If one can’t take Trazodone, is there a good next best option?

[Indigo Blue]

Deleted

Edited May 10 by Indigo Blue

[Katy]

This is the kind of question that’s best for a doctor. Especially with a complicated medical history that includes anxiety. 

[maize]

Has he tried doxylamine succinate (original unisom, some unisom-branded sleep aids are diphenhydramine, same as benadryl)? That's been my most useful sleep aid and it's over the counter.

With trazodone (which I also take sometimes) my body did adjust and the weirder side effects I experienced at first don't happen anymore. Mine were more dizziness and vision issues though.

[Indigo Blue]

15 minutes ago, Katy said:

This is the kind of question that’s best for a doctor. Especially with a complicated medical history that includes anxiety. 

Thanks. He hasn’t been diagnosed with anxiety. 

[Indigo Blue]

11 minutes ago, maize said:

Has he tried doxylamine succinate (original unisom, some unisom-branded sleep aids are diphenhydramine, same as benadryl)? That's been my most useful sleep aid and it's over the counter.

With trazodone (which I also take sometimes) my body did adjust and the weirder side effects I experienced at first don't happen anymore. Mine were more dizziness and vision issues though.

He hasn’t tried that. Thanks maize.

[Ali in OR]

My dd with neuro issues can have a lot of trouble with sleep this time of year with days getting longer and longer. Sleep gets messed up, seizures ensue. We aim for good sleep hygiene including black out curtains and blinds (at least at home, not sure her foster home during the week focuses on this as much as I do). Two years a go after consulting with doctor, we had the option to try Trazodone or melatonin. We ended up just doing the melatonin, 2 mg in the evening. This seems to be working for most of the year, but I'm a little nervous for this time of year (last year was 2 trips to the ER for cluster seizures in June that I think came about from messed up sleep). Hope you can find a solution that works for your son.

[Indigo Blue]

18 minutes ago, Indigo Blue said:

 

 

30 minutes ago, maize said:

Has he tried doxylamine succinate (original unisom, some unisom-branded sleep aids are diphenhydramine, same as benadryl)? That's been my most useful sleep aid and it's over the counter.

With trazodone (which I also take sometimes) my body did adjust and the weirder side effects I experienced at first don't happen anymore. Mine were more dizziness and vision issues though.

Do you only take it as needed? I’m reading it isn’t for long term.

Edited May 9 by Indigo Blue

[Indigo Blue]

Deleted

Edited May 10 by Indigo Blue

[maize]

30 minutes ago, Indigo Blue said:

 

Do you only take it as needed? I’m reading it isn’t for long term.

I've been taking doxylamine succinate most nights for about 7 years. I started alternating with trazodone recently because the doxylamine was becoming less effective. Alternating has been working well for me. 

 

Edited May 9 by maize

[Indigo Blue]

1 minute ago, maize said:

I've been taking doxylamine succinate most nights for about 7 years. I started alternating with trazodone recently because the doxylamine was becoming less effective. Alternating has been working well for me. 

 

Oh, thanks. Good to know. Ds will be talking to his doctor soon, hopefully. 

[PeterPan]

1 hour ago, Indigo Blue said:

To me, he doesn’t seem to be anxious about things.

Zinc issues cause the physical anxiety symptoms because zinc affects GABA. He might have body anxiety (from the chemistry) without having anxiety about life (counseling issues). 

With complex people, sometimes you find more targeted options using genetics. You can get raw data with 23andme, ancestry, etc. and then run it through search engines. MaxGen also runs some really amazing reports for around $200.

[Indigo Blue]

1 hour ago, PeterPan said:

Zinc issues cause the physical anxiety symptoms because zinc affects GABA. He might have body anxiety (from the chemistry) without having anxiety about life (counseling issues). 

With complex people, sometimes you find more targeted options using genetics. You can get raw data with 23andme, ancestry, etc. and then run it through search engines. MaxGen also runs some really amazing reports for around $200.

Thank you. He does have weird and complicated medical things going on and Katy is right that he should ask the doctor. The thing is, the doctors don’t understand these complicated things. But if this gets worse and he can’t find something that he can tolerate that works, maybe he should consider the things you suggest and/or seeing someone more knowledgeable about the types of issues he has. 
 

I’m just trying to help him find a simple, safe thing to do at least for now, or to know a good prescription to ask for…until or when he needs to do something else. 
 

He is interested in trying the non Benadryl Unisom as needed. We both did not know about this one. We thought it was Benadryl, which he wants to avoid. 

[KidsHappen]

I take xanax to help me fall asleep at night. It of course also helps with anxiety. There are also a few SSRIs that work slowly to actually improve your sleep architecture (prescribed for just that purpose). There are also a few other prescription sleep meds that work. Ambien works really well if you can manage to stay in bed while you are asleep.