posted
i went for my montly supply of my sleeping medication, and the dr. prescript sometime that i dont know it use and i didnt asked for it.
the name is TRAZODONE hcl, 50mg. i wanted what i am accustom of using, and what is working for me.
has anyone ever used this and what is it.. i asked her, what is this drug and all she kept saying was.. this will put you to sleep, i dont want you to get addicted to the other sleeping medicine, which is restoril. but why do they do this stuff restoril give me 7 hrs each night..
why do drs. do this, she would not tell me what this drug is really for i hated her smile also, i felt she was up to no good. is this an ok drug to used, i trust lymet board members to tell me the truth. is this ok to use, or dump it and the dr.
cfs, hhv6, mycobacterium, hsv1, cmv, pirovirus, and Epstein Barr virus.... digestive system
GOD GIVE IT, AND GOD CAN TAKE IT AWAY Posts: 655 | From new york | Registered: Dec 2009
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joalo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12752
posted
It is actually an antidepressant that also works for anxiety. I used to take it at night to help me sleep. It is a very good, safe drug...in my opinion.
-------------------- Sick since January 1985. Misdiagnosed for 20 years. Tested CDC positive October 2005. Treating since April 2006. Posts: 3228 | From Somewhere west of the Mississippi | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
Hi Street, I take Trazadone 50mg to help me sleep. It is often used for insomnia, as the drug has multiple uses. You may feel tired the first few mornings when you first start using it, until your body becomes used to it. It has been a miracle drug for me, before I started to take it, I never had a full nights rest. Now I am able to sleep without waking, and actually feel rested. I hope it works well for you. Limeaid
Posts: 84 | From Seattle, WA | Registered: Sep 2009
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
good heavens, i wish my doc would give me something to help me sleep, anything at all.
he just said "it will get better". i'm still only getting about 3-4 hours a night.
i'll take the trazadone any day!!!
however, if you're concerned that your pcp is being dishonest, perhaps you should discuss your concerns with him/her. you may want to consider going to another doctor or reporting her actions.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
My LLMD preferred Trazadone for his Lyme patients with sleeping difficulties because of it's safety profile, the affordability, and also because it increased Stage IV sleep, which he felt was an important part of healing Lyme. Many of the newer sleep medications don't have the same safety profile and don't increase the deep, restorative sleep necessary for healing. Some of the newer sleep medications that are designed for short term, intermittent use may actually disturb sleep architecture, which can be counter productive.
I'm sure you feel betrayed and that's not a very nice feeling, but this medication switch may be a blessing in disguise for healing once you adjust to it. It's popular with quite a few CFS & FM doctors because it's safe and effective.
Posts: 487 | From USA | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
ok guys.. i trust each and everyone of your opinions...
i will take one tonight, and see what effect it will give me, and i'll report on it tomorrow, good bad or indifferent.
the dr started talking about seeing a strink, i told her no way...
i am not depressed....i am losing weight, and dont feel well...so that is why she didnt tell me what she was giving me, knowing she was giving me antidepressant medication,
it was still not fair of her not to say at least try trazodone.
cfs, hhv6, mycobacterium, hsv1, cmv, pirovirus, and Epstein Barr virus.... digestive system
GOD GIVE IT, AND GOD CAN TAKE IT AWAY Posts: 655 | From new york | Registered: Dec 2009
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Did she not give you a script for the other or is
she gonna make you come back and pay again if it
don't work or you don't agree with it?
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- People speak of betrayal and dishonesty of the part of the doctor but the doctor was right up front saying she "didn't "want you to get addicted to the other sleeping medicine."
That's pretty clear and understandable. Fair enough. She has your health in mind. That is what a good doctor is supposed to do, give you the medicine with the least possible adverse effects or stress on your body (especially your liver or kidneys).
Trazadone is usually one of the easier meds for many people.
But, it's still not magic. I know it's hard to get to bed on time (and my bedtime revolves around that of my neighbors so I'm way out of synch) . . . but a reasonable bedtime is really one of the most important things we can do: lights out by 10 or 11 pm. Our brains just can't do what they need to do making our sleep hormones, etc., with light in our eyes. -
[ 03-31-2010, 02:33 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
pinelady, she gave me the script with one refill...i see her in june 1st.. i will take it, but for some reason, im scared too. i might not fall asleep...
keebler time will tell if this antidepression pill put me to sleep....im not ready to sleep yet,
i do have an appt 2morrow too, i should be in bed...but i am not sleepy...i guess that is why i need sleep aide.. duh
posted
i took a pill at 2 am..an i am not falling to sleep.
this pill is not for me, i have been on antidepression pills in the pass, and everytime i use them, they always make me feel DRUNK.... IT hasnt put me to sleep,this is torture...my head is heavy, my eyes are heavy. all i am doing is turing and feeling yakkkkkkkkkkkkk
i will spend the night up, cause i will not add the last restoril that i have with this pill.
changing pcp first thing at sunrise as people get to work. i will be at the same location. cornell universisty hospital.
posted
i took my lovely restoil at 7 am this morning, and fell right out... i was up all night and staggering like a drunkered, bumping into the walls and my knees were buckling...just to go few feet to the bathroom,oh my god...
its 1 30pm... i am just now waking up, and i am on the phone GETTING rid of her....i wanted to go to the ER from the bad affect..but i just laid there with my body feeling heavy, and could barely move any parts of my body it was a struggle just to get up and type my experience last night,
well i just learn that she was not my dr in the first place, i saw her because my dr was not available, so they let you see someone else until your dr can see you, OR if you choose, you can wait and make an appointment when your dr is available.
i missed my other appointment that i had this morning because this dr. REFUSED to listen to me about what medication works for me. i so hate them..
the office that i had the appointment with today, they left already for the day, i was going to a ruemotoligist, for 11.00am, they dont work a whole day..no days, i will have to catch them 2morrow. an get a new appoitment, hopefully friday...
i finally got through on the phone, and i have cancel my appointment that i had with the dr that give me the antideprssion medication, we all are not alike, my body reacts badly to ALL antidepression medication.
i used them in the pass, i have make an appt. with the dr that is MY DOCTOR..i am not seeing dr. staton no more and dont want too, she was never really my dr anyways..
METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
I just read the rest of the thread and see that you had the same exact response I did. My doctors kept pushing it on me too. It was such a waste of time because I already had been through about 10 different sleep aids. The only one that helps at all is Ativan. I get about 3-4 hr sleep with it, which is far more significant than the other drugs.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
posted
I think it's clear from the other responses that trazodone is good for some people but not for others. I would not fault you at all if you want to go back to Restoril, but before you completely throw in the towel on trazodone, you might consider that 1) since it doesn't go to work in your body as quickly as restoril (and other benzos in it's class), you might get more benefit from it by taking it approx three hours before you intend to retire for the evening so that it will actually take effect at the time you want to go to sleep. I know this may sound counterintuitive based on your previous experience with sleep aids, but trazodone has a slower onset of action, and also the duration of action or half life is also longer which can cause grogginess and a hung over feeling the next morning. Something like restoril or ativan would tend to wear off before morning leaving you feeling alert.
But I wouldn't fault you at all if you just want to go to your regular doctor and ask for restoril again since you know it works for you. Sleep is important when you are recovering from Lyme.
Posts: 156 | From MA | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
street,My doc. gave me restoril and he never told me it was a bezodizapine.I was stupid i trusted him because he would speak about certain drugs that were not good for you.
So i started taking it after he tryed me on ambien,lunista.This is the reason i came on the computer and most times i cant because my pain is so sever.
Its hard to sit and then i cant get my words out right.I have symptoms that are consistent and then the ones that want to come and torture me when they feel like it.
I am having such sever insommia i dont know if its coming from my thyroid or lymes.The restoril is not working either.
when the pain is so sever i need to sleep to forget about it.Then again if i do sleep i could feel the pain in certain areas in my sleep that is not allowing me to get rest.
I am sorry for going on to long i have really been ill and if i get the chance to get on the computer i need to connect.I would like to get off the restoril it would be great to have a non addicting medcine to give me rest.Follow your heart I believe if its not right for our bodies in helping us we will know.follow your heart. peace&GODS BLESSINGS
-------------------- rosealee Posts: 2 | From newjersey-south jersey | Registered: Mar 2010
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posted
i will comform the trazodone, i will prove to myelf what has happen and see if my body will put me in that state again...i will tke it friday nght and see what state the pill will put me under...i must do this to conform all antidepression donot work for my body...i;ll report back the next day,,if i do get to sleep, i will not takr any medication when im going to take this.
i take 1 restoril 30 mg, and 1 ambien 10mg...and i drink scullcup half of a cup in hot water with a dropper 3 times a day....one more thing, i just got my pension and my disability check DIRECT DEPOSIT.
its the 1st of april, best month of the year. i have just finish given IRS there last payment earlier today.. i filed with theM and i have to pay back...first TIME and never ever again....they are depressing..i Hope i dont received any mails FROM them..i did not take out a plan cause i reFused to gave IRS anymore money than they deserve.
i read that b complex is an acid pill..i have completely has been changing the way i eat, no meat for me This whole month OF APRIL, WHICH IS THE BEST MONTH OF OF THE YEARRRRRRRRR a gift to my body
posted
I know you don't know me, but I'm an old timer from Lymenet and someone who finally recovered from Lyme after years of illness. During those long years, I've met a lot of patients through patient support groups.
While there is no single right answer that is applicable to all patients, there are some that work well for many and some that prove problematic for many. Of the patients I've become involved with through a support network, I've never encountered anyone who had a difficult time discontinuing Trazadone when they no longer needed it. However, I have encountered some who have become dependent upon the benzodiazepine class, of which Restoril is one.
Of those, several have had to take a year or more to withdraw from the benzos. Withdrawal has been an excruciating process that has impaired their ability to treat and heal Lyme because the symptoms of withdrawal are as severe and similar to those of Lyme disease. Withdrawal symptoms even mimic psychiatric illness. I've known one who was careful with it, yet ended up having to withdraw in and institutional setting. Ultimately, that really impacted this patient's insurance and their ability to treat Lyme.
Restoril can be very helpful for short term sleep, but because it is a benzo, it's not considered safe for longer term use. It also a hypnotic and does not contribute to the deep, restorative sleep that is necessary for healing and recovery. Furthermore, if you've been on it any length of time, you may find yourself experiencing rebound insomnia if/when you try to discontinue it. This has been known to occur in as short a time as 7 days of benzodiazepine use, so that may be a possible complicating factor interfering with the Trazadone's ability to help you sleep when you first attempted to try it.
If you doubt this, please investigate the work of Dr. Heather Ashton, who is considered a leading expert on Benzodazepine withdrawal. She and others have contributed to some pretty impressive research on the subject. http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/
I can't help but hope that you'll be able to safely give Trazadone a week or two long trial period adjustment period. That's how long it took me to adjust to it. My doctor had me start out low and then he adjusted the dose until I was getting real, quality sleep. The first week I did have weak knees, balance issues and a drunken anxious feeling. However, once that passed, I got the best sleep I've ever gotten on it. The hungover feeling eventually passed and I just got good, consistent, restorative sleep that did aid healing.
If you find yourself having real difficulties, you may want to consult a doctor to see whether or not your regular usage of Restoril may be a possible contributing factor to your initial negative reaction to the Trazadone. If Trazadone is not something that will work for you, Elavil might be another option. However, it will probably be difficult for you to switch to anything else successfully if you are currently experiencing any type of rebound or withdrawal effects from benzos, especially if those symptoms, which can sometimes be severe, have become part of your clinical picture.
Wishing you the very best in your quest for health.
Posts: 487 | From USA | Registered: Feb 2002
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
The risk to benefit of using a Benzon drug -- or any addictive drug -- while treating severe insomnia or Lyme Disease is obvious. Addiction is nothing compared to "not recovering" because of lack of sleep.
You've got to literally throw out the notion of addiction. I hate that they even use the word addiction. They play it off like it's "us" who become addicted, when it's not. It's a chemical dependency which is entirely different then Addiction. Chemical dependency simply means that the body requires the drug to maintain continued balance and function. Slowly withdrawing the drug will shunt the dependency allowing a return to pre-chemical dependency.
Bottomline, anyone thinking about chemical dependency or addiction when treating in the context of Lyme Disease has their head up their *** and doesn't realize the severity of the symptom over the risk.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
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