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Can you take away the walker, and provide another mobility aid, like a wheelchair?

Is her confusion upon waking up in the middle of the night and tries to walk? Or this all the time?
You can attach an alarm to her bed which will alert you when she gets up, so you can go assist her - walk with her. But, really, she needs a safer way to get around.

If you think it is just this medication, talk to the doctor about trying a different medication. Trazodone made my husband weak, like a wet noodle. I have to help him transfer in and out of bed, so I learned to make sure he is comfortably in bed before administering Trazodone. He is not able to get up on his own, so we don't have a fall risk. He just yells for me to help him.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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Rucandlyn4

Welcome to the forum.

it may take awhile to get this out of her system and it is to be tapered off from what I read. It has many side effects that are troubling for an elder with Alzheimer’s.

It might depend on how much she is taking and for how long before you know how exactly to take her off if that is what you decide.

The side effects to look for while on it and coming off of it can be found online,

Not knowing what she has tried or how much of a problem she was having with her sleep I’m hesitate to be critical of her doctor but make sure she is seeing someone who knows how to care for elders like a geriatric primary if possible.

From reading the side effects it seems an inappropriate choice to lowly, not a doctor me. Not one I would use. But I’m sure for some it is a great help. So difficult to know. Many variables to consider.

If you put the word Trazodone in the search at the top of the page 🔍 you will get many hits on others who have had questions regarding this drug and their experiences.
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Reply to 97yroldmom
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We used 400 mg of magnesium glycinate (make sure to use the glycinate version to prevent loose stool) as a sleep aid for Mom. Give it after dinner or in the evening.

Mom's doctor said they no longer prescribe sleep aids as they cause brain confusion and are a fall risk.
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Reply to brandee
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She may not be getting an appropriate dosage, so an adjustment needs to be overseen by her primary prescriber, or it may not be the right medication that works best for her, or it may be she is suffering a side-effect (hence it is not the right medication for her and a different but similar one needs to be considered). It is also possible that her current problem may have nothing to do with the medication and that it is a coincidence that it happened at the same time as her starting the medication. "Correlation is not causation". Two separate, unrelated things can happen at the same time. This is an issue for her doctor to sort out.
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Reply to Geaton777
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Drs like to prescribe off label for sleep since it’s inexpensive and not a controlled substance. The side effects are the lingering hangover feeling and grogginess. Hubs is a pharmacist.
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Reply to GSDlover
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lealonnie1 Aug 24, 2025
I hate Trazodone. I felt like a complete zombie after taking it for sleep issues years ago. I never took it again. The grogginess was epic.
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I think that if you look up the side effects of any sleep aid you will find this a possible outcome. They are especially dangerous for the elder who has to get up several times a night, and which of us does not! Their side effects last for some (I include myself, as I am quite sensitive to medication) as a hangover. Unable to get started on the day at all, and with little appetite. Especially endangered is any sense of balance.

I really think that sleep aids often are the beginning of then end. It goes from this to fall to injuries and then with the side effects of catheterization and infection, bedrest and infection, hospital induced infection, surgical infection.

I would discuss all of this with the prescribing doctors. I doubt you put mom on sleep aid without a good deal of thinking about it, but she may be in more danger on it. I wish you the best.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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This is a question for the doctor who prescribe the medication. Its basically for depression but can be used as a sedative. I would not give her anymore till you talk to her doctor.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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PaulC53 Jun 17, 2025
My Mom is prescribed 100 mg Trazadone and she takes 50 mg Quetiapine. I didn’t think it was all that good and she’s had dementia for over 5 years. My older half Sister doesn’t know it causes cognitive decline and I didn’t realize it. My Mom is 93 years old and can barely walk using an old 3 wheel walker. She had hydrocephalus back in 2000 and had shunt surgery 10/31/2001. Anyway my Mom has fallen on the floor at our apartment and I couldn’t get her up. She weighs 174 and I don’t have a good lower back. I end up calling 911 and guys from fire and rescue come and help her get up off the floor.
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