Trazodone - Sleep Disorders Message Board

Lenin · 05-10-2006, 05:19 PM

The New York Times had an editorial last week about sleeping meds. The topic was that the makers of Merida, Ambien, and Lunesta are staging an active campaign to denigrate the generic trazodone. The article calls trazodone an antidepressant serotonin enhancer that causes a good night's sleep at less than a quarter a pill (as opposed to the several dollars for a capsule of each of the others.)

I've never taken any of them but am entertaining the urge to ask my doctor for trazodone for the occasional relief of insomnia.

Have any of you ever tried it? Did it work well for you? Any downsides?

nerdo · 05-10-2006, 07:28 PM

My husband has taken Trazodone, which made him very groggy during the day. He's now on Neurontin, which curbs the daytime sleepiness. Neurontin is normally prescribed as an anti-seizure medication but can be used to treat insomnia, just like Trazodone is an antidepressant that can treat insomnia. The bigger names Lunesta and Ambien didn't work very well for him. Lunesta only worked for half the night and left a horrible aftertaste. Ambien and Ambien CR were okay but are not recommended for long-time use. I personally find Ambien CR to be most effective for me, but I often suffer from rebound insomnia, a common side effect.

I didn't read the New York Times article, but, in my opinion, use whatever works best in giving you a good night's sleep in conjunction with what you can afford and what your doctor recommends. Of course the larger pharmaceutical companies will claim a generic medication (or another prescription med for that matter) is ineffective/no good/etc. because they want you and your insurance company to buy more of their medications. Don't forget that pharmaceutical companies ultimately want to make money like any other business.

cinemachick · 05-10-2006, 08:11 PM

Trazodone does help you sleep. However, when I took it I was drowsy all day long (I took it everyday mainly for depression...I don't know whether you can take single doses when needed). I also took Neurontin, and it had the same effect.

I hate Lunesta...didn't work at all. And ambien, lets just say, I acted like I was perpetually drunk when I took it. I did a lot of weird things right after I took it and before I feel asleep. I did stuff like eating carbs, purposefully spilling milk, hit on my best friend...who happens to also be female...but it did help me go to sleep.

Cloverberry52 · 05-12-2006, 02:58 PM

I've taken Trazodone for years and I love it. It's a mild pill. If it makes me groggy during the day it's very seldom and it's worse if I don't take it.

paperdoll · 05-13-2006, 07:48 PM

I took it for about 2 years and loved it, and it's super cheap. For some reason after I had an emergency appendectomy it stopped working.
Def worth a shot, I'd say.