapering down slowly but nothing seems to help. Insomnia has returned with a vengeance. I think it's despicable that drugs like these are prescribed and that companies have the audacity to say that there are no withdrawal symptoms. What I want to know is, will this ever stop? Will I ever get my life back? Is my brain damaged from this awful medication? I've been on it off and on for 14 years.
Hello People. Ive been taking trazadone 150 ml. for 20 years (off & on) and have no problems at all. I take it because I have insomnia and anxiety.. Had it all my life (63 yrs old). It will relax me enough to put me to sleep. I say off and on because if I feel tired enough that I think I can fall asleep w/o it, I skip it. Sometimes I'll skip it for a few days and have no affect at all. It has been recommended by a few doctors and they say it beats other drugs as its not addictive.... which I know for sure it isn't.
I don't know whether its my age, but I've gained weight. But in the summer I lose it as I'm more active. Beware of other drugs!!!! Check out their side affects as its so important. I wouldn't touch Zoloft (used to be known as "fly catchers tongue", or Ambien! Welbutrin will cause lack of appetite but you'll have hair loss. lolol my email address is _[removed]_. Put in subect line
>> traz so I don't delete you. if you want to talk about our dam anxiety and insomnia. hang in there.
I don't know whether its my age, but I've gained weight. But in the summer I lose it as I'm more active. Beware of other drugs!!!! Check out their side affects as its so important. I wouldn't touch Zoloft (used to be known as "fly catchers tongue", or Ambien! Welbutrin will cause lack of appetite but you'll have hair loss. lolol my email address is _[removed]_. Put in subect line
>> traz so I don't delete you. if you want to talk about our dam anxiety and insomnia. hang in there.
i have been taking traz for about 15 years. Taken for sleep aid due to taking prozac. Recently I ran out an thought i'd not renew---holy sh*t...
confusion--night sweats, blurred vision, balance issues, vivid dreams, tired you name it---i will not go back on.........
confusion--night sweats, blurred vision, balance issues, vivid dreams, tired you name it---i will not go back on.........