Anyone Ever Tried Trazodone?

[KafkaF]

So, about two months ago I got a perscription from my GP for an antidepressant called Trazodone.

Now, I studied psychology so I do know a thing or two about antidepressants. I know that studies tend to indicate that they do work, however... they don't work on everyone and different ones have different degrees of efficacy on different people. I've tried two antidepressants in the past and neither worked on me and both gave me negative side effects. So I'm not super hopeful about them working for me.

The biggest thing is that I'm scared of the side effects they might have.

Basically I'm just wondering though if any of you have ever tried trazodone and did it help? How did it make you feel? Did it work better on you than other antidepressants? How did it compare to them?

 

[doormat25]

I took it for a long time. It made me Feel groggy and edgy for ten minutes or so before falling asleep. Took it for nightmare. Woke up groggy too.

 

[Hollowman]

It gave me priapism lol

 

[KafkaF]

It gave me priapism lol

That's actually the thing I'm most worried about...

 

[Hollowman]

So many things to worry about with all psych meds.

 

[KafkaF]

So many things to worry about with all psych meds.

Yeah, unfortunately. The problem is that I'm not getting any better any other way. I feel that either something needs to radically change in my life or I need to CTB. There's no middle ground. So, idk. But things can't go on as they've been going.

 

[raindrops]

I'm looking at my box of Trazodone...hmm, from google - "Trazodone may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away." This makes me think how many could be fatal or am I just hopeful? Also, wtf - "According to its label, Trazodone can produce or increase suicidal thoughts in children and young adults." I mean I'm hardly a young adult but still!

Yeah, unfortunately. The problem is that I'm not getting any better any other way. I feel that either something needs to radically change in my life or I need to CTB. There's no middle ground. So, idk. But things can't go on as they've been going.

Radically change, yeah, they come back to us and realise how much we love them. Yup, a radical change sorry I just assumed you were going through something similar, sorry.

 

[nightlygem]

I take it for sleep and it knocks me out! It mellows me out but it will sometimes slow my heart rate a little too much. Something to look into before you try it.

 

[KafkaF]

I take it for sleep and it knocks me out! It mellows me out but it will sometimes slow my heart rate a little too much. Something to look into before you try it.

I've already read the list of potential side effects. But reading a list is not exactly the same as hearing people's lived experiences.

 

[hanz]

I was on 150 mg once to aid with sleep. It's one of the only antidepressants that I've taken and not made me insane, even with antipsychotics (I'm bipolar.) But yeah, no health issues, no increased suicidality, no weight gain, no sexual issues, no real major side effects...just a grogginess when first waking up in the morning. Did it's job in making me tired at night. I can't comment too much on the effectiveness as far as helping with depression since I took it for sleep. I think it helped very slightly with mood? But barely. But again, I'm bipolar and on 2 other meds so I imagine its different for others. I got off it once the sleep issues calmed down, maybe 3 months. I still have sleep issues but not like back then.

 

[TheLastGreySky]

So, about two months ago I got a perscription from my GP for an antidepressant called Trazodone.

Now, I studied psychology so I do know a thing or two about antidepressants. I know that studies tend to indicate that they do work, however... they don't work on everyone and different ones have different degrees of efficacy on different people. I've tried two antidepressants in the past and neither worked on me and both gave me negative side effects. So I'm not super hopeful about them working for me.

The biggest thing is that I'm scared of the side effects they might have.

Basically I'm just wondering though if any of you have ever tried trazodone and did it help? How did it make you feel? Did it work better on you than other antidepressants? How did it compare to them?

I was on Mirtazapine before Trazodone and I got to say personally it's a thousand times better. There's a lot of variables for sure, but personally I think it is a good med.

 

[KafkaF]

I was on Mirtazapine before Trazodone and I got to say personally it's a thousand times better. There's a lot of variables for sure, but personally I think it is a good med.

I'm mostly scared of potential side-effects.

 

[Celerity]

Trazodone helps me sleep. I have had no issues with side effects except when I mixed an insanely high dose with alcohol like an idiot. That might kill you, and you will be very uncomfortable the entire time. Don't do that - not for fun and definitely not to kill yourself.

As for the efficacy of antidepressants, it is not at all unusual to find them ineffective. The original theory for how they worked - the chemical imbalance idea - has been very thoroughly debunked.

Regarding side effects again, I personally have found them to be very overblown. Over the years, I have tried every class of psychiatric drug except MAO inhibitors and old school antipsychotics. Only a scant few gave me any side effects, and they were so mild and fleeting that I can't even remember what they were. The biggest issue in my case was how well they do or don't mix with alcohol. Bupropion/Wellbutrin is another one that should not be mixed with a lot of alcohol.

There are of course cases where people reacted very badly to psychiatric drugs, but I think the vast majority of cases I see are due to the nocebo effect. Anxiety is very, very powerful. If you expect the drug to be harmful, you may just manifest that reality. Try to keep in mind that around 1/5 of the American population is taking psychiatric drugs of some kind at any given moment, and around 1/3 have taken them at some point in their lives. That's dystopian to think about for sure, but it also means that these drugs are not going around fucking everybody up.

 

[raindrops]

might kill you, and you will be very uncomfortable the entire time. Don't do that - not for fun and definitely not to kill yourself

Do you think they could kill, mixed with alcohol? When you say uncomfortable do you mean because your heart would be beating too fast?

 

[Celerity]

Do you think they could kill, mixed with alcohol? When you say uncomfortable do you mean because your heart would be beating too fast?

Yes, but it would be very unreliable. Psychiatrists are quick to prescribe this for a reason. Even GPs will write an Rx for it. And yeah, it's really fucking uncomfortable. I would not recommend it at all. If you're young (which you likely are), you will survive. I also don't know if I have any permanent damage from it.

If it were a good way to go, I am certain some enterprising SaSu member would have reported it by now. It's easy to obtain in my experience.