I have taken every sleep aid on earth. I have severe insomnia & I even went
to a sleep lab & they told me that they had never seen a worse case. I never went into REM or any levels of sleep. I lay in bed for 4-5 hours tossing & turning. It is hell. When it comes to time to go to bed at night I look at my bed as a torture chamber. I am praying real hard that this product works. I hope somebody out there can answer my question!!! I am in a real dilemma.
How does trazodone work on the brain to put you to sleep?
Question posted by puddlymuckle on 16 Dec 2011
Last updated on 22 June 2018
10 Answers
Slachot
8 Feb 2018
I used to take trazodone until I got my silver colored dental fillings replaced. I found out that they are illegal in Europe for 50% mercury content. Now I sleep fine :) However, trazodone works for me if I need help with a hangover! Lol :) Best wishes.
rcharris88
20 Oct 2017
I haven't commented on this post in awhile but somebody else did and it came back into my inbox. I was on hormone therapy which worked very well for a while tried so so so many others things since 2011, but I really do understand the pain of people in this post and the frustration that there isn't more done for this area which is deeply difficult. I am now looking at treatment for the bowel. I ended up with missed anaemia and iron therapy has helped a lot. Also taking acidophilus, a change of diet and as lower stress lifestyle as possible. No alcoholic drink or caffeine. I'm looking into enzymes for the gut as well because something still isn't quite right but if you look at the recent research it's so closely connected to the brain and really has dramatically affected my sleep but I had so many other weird symptoms at the time that were ruled out for other things it was really hard to pinpoint. I hope these things help somebody anyway.
People don't seem to respond much here when people comment or not for some time anyway. Maybe people are doing better I hope so. Love and prayers x
JonesGirl
1 Dec 2016
I was put on trazodone 150mg Twice Daily for Insomnia. It don't work for me. I've been on several sleep medications, and they don't work.
rcharris88
7 Jan 2017
Was just looking through this post and noticed your comment. I have been very much like that and I wondered if you'd ever looked into progesterone therapy? I made a comment above anyway on the dyingforsleep response so wondered if that would help you or not but I just thought I would mention it. hope you're doing better :)
smileyhappy
13 May 2013
Hi puddlymuckle,
I was in the hospital for 6 months with Major depression until they found that Lithium and Manerix (older drugs) help that but when I arrived I could not sleep and Trazodone was the drug I got. It worked like a charm.
Hope it helps you!
rinaaxo
12 May 2013
I know I'm pretty late on the response.. Am curious as to how your doing and if you decided to use trazodone. I am prescribed trazodone by my doctor because I have insomnia due to prolonged drug use. I have been sober for 3 months and I sleep like a baby. I would stay up for hours upon hours, tossing and turning and going crazy. My days were consumed by my thoughts and anxiety of having to try to go to bed each night. I dreaded it. Not being able to sleep caused me to relapse in my past because I couldn't take it anymore. Now that I have been on trazodone, I fall asleep within 5-10 minutes. I only take 25mg each night.. Sometimes 50mg, but it works amazing. I highly recommend trazodone to anyone who has insomnia or trouble sleeping. My only complaint would be the vivid dreams I have every night. Since trazodone is an antidepressent, it releases serotonin in your brain, which in turn makes you happy.
The amount of serotonin in your brain affects your ability to dream. Sometimes my dreams feel so real that when I wake up, I feel like I never even slept.. but I'd rather have vivid dreams and sleep through the whole night, than not at all. Hope this was helpful and your doing well!
Inactive
24 April 2013
It's not a sleep aid it's an antidepressant and a drug'
dyingforsleep
10 Feb 2012
I'm 55 and have had insomnia since age 11. As a result, I have attempted suicide 5 times from this dibilitating "disease" for lack of a better term. My mind never shuts off. My last attempt was 8 months ago. I was in 3 different hospitals in 5 weeks.(One week in icu on a respirator) Exhaustion would be a step-up for me. It's a living hell! I'm currently working with a psychiatrist. I'm taking doxepin(elavil, sinaquan) 300mg and am going backwards again. I'm not suicidal, but I'm terrified that I'll end up in that dark place again if something isn't done. I was an aerobics instructor and a store manager of a large grocery chain. I'm now on disability from severe depression due to insomnia. It's paralyzed my life. Monday, I go back to my Dr., a second time in 10 days. I really like this guy and he seems confident that he'll find the solution.
I'm a recovering alcoholic of two and a half years and that is no longer a problem. But, please, please, does anyone know of anything that might work? I spend hours on the internet looking for "something" that maybe he or I may have missed in finding a "cure". Never having done hard drugs, I've honestly considered heroin as a temporary relief, just so you understand my desperation, as there is no quality of life. My last visit to the Dr., he mentioned Klonopin(spelling?), but that's just another xanax. I've taken everything on the market as far as I know. Thorazine, seroquel, ambien, trazodone... Any information or suggestions is appreciated. Help!
rcharris88
7 Jan 2017
My story is similar to yours but for not as long period of time. It looks like all my life I had a hormonal imbalance. I wouldn't say that my sleep is perfect now and certain things interact with other things and there's so many things that can be as I'm sure you're aware but I wondered if anyone had talked to you about progesterone therapy. I used to use the progesterone cream Menogest which is really good because it's a very natural one and I've tried others but this is my favourite. However I am now on prescribed Utrogestan from the doctor as the cream eventually stops being absorbed but initially restored my Sleep to normal pre illness for three months. It's a horrible place to be where you're at and I do hope you are doing better now all that this might help God bless... praying for you x
anon2017
20 Oct 2017
It's been six years since your post and I'm hoping you were able to find something that helped you and you didn't take your own life. I understand what it is like to not sleep. I have restless leg syndrome on top of diabetic neuropathy in both legs and feet. I don't usually even try to go to sleep until 3 am & I look at bedtime like you look at your bed. I totally understand why Michael Jackson used a doctor and means that he did just to sleep. I don't know personally but I have had several people tell me that marijuana helped them. They would puff puff pass, so to speak, not enough to get high or whatever but just enough to take the edge off. Sometimes I wish I lived in an approved state so I could try it myself. One day maybe it'll be legal everywhere, look how much money could be made and how many people might be helped with something so simple. Good luck to you. I hope and pray things are looking up for you now.
Wetbird
22 June 2018
Dying for sleep. I had a similar problem 1.5 years ago. I could not sleep more than 2-3 hours a night. As a result, I was nauseous and I lost way too much weight and could not function. I had all sorts of testing done but the Docs could not figure out what the problem was. Finally, They put me on a low dose (15m) of mirtazipine (remeron) and it turned things around for me. Started sleeping and eating. Back to my normal weight. Do note that the lower the dose, the more affect on sleep. Also mirtazipine can be difficult to withdraw from, but i believe it saved my life. Best of luck to you
Linda
Inactive
16 Dec 2011
Hello puddlymuckle. Just to add to what duckski said. Its an older anti-depressant that more often than not is used to help you sleep. I'm an insomniac and have over the years tried most all the sleeping drugs. My question is why trazodone? Its side effects are generally mild, but compared to the benzodiazepine sleeping pills such as Dalmane, Restoril, or Halcion, its not close. The benzodiazepines are far more potent, unless of course you've been on them, and they've failed to help. I sincerely hope you find that trazodone (Desyrel) works for you. Best of wishes,pledge
mik934
16 Dec 2011
WOW that really sucks, if i cant sleep for an hr i go crazy and get mad but you tossing and turning for 4 to 5 hrs thats torucher my friend!! When i was on Trazodone it knocked me out in 10mins but everybody is diff.. they used it for depression on me but i slept great when i was on it.. Good luck! Mickey...
duckski
16 Dec 2011
trazodone is an old school anti-depressant, it is prescribed more for sleep issues than it is for it's primary label use. They found that this med is one of the few that actually promote stage 3/4 restorative sleep, it is very effective, they may need to play with the dose, go to 100mg @ night, or even 150mg.
Another SURE bet for restorative sleep is one that I am surprised that they haven't mentioned before since the sleep lab made that type of comment about your lack of rem sleep. This med is called Zyrem, it is used for narcolepsy, but can also be prescribed for sleep disorders. I was on Zyrem for a couple of years and it was just amazing. I am now on Trazodone, and though it is not nearly as good as Zyrem, I still get some restorative sleep, hope this helped.
Related topics
anxiety, insomnia, sleep disorders, trazodone, sleep
Further information
- Trazodone uses and safety info
- Trazodone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Trazodone (detailed)
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