Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
D
DoctorJC Posted April 2015

Trazadone for sleep? I DON'T THINK SO!!!

There have been many posts requesting information regarding the use of Trazodone as a sleep aid. In one series of questions and answers, part of an article from the Mayo Clinic was reproduced, and was very accurate and useful. Allow me to add some evidence-based information on the subject.

First of all,Trazodone is a tri-cyclic antidepressant which is NOT FDA approved as a sleep remedy. Many physicians have begun to use it INAPPROPRIATELY as a sleep remedy as a means of avoiding using medications such as low dose Benzodiazepines (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, etc.) and Ambien which they fear are addictive and/or ineffective in the long term. In fact, low dose, short acting Benzodiazepines can be very effective for sleep and anxiety problems in the elderly. Of course there are interactions and risks that need to be explained and monitored closely, especially at first. When Trazodone was first released as an antidepressant with additional excellent anti-anxiety effects, it didn't really catch on because the recommended therapeutic dose was 300mg daily. People taking it, in fact, weren't as depressed or as anxious as before, but they couldn't stay awake. It also has the nasty side effect of orthostatic hypotension. That is to say, many people (and most elderly people) frequently become dizzy and risk falling whenever they get up from lying down or sitting. Even bending over can be dangerous. It is a very bad idea to use it in anyone who is elderly. There are many safer alternatives. Furthermore, the concept of using a medication in order to benefit from its adverse side-effects would never pass muster at the FDA. In any case, experience with Trazodone use in Alzheimer's patients has been very disappointing.

Additionally, other side-effects of Trazodone include priapism (prolonged, unremitting erections in men) AS WELL AS ITS EQUIVALENT IN WOMEN. I will wager, few people are ever warned of this effect. It may become manifest in women by some puzzling and uncomfortable genitourinary complaints.

My intent with the above note is not to practice medicine. Rather, it is to inform AgingCare participants so that they may approach their physicians with more information and therefore, better informed questions. I hope this helped.

Jasmine68 May 2015
Well, I have no idea what the equivalent to a male's erection might be, but am not concerned because whatever it is I don't have it. I've been taking Trazadone for years as a sleep aid and over time have been given the prescription by different doctors, all of whom approve of it. I like it because there are no side effects for me and I have no hang-over in the morning like I have had in the past from benzos or sleeping pills.

deegeebee60 May 2015
Trazodone is not a tricyclic antidepressant. It is not chemically related to that class of drugs.

ADVERTISEMENT


DoctorJC Apr 2015
Mirtazapine is a wonderful medication which I have referred to as the "goldilocks" of elder meds. It helps with depression and anxiety, it fosters sleep by altering sleep architecture, and it stimulates appetite which is frequently is reduced in afflicted elderly individuals. Your doctor did the right thing which has been verified, most importantly, by the results. Good going! I wish you and Mom continued success. These would not have been the results had Trazodone (there is a misspelled typo in the heading) been prescribed.

cwillie Apr 2015
First, lots of drugs are used very commonly for off list purposes. Secondly, I hope trazadone and others in this class of drugs are not being prescribed exclusively for simple sleep problems. I would expect better sleep would go hand in hand with calming the anxiety that is invading a confused elder's world and causing multiple behavioural issues. My mom has been prescribed mirtazapine because she was calling out for help continually, day and night, She sleeps better, I sleep better, and she has been more herself during the day. Trazadone was discussed as the drug of choice originally, but the doctor decided to go with the mirtazapine because she felt it suited my mom better. All I can say is thank god it worked for us.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter