Question for CamW aboutTrazadone (Deseryl)

Hi Cam,
Me again, today the doc. gave me a script for Trazadone 50mg. to try at night with hopes of helping me get my sleep wake cycle on track, he said to try it at night besides sticking with my lithium as usual. I am not opposed of being kept on the lithium, it agrees with me. He has me presently down to 10mgs of celexa and said I could stop when I run out. The Trazadone he said I do not have to take it all the time just if it helps with the sleep at night and not all day like I practically do now, I am like a "bat"! ha!ha! I tried to see some info on the net but some was limited. At a dose of 50mg can you tell me any pertinet info, I'd expect with the low dose (he said it was a low dose) that I should not have any major side effects like I read ex: grand mal seizures, heart attack, etc. you know all "those scarey things". But if you are free can you tell me anything good or bad about this drug? Feedback from anyone else "out there" would also be appreciated
Thanks,
"darkeyes"

Hi Darkeyes,
I tried Trazadone, too, while I was in college. I recall it helped me sleep and gave me additional energy. The problem I had with it is that it stuffed up my nose and would not stop doing that. I felt like I could not breathe all the time. But I did not look for a remedy for the side effect-I guess I could/should have. I just stopped it because of that and got on something else. I was so busy at the time I could not "afford" to wait out the side effect that may have gone away. I've talked to many, though, who have used it and did very well. They may have waited out the side effects if they had any. Hope it will be beneficial to you.

CQ

<font color=purple>"If you free what is inside you,
it will make you free;
if you hold onto what is inside you
it will destroy you."

Zen Proverb
</font color=purple>

Thanks
I told the doctor "as long as it's not going to make me gain more weight, I'll try it, ha!ha! As usual I need to get back to being an exercise freak again, I use to even power walk in the rain with my umbrella, now when I look back that may have been a little toooooooo much! Well I won't give up, yet.
Hey I like your Zen proverb, it is so true! Take care, oh I have prescription nasal spray I use from my nose doctor for my sinusitis I get once in a while so I am ready for the Trazadone.
The doc and I were pleased that I am doing well with the Lithium and the blood work was good too! I think I have really come to complete acceptance now, no more denial, it gets one no where. . . only trouble. Thanks so much for the good news
XXOO
"darkeyes"

Darkeyes - Desyrel™ (trazodone) was originally designed as an antidepressant in doses of about 450mg to 600mg daily in divided doses. The problem was, no one could figure out if they were less depressed because they were sleeping all of the time.

Actually at the higher doses one dose adjust to much of the drowsiness caused by the trazodone. When used intermittently at lower doses, it is a very safe an effective sleep inducer.

It is chemically similar to the antidepressant Serzone™ (nefazodone), but the trazodone is much more sedating. The mechanism of action of these antidepressants is sorta different. As well as increasing serotonin by blocking the reuptake pump in the synaptic cleft between 2 neurons, they also block serotonin-2 (5HT-2) receptors. The manufacturers claim that these drugs can improve "sleep architecture". You get a better quality of sleep, as well as putting you to sleep.

Only one word of caution, especially when starting the trazodone. There is a very, very slight chance of getting serotonin syndrome (flushed face, sweating, racing heart) because the Celexa™ (citalopram), trazodone, and lithium all cause increases sertonin. The doses of trazodone and Celexa that you are taking are so low that I seriously doubt that there is any real risk of serotonin syndrome.

Take care sweetness, and let me know how it goes. - Cam

<font color=blue>"History will keep repeating
itself forever like the woman
in the image on the Dutch Cleanser box"</font color=blue>
<font color=green>- Allen Ginsberg (from "Laughing Gas"- c.1958-60)</font color=green>