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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by X-ray on November 10, 2008, at 12:40:04
Hi,
I have had a sleeping problem all my life.
For 36 years I have been on Elavil.I don't like this drug, so I have tried a lot of other drugs.
Now there are only two meds left for me to try.Trazodone
The official antidepressant of Sleepy-bye Land (crazymeds.us)
Dr Posternak about insomnia in The Carlat Report:
- I often start with Trazodone, because it is safe, it generally doesnt lead to tolerance, and people like the fact that it has no addictive potential.Seroquel
Henry Nasrallah, a psychiatrist, in an article by Matthew Herper (Forbes.com):
A lot of our patients beg us for sleep. And if we are going to give them something for sleep, we want to give them a mild, not harmful drug that seems to help both their sleep and their depression or anxiety. Seroquel fits the bill.
Off-label use in a variety of mood, anxiety and personality disorders (The Carlat Report).I would appreciate comments from anyone familiar with these drugs.
Best regards,
X-ray
Posted by Maxime on November 10, 2008, at 16:11:38
In reply to Trazodone vs. Seroquel, posted by X-ray on November 10, 2008, at 12:40:04
I think you should try the Seroquel and see if you perfer a Seroquel sleep or a Trazadone one. I prefer Seroquel myself because Trazadone gave me hallucinations a few times.
Posted by desolationrower on November 10, 2008, at 17:05:16
In reply to Re: Trazodone vs. Seroquel » X-ray, posted by Maxime on November 10, 2008, at 16:11:38
I take trazodone. I'd probably start with that, its a dirt cheap generic and not an antipsychotic.
I've never been as sleepy as a was when i took some clonidine, though.
What sort of insomnia do you have?
-D/R
Posted by yxibow on November 11, 2008, at 0:44:54
In reply to Re: Trazodone vs. Seroquel, posted by desolationrower on November 10, 2008, at 17:05:16
Trazodone I find to be rather icky going to sleep because it makes me feel faint (do not mix with alcohol, it was my only blackout in my life I think, I had thought I had it all out of my system, alas), but its often prescribed. The main issue with it, if you are male is priapism risk. Its very low, but it is there. And then there's the theoretical mCPP metabolite, but that's probably more rare, which could cause a bit of psychosis.
Its one of those antidepressants that you can get tolerant to the sleep effect because well, people actually used to take it as an antidepressant. It does form 5HT blockades sort of like APs, probably not as strong.
Then there's the tricyclics, doxepin and amitriptyline in small dosages which can also promote sleep but the first dose usually knocks you off your *ss. That is if you're not used to sleep agents in the first place.
As for Seroquel, well 25mg has nearly no AP effect and some say it has a good sleep promotion, I don't see why there's a lot of danger in it -- it can also be one of those things that one eventually becomes accustomed to the antihistamine effect.
Basically all of these agents are being taken for an antihistamine or muscarinic effect.
As they say, your miles may vary
-- Jay
Posted by Justherself54 on November 11, 2008, at 1:55:43
In reply to Re: Trazodone vs. Seroquel, posted by desolationrower on November 10, 2008, at 17:05:16
Trazodone made me feel like I had a horrible hangover the day after. Seroquel is much smoother, except for the munchies I get about a half hour after taking it.
Posted by X-ray on November 11, 2008, at 2:44:16
In reply to Re: Trazodone vs. Seroquel, posted by Justherself54 on November 11, 2008, at 1:55:43
Hi,
Thanks for your reply!
I have two questions:
What is your dosage?
Do you take any other drugs?Best regards,
X-ray
Posted by X-ray on November 11, 2008, at 2:57:13
In reply to Re: Trazodone vs. Seroquel, posted by desolationrower on November 10, 2008, at 17:05:16
Hi,
Thanks for your reply!
The first problem:
I can't go to sleep.
The second problem:
When I do go to sleep, I don't get enough sleep.Best regards,
X-ray
Posted by X-ray on November 11, 2008, at 3:04:51
In reply to Re: Trazodone vs. Seroquel » X-ray, posted by Maxime on November 10, 2008, at 16:11:38
Hello Maxime,
Thanks for your reply!
I have a few questions:
What is your dosage of Seroquel?
What was your dosage of Trazodone?
Do you take any other drugs?Best regards,
X-ray
Posted by desolationrower on November 11, 2008, at 14:44:16
In reply to Re: Trazodone vs. Seroquel, posted by X-ray on November 11, 2008, at 2:57:13
not sure if you are asking everyone, but i take 50mg of trazodone. at first it gave me a hangover and right before bed i'd get weak in the knees, but that was ok after a few days. I take it because i'm on tranylcypromine (as well as adrafinil, memantine) and the MAOI makes it hard to stay asleep, i'd wake up frequently and only sleep 5 hours or so. (yet, before i started taking it, i had been oversleeping significantly. )
Priapism is scary, but its only occured at very high doses.
I think either drug could work, might just want to try them.
-D/R
Posted by Maxime on November 11, 2008, at 20:55:30
In reply to Re: Trazodone vs. Seroquel - Maxime, posted by X-ray on November 11, 2008, at 3:04:51
> Hello Maxime,
>
> Thanks for your reply!
>
> I have a few questions:
> What is your dosage of Seroquel?
> What was your dosage of Trazodone?
> Do you take any other drugs?
>
> Best regards,
> X-rayDosage for sleep for Seroquel - 50 mg
Dosage for sleep on trazadone - 75 - 100 mgOther meds I am on currently:
- .5 klonopin
- wellbutrin SR 300 mg
- Cymbalta 60 mg
- Geodon 80 mg
Posted by Zyprexa on November 13, 2008, at 17:16:02
In reply to Trazodone vs. Seroquel, posted by X-ray on November 10, 2008, at 12:40:04
I know 2 people who take trazadon and 2 on seroquel. The trazodon people just take it for sleep. It seems to work well at getting them to sleep and sleeping for about 6 hours. These people have problems with sleep for various reasons. One is stress and work on mind. the other can't sleep because of coming off other drugs. Anyways this drug seems to be good just for getting sleep when you can't sleep, nothing else.
The seroquel seems to help with other problems not just sleep. Sort of like bi-polar and can't sleep. And angry, irritated all the time with dementia. Sort of a chill pill for this one. The bi-polar one takes it for anxiety too.
So I guess its what ever problems you have along with the right sleep med.
This is the end of the thread.
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