When To Take Trazodone For Sleep

Is trazodone safe to take? What should you do if you experience the sensation of electric shocks while taking trazodone?

Trazodone is a potent antidepressant, and your doctor will have screened you for the possibility of reactions to the drug. Your doctor will have examined your family history in this screening process to ensure the drug is safe for you to take. If you experience an electric shock-like symptom, stop taking trazodone immediately and seek medical advice.

Is trazodone commonly prescribed?

Yes, Trazodione was and is a potent antidepressant that has been widely used, but the drug has other benefits, such as aiding sleep.

If you are suffering from acute insomnia, you may be prescribed take trazodone.

How long do you sleep on trazodone?

5 to 9 hours. It may take a week or two for you to feel the benefits of trazodone, and during this time, your dosage may be altered up to 50mg. 

You should take trazodone a few hours before you want to sleep and let it enter into your system as you become drowsy and head off to bed.

If you are waking through the night while taking trazodone, then take the tablet 30 minutes before sleeping so you will sleep soundly through the night.

Can you take 200 mg of trazodone for sleep?

In some cases, yes. If trazodone has been prescribed for a sleep disorder, it is unlikely that the patient will need a dose of any more than 100 mg, with the average dosage being 40-50 mg for sleep.

However, if you suffer from depression and acute sleep disorders, then you may be prescribed 200mg, in certain cases, it is possible that a dose of 300 mg is prescribed to address both symptoms adequately.

Is trazodone a strong sleeping pill?

Yes, Trazodone can be extremely effective as a sleeping aid, especially if you are struggling with the cognitive therapy side of the treatment trazodone can be an invaluable treatment for acute insomnia.

How quickly does trazodone work for sleep? Trazodone normally kicks in around 30 minutes after taking it. Clearly, some of you are more tolerant to the effects of drugs than others, so do not increase the dose of trazodone if it is taking longer to take effect.

Can I take melatonin with trazodone for sleep?

It’s possible. Trazodone and melatonin supplements do not react to each other as opposites, but when taken together, they can put the user into a catatonic state.

For the elderly and some young users using melatonin and trazodone will cause a state of confusion, incoherent speech, extreme drowsiness, and a loss of concentration.

The elderly are in a higher risk category as their judgment can become impaired.

It’s not advised to mix melatonin and trazodone together due to these reasons.

Does trazodone for sleep cause weight gain?

No, Calories cause weight gain; if you are eating more food and consuming more calories, then you will gain weight. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, you will gain weight.

Trazodone can cause weight gain in some people but it’s not the drug in any way it’s the person’s food intake.

Research has indicated that the correlation between weight chain and trazodone is mixed and is not conclusive, some do, and most don’t.

Which is better for sleeping ativan or trazodone?

Both are potent drugs. Ativan is a drug designed to control anxiety and in some cases, epilepsy ( severe seizures).

It can also be prescribed before surgery to help an anxious patient sleep. It is an effective drug-like trazodone.

Which is better for sleep? There is very little in the clinical results as to the efficacy of both drugs but the problem arises when you want to come off Ativan.

You will experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking Ativan. For this reason, you could argue that trazodone is the more effective drug and overall the safer drug to take for acute insomnia.

Why is trazodone not helping me sleep?

You could have built a tolerance to the drug. If you are new to trazodone, then you should be aware it does not work like a light switch in your brain.

After being prescribed trazodone, you may need to take it for a few weeks for it to start to work effectively. During this time you should discuss your concerns with your doctor periodically.

You can try taking trazodone several hours prior to your desired bedtime so the drug is circulating in your system calming you down ready for sleep.

Can trazodone worsen insomnia?

It is unlikely but possible. For those taking trazodone, the results are generally positive for treating both acute and secondary insomnia symptoms.

However, the American sleep academy is not so upbeat about trazodone and says the risks of taking Trazadone outweigh the benefits, despite the efficacy of the drug.

Most drugs have side effects, even over-the-counter drugs sold at your local pharmacist store.

The side effects of trazodone can be extensive and not limited to the brief list below:

  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhoea
  • Difficulties with walking or coordination
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Lightheadedness
  • Low blood pressure
  • Muscle pain
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Nervousness
  • Palpitations
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Sleepiness
  • Skin reactions, such as a rash
  • Tremors
  • Weight changes

However, if you were to take the time to check the side effects of each drug you have taken, you would find some similar listings of side effects, including when you take holistic supplements.

Seroquel vs trazodone for sleep?

Trazodone. Patients who are using trazodone as a sleeping aid for acute insomnia do report some side effects such as constipation, nausea, and weight gain.

However, for overall sleep affectivity, trazodone comes out as a clear winner.

Seroquel is once again a drug developed for anxiety and depression with a strong presence in treating childhood schizophrenia, Although the drug does induce sleep by altering histamine receptors it is not as effective as trazodone.

Mirtazapine vs trazodone for sleep

Mirtazapine. Remeron (mirtazapine) is a mood enhancer that helps you sleep better. However, for some folks, the side effect of weight gain from mirtazapine is unacceptable as they deal with the other problems they have.

In a double-blind trial study in an American hospital, it was found that mirtazapine was more effective at controlling depression than trazodone.

Hence, mirtazapine delivers better results for depression and sleep, if you can live with weight gain.

Trazodone vs. Benadryl for sleep?

2 different drugs with different uses. Trazodone is primarily an antidepressant that makes you feel good. It increases serotonin levels that help you get a good night’s sleep. Trazadone is a very effective sleep aid.

While Benadryl, is an antihistamine and is used for the prevention of hives and other allergies, antihistamines are known to knock people out when taken off label. 

You may feel sleepy after taking Benadryl, but it’s not the best drug for addressing insomnia. Benadryl delivers poor sleep quality and wears off quickly.

Continued use of Benadryl could see the drug becoming ineffective as you build up your tolerance levels.

Trazodone vs. hydroxyzine for sleep?

Hydroxyzine may be better for you short term. Hydroxyzine has an effect on serotonin, a neurotransmitter that increases your positive mood state.

Hydroxyzine is also prescribed as an antihistamine and can be injected for fast relief when needed.

It can also be used to treat anxiety disorders especially when the anxiety is associated with insomnia,

Trazadone is a very effective sleep aid for those suffering from acute insomnia, but due to its side effects, hydroxyzine may be a better choice for some patients.

Amitriptyline vs. trazodone for sleep

Trazodone is more effective. Amitriptyline is widely prescribed for treating sleep disorders, However, there is an anomaly that should be addressed with this drug.

There is no clinical evidence to suggest that amitriptyline has any significant effects on insomnia, and if people with insomnia are sleeping, is it a placebo effect?

However, the drug is known to make you feel groggy which will ultimately impact your day-to-day lifestyle.

Trazodone is known to be a very effective sleep aid for those people who suffer from acute insomnia. Yes, trazodone does have side effects that need to be monitored and dealt with by your doctor.

Trazodone appears to be the better sleep aid in this instance.

Who should take Trazadone?

If you have been suffering from acute depression you may be prescribed trazodone to resolve the issue.

Trazodone is FDA approved and is a treatment for depression and insomnia. For sleep-related issues, your doctor should be prescribing a 40mg dose to help you fall asleep. The drug can take a couple of weeks to become effective so bear with it.

Who shouldn’t take Trazodone?

If you have heart problems Trazodone may not be safe. There are smoke limitations to the use of trazodone, for instance, the drug should not be prescribed to anyone under the age of 25, or over the age of 65.

If you are breastfeeding don’t take this drug, don’t take it if you have a psychiatric illness or if you have heart disease.