Quote:
Originally Posted by yutzman
I was prescribed trazadone by my psych for insomnia and boy did it lay me out. He said its basically safe at low doses, but soon after I started taking it I started coming up short on my daily dose of Cymbalta (90mg xr). I didn't understand what was going on. I'd come up short on pills by about 5 or 6 at the end of my month. Since I live alone, theft wasn't an issue. So I asked my psych, and together I think we figured it out. Apparently I had forgotten taking my meds on some days and accidently double dosed on my Cymbalta. We attributed this to the trazadone which really must have effected my reality. I was concerned about overdosing but the Doc said Cymbalta is safe as long as I don't hit it really hard. I stopped taking the trazadone and haven't had a problem since. I count my pills every day now, though.
Ativan, though, is not as safe in multi doses, since one of it's side effects is amnesia. Both trazadone and ativan together is a worse threat. In an amnesia state it is possible to do the irrational. If double dosing is the problem, the higher dosage could make the problem even worse and escalate.
Just be aware, this could happen to anyone given these powerful meds we get given these days. I never thought it would happen to me, but it did, and it's a little scary. All we can do is be aware this could happen and live our daily life accordingly.
I wish you well, and good luck.............yutzman
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Thank you, yutzman. Since I go through a county facility in LA, for lack of insurance, there are certain things you have to live with. The meds that they are allowed to prescribe are on some list the higher ups have dictated and even though they know there is a better answer thier hands are tied. I will say that I've had excellent docs since going here and since I'm rather articulate they really listen to what I have to say. On that point, I am surprised about the Trazadone. I always thought it was used because it didn't do well as an anti-depressant but it worked rather well as a non-habit forming sleep aide. It's always been presented to me as the loser in the bunch of available medications. I will have more respect from now on and don't plan on taking it anymore. I refuse to do seroquel or risperdol - I do feel crazy on those!
And I know that Ativan as a benzo is particularily addicting. I'm in Recovery so I'm well aware of what my AA group thinks and keep my Sponsor in the loop. But, the blackout was something I've never had unless I abused Ativan and I am way past that, thank god. I ran this past my doctor on the phone and she didn't really have as clear an explanation, as you. I'm starting to think there was maybe unwitting double dosing.
Scooterb