[scooterb]

I, in general have never liked taking Trazadone. It's always made me feel out of it the next morning and disconnected even if I took the smallest dosage. I haven't taken any for several months, but after seeing my new psych last week I asked her for a few because I hadn't slept at all for almost four days. Sometimes my insomnia gets pretty bad.
Well, I take Ativan three times a day for anxiety and something happened that I don't understand. I was literally out of my mind for three days, having hallucinations, could not keep the days straight - even missed my first day of class for the Fall semester. That's something I never do! I'm dual diagnosed so my Sponsor came by to pick me as we had arranged and I completely had no memory of getting together. I thought all day Saturday was Friday, etc. It scared me ! I was falling down, couldn't keep my balance. Has anybody had a reaction like that from taking Trazadone and Ativan?
Thanks,
scooterb (Lisa)

[MyBestKids2]

I've had both prescribed, but never taken them at the same time. I hope you are recovering from that "hangover" effect. Maybe break the Trazadone in half???


Dee

[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

[scooterb]

Originally Posted by MyBestKids2

I've had both prescribed, but never taken them at the same time. I hope you are recovering from that "hangover" effect. Maybe break the Trazadone in half???


Dee

I think I've just decided to stay off the tramadol.
Scooterb

[scooterb]

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

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

I take Trazodone, Klonopin, Abilify & Lamictal at night. I'm trying to get off the Abilify (weight gain) so I've gone down from 25 mg to 5 mg & added 100 mg Topamax a.m. & p.m. I have never had a problem going out to dinner & haveing ONE glass of wine while being on the meds before the Topamax was added to the mix.

But once the Topamax was added, one night we were out with another couple & I had only 1/3 a glass of wine & I went into a kind of waking "coma." My eyes were open, apparently I could walk & talk, but I must have looked really weird as the last thing I remember is the other husband of the couple we were with saying something like: "I think Suzy is really tired."

A wave of something must have come over my face. My husband took me home immediately. I don't remember a thing. I don't remember walking to the car, or changing into my nightgown or anything, but just found myself in bed sort of remembering the guy saying: "I think Suzy must be really tired."

I AM SO EMBARRASSED. I have not spoken to or seen them since. They do not know I have bipolar. I did have to tell them once I sometimes had problems with depression as I had a crying spell at an inappropriate time. But this...

I want to move...

Now I find when I get extremely tired the same thing can happen so if we are going to go out in the evening I make sure I take a nap--Suzy