Went to see my doctor about getting off sleep meds; prescribes me bupropion and trazodone

[chiluvr1228]

Originally Posted by seethelight

I've been taking Ambien for about 31 years. I initially started when I was doing a lot of international travel and couldn't sleep without taking a sleep aid. About 15 years ago I decided I wanted to get off the pills and went to a sleep therapist. He said that I needed to go without Ambien for three weeks and my "problem" would be over. Worst three weeks ever. I then decided to keep taking Ambien and have never looked back. Recently switched from the 10mg to the 12.5mg. No problems. When my doctor asked when I was going to quit I answered never, and she was fine with it.
Along with the Ambien I also take two Tizanidine pills, which are short acting muscle relaxants. I have a good sleep every night and wake up feeling fine.

You're overthinking this issue. Do whatever you want. It's your life.

If you are prone to depression I would NOT take Ambien. The two times I was taking it, about 6 years apart, I wound up in a suicidal state.

As for Trazadone I just recently read an article saying too many doctors are using it as a sleep aid which it was never intended for causing complications.

OP have you had any sleep studies done? Is it possible you have sleep apnea? I have fibromyalgia and rarely wake up refreshed. I have been taking Lorazepam (aka Ativan) an hour before bedtime. Unfortunately since it is a benzodiazepine, it is very addictive and many doctors, with the exception of a psychiatrist won't even prescribe it anymore. When I'm tired I am much more likely to become depressed so I truly feel for you.

[hd_rider]

UPDATE: Hi folks - I thought I should check in and let you all know how things have transpired in the past couple of weeks.

After sticking with the Brupopion for three weeks, and averaging 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night, I had had enough and insisted on speaking to my doctor for a change in prescriptions. That was on Nov 19th. Unfortunately, when I contacted the clinic, I learned that my PCM was out on vacation for a couple of weeks, but they were kind enough to let me come in and speak with another doctor.

The new doctor was very attentive and listened to what I had to say, including my suggestions for alternative drugs and requesting a thyroid blood test. Although he completely sympathized with me and and the major insomnia problems I was having, he felt that replacing the Trazodone with Remeron was a bit premature. He felt that the Buproprion was the cause of my insomnia and he replaced that prescription with Lexapro. Within two days of stopping the Buproprion, my sleep improved tremendously. I continue to track my sleep on a CBT-i application I have on my phone and my sleep efficiency over the past few days has exceeded 80%. I am consistently getting 6 or more hours of sleep a night.

Today, I had a follow-up with that new doctor as he wanted to see how I was doing on the new meds. Since I am doing well, at least for right now, he recommended I stay on the Lexapro / Trazodone combo for the next six months at which time we'll do another follow-up and possibly look at possibly reducing these meds.

While at the clinic today, I also had some lab work done to (1) Check my thyroid levels, and (2) Check my vitamin D levels (which were considerably low during my last physical in Feb, 2019.

So that's where I am. I'm still not sure if I really have an anxiety / stress / depression problem. All that I know is that I'm getting sleep at night, and I can't ask for any more than that.
_____________________
JohnC - Colorado Springs

[mcharas]

Originally Posted by hd_rider

Hi folks.

Long post ahead but I'm scared. Have I been diagnosed with a mental illness?

I've been dealing with insomnia (due primarily to anxiety / stress) for decades. As I get older (just turned 58), the insomnia has really become unbearable. On a good night, I get maybe four or five hours of sleep and I can function pretty well throughout the day. But there are many bad nights when I get little to NO sleep at all. The days following those nights are unbearable.

So about six months ago, I convinced my doc to let me try some sleeping pills. I was prescribed with Lunexa - 3mg, daily. But as is well known, the Lunexa worked fine initially but as my tolerance to the drug built up, my insomnia returned. Lately, there have been nights when I've taken 3, 4 or even 6mg of Lunexa and it had no effect on me.

The lack of sleep has made me a very unhappy person to be around. I snap at the slightest things. One recent event: I took a trip to New Orleans to visit friends in a cancer support group I belong to. When I got to my destination, I went to the car rental counter where I had reserved a car. When I got to the counter, there was no car. Although the guy behind the counter tried to help, I went ballistic. I was screaming and yelling, I was making a scene, etc. My wife was scared, she thought I was going to get arrested. I've always had a 'bad temper' but this was a nightmare. Reflecting on it now, I can't believe I was like that.

So this past week, I've stopped the taking the Lunexa and I went back to see the doctor looking for help. The Lunesta was no longer working and my insomnia was taking a toll not only on me, but those around me.

After filling out questionnaires asking me my medical history and talking with the doc for a bit, the doctor felt I had the classic signs of mild depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Accordingly, I've been prescribed bupropion, 150 mg each morning, along with trazodone, which I am to take each night to help me sleep. Both drugs are considered atypical anti-depressants.

Like I said above, I'm a bit scared by this. Does this mean I have a diagnosed mental illness? What should I expect from this drug combination in the coming weeks? The doc said I should feel better, have a better outlook on life, and I would get the needed sleep I've been lacking.

I've been taking the new meds for three days now; I've read that it can take weeks before one feels any benefits from them.

What should I be looking for? Mood changes? More sleep at night?

Will I have to take these drugs forever in order keep the anxiety / stress / insomnia at bay?

Is this your GP? Not a psychiatrist?

I would follow up. You have THE right to know what your doctor is putting in your file. Furthermore, certain diagnoses can affect whatever health insurance you may have, and diagnoses can 'follow' you.

These are very serious meds, and I'm sorry but I don't believe a GP should be prescribing them. Personal experience and experience in healthcare makes me wary of someone prescribing a drug because they know 'something' about it, while not working with it on the frequency of, say, a specialist (which is what a psychiatrist is- they study neurology first).

They all carry risks, and tazodone specifically would worry me more than the Wellbutrin, though that also has a risk of seizure that I hope your doctor told you about... Do NOT drink alcohol with the Wellbutrin (Bupropion).

[eggalegga]

Thanks for the update. I'm glad you found someone to help you so that you can get some sleep.

[Bette]

Thanks for the update and I hope you now continue to have many good nights of sleep.