
Ask your doctor if you have any questions. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Always be sure to discuss any prescription medications with your doctor.This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. The included content is not intended to replace medical advice. Alex Dimitriu is a Stanford-trained physician with dual board certification in psychiatry and sleep medicine. In addition to exploring sleep prescriptions, your doctor may recommend you add sleep hygiene practices as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) exercises to increase your chances of long-term success.ĭr. Never adjust your dose without first speaking with your doctor. Once given a prescription, be sure to follow the directions provided.

In order to help your doctor determine what dose is right for you, always be sure to provide them with a completely up-to-date medical history as well as a list of all other medications you’re currently taking. The exact dose given to you will depend on several factors, including your medical history and your experience with insomnia. To find out what dose of Trazodone is right for you, be sure to reach out to a doctor. How Do I Know What's The Right Amount For Me? So your doctor will likely recommend that you start your prescription when you don’t need to be anywhere early the next day so you can understand how the medication affects you. This medication does carry a risk of possible side effects, including feeling groggy the next morning. It’s also important that you not drive or engage in any activities that require you to be alert right after taking your prescription. Only take your prescription if you’re ready for bed and have at least seven hours to sleep. In most cases, your prescription will be between 50-150 mg to be taken once a day shortly before bed. In fact, research has shown that taking too high a dose of the drug can have the opposite effect of keeping you wide awake. When used for insomnia, doctors prescribe this medication at a lower dose than they would otherwise. Other off-label prescriptions commonly turned to for insomnia include Gabapentin and Hydroxyzine. Additionally, it’s a medication with a low risk for dependency and isn’t considered a controlled substance. However, research does show that serotonin is needed in order for your body to produce melatonin, a hormone that signals your body its time for rest.ĭoctors often prescribe Trazodone off-label to help with insomnia as studies show it to be an effective option.


Serotonin’s relationship to the sleep-wake cycle is a bit complex as it's a hormone that’s been shown to both keep you awake and help you sleep. It's most often used as a sleep treatment to treat short-term insomnia that's the result of stressful life changes. Trazodone is an FDA-approved antidepressant that changes the levels of serotonin in your body, which can improve your mood, calm your nerves, and promote drowsiness - ultimately helping you fall asleep. Let’s take a quick look at how this medication works and the recommended dose needed to get you back to sleep. To help you get back on a path of healthy, recuperative sleep, your doctor may recommend a Trazodone prescription as a treatment option. Insomnia isn’t something you have to be stuck with. In some cases, it can even leave you more prone to making mistakes or having an accident. It’s a sleep disorder that can have far-reaching effects on your life, sapping your energy levels, testing your mood, and decimating your productivity levels. Insomnia is more than just struggling through tiring days and finding yourself wide awake in the middle of the night.
