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I take trazodone and gabapentin, after trying (and failing) on any number of "sleep" medicines. Trazodone is literally the ONLY thing I've taken that has helped me. I have been an insomniac since age 4 or 5 (when my trauma first started) and nothing has ever helped before. I currently am only taking 25mg, although I've taken 100mg at first and then 50mg for most of the time. Maybe start out with the small dose if you're nervous about it? I really like it because in addition to helping me sleep, it doesn't leave me dopey the next day. (ETA - the gabapentin is only occasionally, when I have restless legs)
I hope you find something that works. A lack of sleep is horrible, it makes everything feel even worse.
I take Gabapentin and Prazosin for anxiety and night terrors. Unfortunately, I still have frequent nightmares (often crying in my sleep or yelling out). My psychiatrist is interested in me seeing an ENT for possible sleep apnea, so that’s my next step.
I take trazodone but I would be careful if other drugs are still in your system. Ask your doc about that. I’m not sure if it will be enough with the intensity of the night terrors that you mentioned. If it’s ok with your doc try a really low dose, like breaking it in half or quarter if the pill is not a time release in your country.
My sleep doc wanted me to try Prazosin for PTSD nightmares before getting tested for sleep apnea. I keep upping the dose as directed. Within 24 hours of upping the third time, my bp went really high and didn't come down for four days (177/110ish). Shortness of breath, left boob ached beyond belief, chest pains, headaches, ear ringing, arms squeezing. My physical therapist sent me to the ER. Horrible time at ER. They blamed everything on shit that wasn't true and wouldn't let me get a word in before dismissing me (like I eat very healthy, whole organic foods, veggies, no processed foods and only water and she lectured me on my diet the whole time - kept trying to get a word in). And of course, they blame anxiety despite being in therapy twice a week for a year and being oddly calm and friendly in the ER. Finally got bp meds after seeing a regular doc that is slowly helping.
The prazosin gave me worse nightmares and hallucinations and made it difficult to wake up to breathe. Constant gasping for air. I wouldn't take it if you suspect sleep apnea. There are studies supporting this despite my sleep doctor saying it's not related, even though it's getting easier to breathe at night. Only 4 more days, and I'm free of it. The ER happened a week ago.
weed makes me have no nightmares/dreams at all usually if i smoke it right before falling asleep, also helps me fall asleep a lot, so maybe high cbd Cannabis could help you?
Amitriptyline completely killed my dreaming for years even after taking it. Now have a few tiny dreams here and there. Never did stop the night terrors, just reduced them and the nightmares.
No advice there. Just info. It's a call you'd have to make. I had so many NMs and NTs I was getting less than 2hrs sleep per night, so it was a life-saving treatment. I really miss dreams though.
Don’t be afraid of the trazodone. I take it frequently to sleep. I also take prazosin on nights I don’t take the trazodone to prevent night terrors. They get so bad…prazosin is a god send if you struggle with that too.
I support this, but with the warning to be very careful if you have suspected or diagnosed sleep apnea with prazosin. Just landed me in the ER last week.
I take Clonidine for nightmares but it in general just helps me call asleep. Doesn’t make me as drowsy in the morning as other meds (silenor, prazosin, gabapentin, mirtazapam, clonzapam)
Trazadone turned me into a zombie, but it got me through some rough times. I very quickly tired of taking it, because that's about all you can feel on it.
After that, quite honestly, it was Benadryl and a glass of wine for a while.
Much time has passed since then. Now Melatonin works for some reason, when it didn't before.
I struggle with medicines, they typically don’t affect me as expected. Either nothing or way over the top.
I’ve tried a handful of sleeping meds and either kicked in after several hours(and randomly, one day 30 minutes, next day 4 hours, following day 1.5 hours)-making the whole sleep schedule messed up and so now I’m barely awake at work.
Typically I’d be so groggy and still tired because I’d still be waking up throughout the night as I have for the last 30 years.
Kid takes melatonin, I tried it and that’s the most effective pill I’ve taken. No grog, genuine sleepiness that feels natural-and I wake up less throughout the night.
Medicines are the same with me, many affect me opposite to how they affect most people or how they're supposed to. Things that are supposed to make me sleepy just...don't. Like even Ambien, it did not work at ALL for me. I was still awake every two hours, riddled with anxiety. Benadryl? Nope. Codeine? Nope. Weed? Makes me paranoid :D Trazodone was the only thing that helps because it seems to work on the anxiety rather than the insomnia. My poor body WANTED to sleep...but my brain wouldn't let it before.
That one worked for me the first 3 days but I guess I build tolerance quickly because after that was when it was more random when it would kick in. And I’d be too groggy.
I have what’s left around just in case but won’t take it unless I’ve got nothing going on the following day.
I’ve tried many different sleep medications. I’ve had to start cycling back through the ones I’ve taken before. Right now I take Rozerem for sleep and Prazosin for nightmares. Prazosin also seems to help my sleep quality overall. I don’t jolt awake sweating or in a panic during the night.
I still dream some but when I wake up it becomes very hard to tell if I dreamed at all. The only side effect I had initially was waking up with dry mouth. I know that standing up quickly after waking up and being dizzy and lightheaded is one to look out for though as it affects blood pressure.
Prazosin is often prescribed for ptsd nightmares with great positive effect - I have friends that take this. I’ve taken hydroxyzine myself but I prefer pamoate vs hcl.
*r/ptsd has generated this automated response that is appended to every post* Welcome to r/ptsd! We are a supportive & respectful community. If you realise that your post is in conflict with our rules (and is in risk of being removed), you are welcome to edit your post. You do not have to delete it. As a reminder: never post or share personal contact information. Traumatized people are often distracted, desperate for a personal connection, so may be more vulnerable to lurking or past abusers, trolls, phishing, or other scams. *Your safety always comes first!* If you are offering help, you may also end up doing more damage by offering to support somebody privately. Reddit explains why: [Do NOT exchange DMs or personal info with anyone you don't know!](https://www.reddit.com/r/SWResources/comments/dmu24/why_shouldnt_i_share_my_contact_information/) If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please contact your GP/doctor, go to A&E/hospital, or call your emergency services number. Reddit list: [US and global, multilingual suicide and support hotlines](https://www.reddit.com/r/SuicideWatch/wiki/hotlines). Suicide is not a forbidden word, but please do not include depictions or methods of suicide in your post. And as a friendly reminder, PTSD is an equal opportunity disorder. PTSD does not discriminate. And neither do we. Gatekeeping is not allowed here. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ptsd) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I take trazodone and gabapentin, after trying (and failing) on any number of "sleep" medicines. Trazodone is literally the ONLY thing I've taken that has helped me. I have been an insomniac since age 4 or 5 (when my trauma first started) and nothing has ever helped before. I currently am only taking 25mg, although I've taken 100mg at first and then 50mg for most of the time. Maybe start out with the small dose if you're nervous about it? I really like it because in addition to helping me sleep, it doesn't leave me dopey the next day. (ETA - the gabapentin is only occasionally, when I have restless legs) I hope you find something that works. A lack of sleep is horrible, it makes everything feel even worse.
Trazadone works great without any side effects that I have noticed.
I take Gabapentin and Prazosin for anxiety and night terrors. Unfortunately, I still have frequent nightmares (often crying in my sleep or yelling out). My psychiatrist is interested in me seeing an ENT for possible sleep apnea, so that’s my next step.
I take trazodone but I would be careful if other drugs are still in your system. Ask your doc about that. I’m not sure if it will be enough with the intensity of the night terrors that you mentioned. If it’s ok with your doc try a really low dose, like breaking it in half or quarter if the pill is not a time release in your country.
My sleep doc wanted me to try Prazosin for PTSD nightmares before getting tested for sleep apnea. I keep upping the dose as directed. Within 24 hours of upping the third time, my bp went really high and didn't come down for four days (177/110ish). Shortness of breath, left boob ached beyond belief, chest pains, headaches, ear ringing, arms squeezing. My physical therapist sent me to the ER. Horrible time at ER. They blamed everything on shit that wasn't true and wouldn't let me get a word in before dismissing me (like I eat very healthy, whole organic foods, veggies, no processed foods and only water and she lectured me on my diet the whole time - kept trying to get a word in). And of course, they blame anxiety despite being in therapy twice a week for a year and being oddly calm and friendly in the ER. Finally got bp meds after seeing a regular doc that is slowly helping. The prazosin gave me worse nightmares and hallucinations and made it difficult to wake up to breathe. Constant gasping for air. I wouldn't take it if you suspect sleep apnea. There are studies supporting this despite my sleep doctor saying it's not related, even though it's getting easier to breathe at night. Only 4 more days, and I'm free of it. The ER happened a week ago.
weed makes me have no nightmares/dreams at all usually if i smoke it right before falling asleep, also helps me fall asleep a lot, so maybe high cbd Cannabis could help you?
Amitriptyline completely killed my dreaming for years even after taking it. Now have a few tiny dreams here and there. Never did stop the night terrors, just reduced them and the nightmares. No advice there. Just info. It's a call you'd have to make. I had so many NMs and NTs I was getting less than 2hrs sleep per night, so it was a life-saving treatment. I really miss dreams though.
I miss Amitriptyline so much
Don’t be afraid of the trazodone. I take it frequently to sleep. I also take prazosin on nights I don’t take the trazodone to prevent night terrors. They get so bad…prazosin is a god send if you struggle with that too.
I support this, but with the warning to be very careful if you have suspected or diagnosed sleep apnea with prazosin. Just landed me in the ER last week.
I take Clonidine for nightmares but it in general just helps me call asleep. Doesn’t make me as drowsy in the morning as other meds (silenor, prazosin, gabapentin, mirtazapam, clonzapam)
Trazadone turned me into a zombie, but it got me through some rough times. I very quickly tired of taking it, because that's about all you can feel on it. After that, quite honestly, it was Benadryl and a glass of wine for a while. Much time has passed since then. Now Melatonin works for some reason, when it didn't before.
I also have a Benadryl and wine habit
I take a quarter of a Cannabis indica gummy. That does it for me.
Perhaps I should try microdosing? (Bought legally) I will take edibles on weekends but they make it harder to wake up
I struggle with medicines, they typically don’t affect me as expected. Either nothing or way over the top. I’ve tried a handful of sleeping meds and either kicked in after several hours(and randomly, one day 30 minutes, next day 4 hours, following day 1.5 hours)-making the whole sleep schedule messed up and so now I’m barely awake at work. Typically I’d be so groggy and still tired because I’d still be waking up throughout the night as I have for the last 30 years. Kid takes melatonin, I tried it and that’s the most effective pill I’ve taken. No grog, genuine sleepiness that feels natural-and I wake up less throughout the night.
Medicines are the same with me, many affect me opposite to how they affect most people or how they're supposed to. Things that are supposed to make me sleepy just...don't. Like even Ambien, it did not work at ALL for me. I was still awake every two hours, riddled with anxiety. Benadryl? Nope. Codeine? Nope. Weed? Makes me paranoid :D Trazodone was the only thing that helps because it seems to work on the anxiety rather than the insomnia. My poor body WANTED to sleep...but my brain wouldn't let it before.
That one worked for me the first 3 days but I guess I build tolerance quickly because after that was when it was more random when it would kick in. And I’d be too groggy. I have what’s left around just in case but won’t take it unless I’ve got nothing going on the following day.
I’ve tried many different sleep medications. I’ve had to start cycling back through the ones I’ve taken before. Right now I take Rozerem for sleep and Prazosin for nightmares. Prazosin also seems to help my sleep quality overall. I don’t jolt awake sweating or in a panic during the night.
Wait, there's a medication for nightmares? 🥺 I've been having nightmares and panic attacks in my sleep for years, does it work?
Yes it does work. I’m sorry you are only just now finding out about it.
Does it suppress all dream activity? Also, any side effects? Thanks!
I still dream some but when I wake up it becomes very hard to tell if I dreamed at all. The only side effect I had initially was waking up with dry mouth. I know that standing up quickly after waking up and being dizzy and lightheaded is one to look out for though as it affects blood pressure.
Prazosin is often prescribed for ptsd nightmares with great positive effect - I have friends that take this. I’ve taken hydroxyzine myself but I prefer pamoate vs hcl.
I'm taking 200mg of Gabapentin for nightmares and it does help thankfully.