Trazodone to Mirtazapine

[Thistle54]

Hi Guys, I have been taking trazodone for over 10 year (currently on 75mg). It is no longer working for me as I have had chronic insomnia for months now and I am very anxious due to not sleeping, I can’t increase the trazodone as it makes me feel really ill and I still can’t sleep.

My GP switched me from trazodone to Mirtazapine 15mg however I am sleeping all day on this and feel like a zombie! I have tried taking a quarter of the Mirtazapine (3.75mg) last night and this is enough to get me the sleep I need. I’m now worrying that I am going to suffer from withdrawal from the trazodone.

I would appreciate any advise.

[Dellleeds1973]

Hi there my friend, I have no experience with trazodone but I’ve been taking Mirtazapine 45mg for 6 yrs now and at first I felt worn out all the time and felt a little bit dopey ,felt like when you wake up on a morning and you haven’t fully woken up until you’ve had your first coffee of the day ,I felt like this all the time , but as time goes on your body get used to Mirtazapine as long as you keep taking your dose daily,the feelings you are having will definitely ease , hope this helps a little

[Thistle54 in reply to Dellleeds1973]

Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. I currently feel that the 3.75mg of Mirtazapine is doing the same thing as the trazodone that it gets me to sleep, however, I don’t feel as if I have slept when I wake up in the morning. It’s as if I don’t get any deep sleep. I’m scared to increase it as that made me feel like so out of it. Thanks for your advise that the dopey feeling eventually wears off.

[TeddieW]

Hi,

I have tried several SRRIs but none helped. The Mirtazapine did make me sleepy but not excessively. and it has helped with the depression and anxiety. I have now titrated to 45mg pd. I have no experience with trazodone though.

[Thistle54 in reply to TeddieW]

Thanks for your reply. Mirtazapine certainly seems to get me to sleep. I really hope it starts to give me the deep sleep that I need.

[Torri_____]

I hope this helps and that you are feeling rested again. I just started a blood pressure medicine prazosin today for night terrors and was first taking trazadone for awhile but my doctor felt this prazosin will keep me asleep by not allowing my spike responses while sleeping to interrupt. Best wishes and zzzzzz

[Thistle54 in reply to Torri_____]

Thanks for your reply. I am going to see how the mirtazapine works out. At the moment I’m finding it terribly sedating into the next day.

[Missy_D]

This is, of course, my personal opinion based on being on Mirtazapine for 3 1/2 years.

Mirtazapine is a strange drug in that the lower the dose the better the chances that it will be of benefit in aiding sleep. So 15mg it is really good, 30mg it's okay but better to take 2 x 15mg tablets, 45mg and I needed Promethazine to help me sleep (Promethazine is readily available in over the counter sleep aid products at most pharmacies but I don't know how it would interact with the Trazodone. It's fine with Mirtazapine).

Don't know what time you take the Mirtazapine but is best taken in the evening.

[Thistle54 in reply to Missy_D]

Thanks for your reply. I take mirtazapine at night but find it very sedating the next day. Will need to wait and see if this wears off!

[Missy_D in reply to Thistle54]

I take mine at 4pm. I used to take it later but I found that when taken at the same time as Quetiapine it triggered restless leg syndrome. I hope you can find the perfect time and benefit from the medication x