drug information? depression medicines? trazodone?

Question

Well ive always been really worried about taking medicines ever since i can remember, i always think the side affects will harm me, today my mental health doctor prescribed me 50mg trazodone for me to take with a little food, at night,
will this hurt me in any way?
has anyone ever took it?
keep in mind im 14, and its supposed to help with my nightly panic attacks and panic disorder.

Answer 1

I take trazodone to bring an early end to my drinking binges (you know for those crazy Friday nights). The only side affects I really experience with it are slight dizziness the next morning and really really messed up dreams. It is not an SSRI like other anti-depressants and is pretty mild. 50mg shouldn't be bad.

Answer 2

There is a good web site for you to check on ths drug, why it is used how it works all written for the average person to understand.. It is called MedlinePlus, they have a drug portion and an encyclopedia so you can check out your diagnosis as to how you are feeling, this will help you to talk to your Doc more comfortably, the drug portion will allow you to find the drug and all about it. You take these to together and learn as much as you can about your condition and your meds.
I have taken several different meds over a life time and I always want to know more than the Doc or nurse has time for so I research. You are only 14 so your Doc needs to know absolutely every thing this med makes you feel or not feel. You need to have very close monitoring of you moods you progress or lack of. A diary would be good, our memory can evaporate so easily under stress and I do know about stress and panic attacks. Some times I can't go to the library because of the height of the rows of books, I get claustrophobia at least thats what I call it. My chest gets tight and I feel like i can't breathe....needless to say some one else picks out my books some days.... I hope you have lots of people who love you and will be there for you because having other people aware of my problem they know not to freak on me if I need to get up and leave from some places some times.. it will be so much harder on you being a teen, there is so much zooming all around you you can get lost in the dust and then be scared witless because you feel lost. I am so glad you are getting help, just keep working with your health professionals and Good Luck

Answer 3

Hey there. I have been taking 50 mg of trazodone nightly for about 4 or 5 months primarily for insomnia but also for panic and anxiety. First and foremost, it will put you to sleep and is not habit forming. Secondly, it will also help a little with your panic / anxiety although, you should be talking to a therapist about the root of your panic attacks as well...there is no magic pill...it is a physiological reaction but has some MAJOR psychological components...if anyone tells you to take a pill and forget about it, get a new therapist / doctor. Dont get me wrong, medication can be a lifesaver, you just need to address both issues. To answer your primary question about its safety, I'm twice your age and have worried a lot about taking medication in my younger years, but what experience has taught me is that if it helps, and the costs are minimal in comparison to benefits, then you should take it. And, the cost of trazodone (in terms of side effects etc) is very minimal and it can be very beneficial. And trazodone has been around a LONG time and people have been taking it for years in MUCH higher doses than 50 mg. When it originally came out, it was marketed as an antidepressant to treat depression and was prescribed in the 200 + dosages during the day. Now, it is rarely if ever prescribed for depression and is used as in your case and mine in much smaller doses for sedation etc. Unless you notice a major side effect (trust me you'll know and it is so so so rare with trazodone) YOU'LL BE FINE...dont worry about the trazodone and talk to someone about your anxiety and panic (a therapist!).

Answer 4

I have been suffering from post partum depression for the past one year when I gave birth to a baby boy. I couldn't stop thinking about how my husband loves him more than me and how things might be better if he wasn't born at all. Thus, I stayed away from him because I knew that I might do something I will regret for the rest of my life.

Almost instantly I went to a therapist and convince them that I need help. Among other things, I've tried herbal supplements and other book to treat depression but nothing works like the Depression Free Method. So now I'm proud to say I'm one of the happiest mother in the world. My husband loves us both very much and I thank the Lord for the blessing he gave us.

Depression Free Method?

Answer 5

panic is hard to deal with. panic usually hits the hardest at night, when your mind starts to race and think. simple things can trigger panic. it's the worst feeling in the world. i take Lexapro for a long term everyday answer to my panic. at first i took xanex for the real bad panic episodes (like 6 months) and at the same time took Lexapro 10 mg a day. I discontinued my xanex and I have continued taking the Lexapro everyday. The result? No more panic. Panic is a body disorder that is caused by the mind. I was low on potassium and vitamin B12 also. (I'm a girl btw). Lexapro is made for women. It is mild and what it does is it gets your bodies chemical imbalance; well; balanced. I could have took xanex or some other fast acting panic disorder medicine forever with no results, but it was the Lexapro that allowed me to move past this crisis mostly untouched. Good luck!

Answer 6

I have taken it before. 50mg will be mild for you. Don't take more than your supposed to though. I took it to relax me and I fell asleep. Most prescribed medicines are somehow always bad for your body. But hey so are cheeseburgers!! Good luck!

Answer 7

I have taken Trazodone in the past---to help calm and relax me to help me sleep. And it does work. I didn't have any side effects.

The doctor believes this medication will help you. But you need to sit down and talk to your parents AND doctor about your fears. Do not make this decision by yourself. Go over the information on this drug WITH your parents AND your doctor:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a681038.html

Answer 8

Iceagle, medicines DO work...yeah just take your drugs, or smoke pot, or do some ecstasy or speed or something. Why cant people ever be happy? always worried in some way...Jeesh

Answer 9

I personally take wellbutrin, and i've gone through several antidepressants, and have found this one works best for me, though people reactions are different.
My boyfriend happens to take it as well, & it's the only medication of this kind that's ever worked for him.
It's also prescribed for various non mental health reasons-trouble sleeping, trouble with seizures, weight gain/loss, quit smoking aid, even ADHD.
Read about Wellbutrin here- http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-14211-Wellbutrin+SR+Oral.aspx?drugid=14211&drugname=Wellbutrin+SR+Oral

And, I got you this information about Trazodone here: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a681038.html

This medicine, Trazodone, is a modified cyclic antidepressant. Trazodone belongs to the group of medicines known as antidepressants or "mood elevators." It is used to relieve mental depression and depression that sometimes occurs with anxiety.

Pharmacology
Trazodone's mechanism of action in humans is not clear.
In animals, trazodone HCl selectively inhibits serotonin uptake by brain synaptosomes and potentiates the behavioral changes induced by the serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan.
Peak plasma levels occur approximately one hour after dosing when trazodone HCl is taken on an empty stomach or two hours after dosing when taken with food.
For those patients who responded to trazodone HCl in clinical trials, one-third of the inpatients and one-third of the outpatients had a significant therapeutic response by the end of the first week of treatment. Three-fourths of all responders demonstrated a significant therapeutic effect by the end of the second week. One-fourth of responders required 2-4 weeks for a significant therapeutic response.

Warnings
Trazodone has been associated with the occurrence of priapism. In approximately 1/3 of the cases reported, surgical intervention was required and, in a portion of these cases, permanent impairment of erectile function or impotence resulted. Male patients with prolonged or inappropriate erections should immediately discontinue the drug and consult their physician. If the condition persists for more than 24 hours, it would be advisable for the treating physician to consult a urologist or appropriate specialist in order to decide on a management approach.
Trazodone is not recommended for use during the initial recovery phase of myocardial infarction.
Caution should be used when administering trazodone to patients with cardiac disease, and such patients should be closely monitored, since antidepressant drugs (including trazodone) have been associated with the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias.

Precautions
The possibility of suicide in seriously depressed patients is inherent in the illness and may persist until significant remission occurs. Therefore, prescriptions should be written for the smallest number of tablets consistent with good patient management.
Hypotension, including orthostatic hypotension and syncope, has been reported to occur in patients receiving trazodone. Concomitant administration of antihypertensive therapy with trazodone may require a reduction in the dose of the antihypertensive drug.
Little is known about the interaction between trazodone and general anesthetics; therefore, prior to elective surgery, trazodone should be discontinued for as long as clinically feasible.
As with all antidepressants, the use of trazodone should be based on the consideration of the physician that the expected benefits of therapy outweigh potential risk factors.
Trazodone should be given shortly after a meal or light snack. Within any individual patient, total drug absorption may be up to 20% higher when the drug is taken with food rather than on an empty stomach. The risk of dizziness/lightheadedness may increase under fasting conditions.
Do not stop taking this medicine without checking with your doctor.

Answer 10

I am the same! Drugs suppress and do not cure any illness, just remember that! My suggestion, go see a naturopath doctor and ask him/her the same question.