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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by HelenInCalif on April 3, 2004, at 16:37:43
Will the dose of Trazodone taken for insomnia (up to 100 mg) also help with depression or anxiety? Also, could there be interactions between taking trazodone at night and ritalin during the day?
After some extreme stress recently I'd been getting insomnia. Called my HMO/Doc, asked for a sleep aid that wasn't ambien (not on formulary = expensive). They phoned in a prescription for Trazodone, which I hadn't taken before, for 1-2 50mg pills before bedtime. Had it for the 1st time last night- it worked very well although I was quite sleepy this morning (took it 8 hours before when I planned to get up- perhaps that was too soon?).
Will this dose also help with depression? Because now its hitting me that I probably am depressed in a physical way. Emotionally I'm feeling fine- other than when I think about my sources of stress- but physically I'm just exhausted and mentally I'me much slower than usual. This is making me work slower, and not finishing projects is definitely an additional source of stress.
At night I've been getting vivid dreams- in the past I associated this with depression- and in the morning its hard to get up. I'm also getting symptoms of anxiety or nervousness every time I think about those stresses, too.
I've been reading hear and other places (hed-web) about Trazodone. Readings suggest that 100 mg isn't enough for antidrepression. But then taking it during the day would just knock me out- are people taking it for depression taking it all at night? Readings also suggest that it is fine with ritalin (in fact a hedweb article suggests that being responsive to ritalin is correlated with being responsive to Trazodone). Is this a fair summary?
Posted by HelenInCalif on April 3, 2004, at 16:41:09
In reply to Trazodone for sleep vs depression? Also, ritalin?, posted by HelenInCalif on April 3, 2004, at 16:37:43
So the ritalin isn't connected to the insomnia. Unless I take it late in the day, of course. I've also noticed in the past week that ritalin and tea both have little effect on my morning sleepiness-- yet another datapoint in my perhaps being depressed. Thanks for any advice.
Posted by Sad Panda on April 4, 2004, at 5:14:21
In reply to Trazodone for sleep vs depression? Also, ritalin?, posted by HelenInCalif on April 3, 2004, at 16:37:43
> Will the dose of Trazodone taken for insomnia (up to 100 mg) also help with depression or anxiety? Also, could there be interactions between taking trazodone at night and ritalin during the day?
>
> After some extreme stress recently I'd been getting insomnia. Called my HMO/Doc, asked for a sleep aid that wasn't ambien (not on formulary = expensive). They phoned in a prescription for Trazodone, which I hadn't taken before, for 1-2 50mg pills before bedtime. Had it for the 1st time last night- it worked very well although I was quite sleepy this morning (took it 8 hours before when I planned to get up- perhaps that was too soon?).
>
> Will this dose also help with depression? Because now its hitting me that I probably am depressed in a physical way. Emotionally I'm feeling fine- other than when I think about my sources of stress- but physically I'm just exhausted and mentally I'me much slower than usual. This is making me work slower, and not finishing projects is definitely an additional source of stress.
>
> At night I've been getting vivid dreams- in the past I associated this with depression- and in the morning its hard to get up. I'm also getting symptoms of anxiety or nervousness every time I think about those stresses, too.
>
> I've been reading hear and other places (hed-web) about Trazodone. Readings suggest that 100 mg isn't enough for antidrepression. But then taking it during the day would just knock me out- are people taking it for depression taking it all at night? Readings also suggest that it is fine with ritalin (in fact a hedweb article suggests that being responsive to ritalin is correlated with being responsive to Trazodone). Is this a fair summary?Hi There,
Trazodone is a very weak AD, it tends to be added on to SSRI's to help with sleep, although I think Remeron is a better drug for this. If you want to try an SSRI, I would suggest Zoloft be the first to try as it is above average in efficacy & is also one of the safest.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by joebob on April 4, 2004, at 11:24:46
In reply to Trazodone for sleep vs depression? Also, ritalin?, posted by HelenInCalif on April 3, 2004, at 16:37:43
min before sleep....
sometimes i need 5 to 10 mg valium to wind down a little more....
i sleep for exactly 8 hours, very well...
did have intense dreams in the begginning, but not now...
the traz is a very mild ad, not worth mentioning, and i take lexapro for the depression....
the traz is considered safe enough for kids...
don't take it during the daybest,
joebob
Posted by HelenInCalif on April 4, 2004, at 17:54:10
In reply to i have been taking traz for over a year 100mg 45, posted by joebob on April 4, 2004, at 11:24:46
Right now I'm thinking my procrastination is more anxiety than depression. It'd just be nice if this medcine had a 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 effect. I've had ad's in the past: all caused strong side effects I'd rather not go through right now.
Posted by spoc on April 6, 2004, at 1:49:48
In reply to Trazodone for sleep vs depression? Also, ritalin?, posted by HelenInCalif on April 3, 2004, at 16:37:43
> Will the dose of Trazodone taken for insomnia (up to 100 mg) also help with depression or anxiety? Also, could there be interactions between taking trazodone at night and ritalin during the day? >
> ...Readings also suggest that it is fine with ritalin (in fact a hedweb article suggests that being responsive to ritalin is correlated with being responsive to Trazodone). Is this a fair summary?Hi Helen,
I've taken traz in low dose off and on for years for sleep. I often notice that I feel less down the next day, although docs will say that's just due to a better night's sleep. But I don't think so -- it's a different feeling than I have when I just get a good night's sleep. I usually don't take it more than a few nights in a row, so I don't know if this would continue or conversely, start making me sleepy by day. I definitely recommend taking it earlier than eight hours before you'd like to wake up! When I've waited until I'm SURE I can't sleep to take it, I have indeed been kinda wiped out the next day. It's ok to take it every night, so might as well do so and do it early. In more qualified sources, I think I've read that this is one that actually works faster if taken with food.
Some people taking it as their primary AD in high dose do also take it during the day, but I don't see how! At the exact time as the Ritalin may be better, I'm not sure. I took Ritalin for awhile and my doc knew I may also take traz at night, and had no problem with that (however I never ended up doing it). And we never discussed "popping" both together. Don't know what the mood/energy effect would be, but I do not think there is are dangerous interactions.
Last year for over two months I was taking another stimulant, and low dose traz every night. That combo had a marked AD effect on me. Docs would not agree that's possible but I know myself. Not only by how I felt, but also because the combo was not intended for this purpose and the whole thing was a surprise. And I'm too realistic (or pessimistic?) to be prone to placebo effects. At the time I thought, "Ahhh, if only I could always take this..." Now I see there's probably no reason I couldn't. So eventually I will try traz by night and Ritalin by day to see if it affects me the same (not taking anything right now as I'm having some med tests done). Maybe the AD effect will happen -- and last -- maybe not. I just know it was still working when I stopped after over two months last year...
I say, if we do feel better, it would be nuts to let someone else tell us it couldn't be and nudge us higher or to something with more complications! We should enjoy it while we can! Heck, if we think cocktail onions is our miracle cure and we're happy, don't spoil it, it's so much easier that way!
Good luck! If I try traz/Ritalin I'll post back here someday, and let me know what you conclude too! : )
This is the end of the thread.
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