Sleepless in Seattle

[Snerd]

Hi friends: Recently I’ve had days where I haven’t been able to sleep, just an increase in the insomnia problem on prednisone. I finally asked my doctor if he could give me something Not in the realm of the benzodiazepines, but something more innocuous. He has prescribed trazodone. I’m finding some good reviews on it. Do any of you take trazodone to help you sleep? What are your thoughts? Thank you

[SheffieldJane]

I have no personal experience or knowledge of this particular drug. A quick look on Wikipedia shows quite a lot of information. It seems to be prescribed for major depression. It seems like a big hammer to crack a nut.I was given 10 mgs of Amitriptyline to take one hour before bedtime which helped for a while. I have had low dose Zopiclone in the past with no issues after 2 years of work stress insomnia. I now kind of accommodate it, accept it, don’t fight it really. It makes a big difference having no work to worry about. I have a regular after lunch nap every day. I have made my room a very pleasant environment. I read. It’s getting better now I am under 10 mgs of Pred. I have experimented with different times taking Pred. Which has sometimes solved it. I sleep right through sometimes - just like waiting for newborns to settle, way back when. I try to limit the heavy meds I have to take. Good luck.

[Snerd in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you Jane for sharing your story. I too am retired and I could sleep anytime I want but sometimes I just can’t sleep at all for days and it is debilitating so I have decided to do something about it. I hope trazodone will work for me. If not, will have to try other means to get some sleep.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Snerd]

I hope it helps you. I know what it is like to lie awake night after night. When you read the side effects of most drugs it puts you off. I long to feel normal.

[Temoral in reply to SheffieldJane]

In case it helps anyone...acupuncture, and/or a half hour gentle massage, can get me back on track ...wakeful nights are a real bind. Lovelybpodcast which can also settle me, is called 5 minute heroes...all positive short..ie 5 mins episodes from people's lives...helps me to think of my own heroes who have come out of the ether in life...sometimes strangers...feel good stuff x good luck fella warrior...

[SheffieldJane in reply to Temoral]

I am with you on the gentle massage. I went once for Acupuncture and pathetically, I found it kind of painful. It was a surprise, I had gone in with a really positive attitude. In some ways, I have become a bit of a wimp. I will check out the 5 minute heroes, that sounds like my cup of tea. Thanks!

[Temoral in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hi Sheffieldjane

You can have acupuncture with pressure rather than needles...people have different sensitivity...also moxa...which is warming and restful aroma....worth a try perhaps....x

[SheffieldJane in reply to Temoral]

Thank you! 🤗

[Kendrew]

Like SheffieldJane, no experience of Trazodone but did take Amitriptyline for a short time. Unfortunately it didn't help me very much and I took myself off it (with medical guidance)I'm now medically retired, and again like SJ, I no longer worry if I can't sleep. I just go with it knowing I can rest/sleep/snooze or do whatever's necessary the next day.

I realise I'm very fortunate to be in a position to do this and not everyone has that option.

[Snerd in reply to Kendrew]

Thank you Kendrew!

[mgrogers99]

I took it for a long time after a spinal fusion and couldn't sleep because of pain. It worked very well. Start out with a small dose. It is commonly used in the US for sleep.

[Snerd in reply to mgrogers99]

This is similar to what I am reading in trazadone comments, That it is very effective for induction of sleep. Glad to hear that it worked for you and thank you for responding.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

My husband was given trazadone to help him sleep - seemed to work pretty well! However, if you need to get up during the night do be careful as he seemed a bit disorientated with it though that is a common effect of many sleep aids.

[Snerd in reply to PMRpro]

Ok, I will be careful (hopefully). Thanks Pro

[Gaycreasey in reply to Snerd]

I find three drops of CBD oil works wonders when the mind and body won’t switch off.

[Bcol]

Hi, I've had sleeping problems since I was diagnosed with OA, with it particularly bad in knees and feet. It was incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to find a comfortable way of sleeping and thereby tossing ang and turning in bed, in pain and getting stressed because I couldn't sleep. I very quickly realised that the stressing neither helped my mental state or the pain and the only way make both acceptable was to get up, move around, change joint positions etc. Have a brew, listen to radio or TV relax, read or even do some work - working full time in those days. Even now I'm not happy with being in one position for a long time. Sounds strange but removing the worry about not sleeping and that routine enabled me to go to work less tired than if I had struggled in bed. Things got back to more normality when various bits of me became bionic. So not sleeping and/or getting up at 02:00ish for the little white tablets has not really been much of a shock or big problem. The doc has given me a box of Amitriptyline but they are still in the cupboard. Different things work for different people and I hope something works for you.

[Snerd in reply to Bcol]

Thanks so much Bcol

[SheffieldJane in reply to Bcol]

Have you tried fluffy bed socks on creamed feet and a pillow between the knees? I learnt this when pregnant. It is so comfy.

[Bcol in reply to SheffieldJane]

Have to say I haven't tried any of those, actually not true I have done the pillow between the knees, but then I've not been pregnant either!!!

[Viv54]

Hi, i know exactly how you feel its miserable lack of sleep !! I gave in in the end i just could not function properly or cope with my pain due to sleep loss ! My Dr gave me Zopiclone ,She was a bit hesitant but could see it made sense as i was getting worse. Anyway to be honest i did not care about the side affects , i just needed to sleep. That was over 2 years ago , its the best thing i ever did. Not saying they work all the time, but i now get far more sleep than before and i cope much better with the pain. Hope this helps . Good Luck and best wishes Viv🌷

[Snerd in reply to Viv54]

I’ll check it out, Viv! Thanks for understanding

[Sharitone]

I also couldn't sleep for more than an hour or so on pred. The lights in my head would turn on very suddenly and that was it. After I had struggled for some time, the dr gave me Zopiclone, which I believe is quite mild, and it was such a relief to get 6 hours or more a night. There is an issue with developing dependency, but I have been able to reduce a bit as the pred came down. PMR is no fun: you don't need insomnia as well!

[IslandShell]

Trazadone caused me to have quite upsetting nightmares. I am not usually sensitive to drugs and not nightmare prone. It was a negative enough experience I will not ever take it again. The veterinarian has prescribed this for my dog and knowing how it affected me I will never give it to an animal either.

[HeronNS]

Words from this former lifelong intermittent insomniac: my insomnia has virtually disappeared since I began taking one of my daily doses of calcium (usually calcium citrate, sometimes calcium hydroxyapatite) a little while before bedtime with a small snack, like yoghurt or kefir. This has worked for several years and it seems the insomniac habit is broken as I have recently had to change the timing owing to change in pred timing and still fall asleep easily.

And when I don't....

....another thing involves changing one's point of view. Instead of lying in bed wondering why one can't get to sleep, alter the thought to, "I'm trying to stay awake ". Of course you'll have done all the sleep encouraging rituals, no screen time, no food after supper except what's needed to accompany pills, a warm bath if that's something you like, dark, quiet room. Amazing how quickly one can drop off once you stop trying.

Years ago, long before PMR and pred, I tried valerian. I only used it a few times. The first time in particular I remember the quality of my sleep seemed particularly fine, and dreams, which I didn't recall, had been pleasant and I felt wonderfully refreshed.

[winfong]

Different strokes for different folks. My GP recently prescribed trazadone, to avoid the stronger stuff like Ambien and Halcion (which worked fine). Had no effect whatsoever.

That said, my particular issue these days is just the opposite - trying to stay awake. The fatigue's been really intense lately. Naps morning & afternoon, going to bed early & waking up late.