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How To Wean Off Of Trazadone?

Posted on Mon, 8 Sep 2014

Question: I have been taking trazadone 50 mg to 100 mg per night for sleep to help me while waiting for zoloft to start working. Will I be able to eventually stop trazadone cold turkey? OR do I have to wean off slowly???

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Wean off slowly

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX

Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

Zoloft(Sertraline) will take 10-15 days to be effective. So you can wean off trazodone gradually after 10 days of starting zoloft.

One query is from my side,"Trazodone can help in sleep, but exclusive zoloft I don't think so. Do you have only sleep problem, or sleep problem is secondary to any other problem like depression or anxiety?"

Regards,
Dr. Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (10 hours later)

My main problem is anxiety with lots of pvc's and panic episodes. My sleep issue is secondary to my anxiety disorder. On another note, my recent updated labs showed a decrease in alkaline phosphatase enzymes's. My doc then ordered more tests to see the subcomponents of this enzyme and all is ok except my alkaline phosphatase intestinal enzyme. He said don't worry and we'll watch this in the future. I would like to get your opinion on this and whether it might be linked to my anxiety? Thanks in advance for your response.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No not to worry and ALP not linked to anxiety

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for follow up question.

Zoloft will be helpful in your anxiety and secondary sleep disturbance.

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) is not related to anxiety. Your decrease ALP not linked to anxiety. Generally decrease in ALP due to nutritional deficiency or hormonal disturbance. With nutritional supplement it will revert back to normal.

Hope I have answered your query,
Regards.
Dr. Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (4 days later)

Hi Doctor, thanks for the follow up. After about one month on Zoloft, I started to feel better when I reached 100 mg per day. This relief lasted about 17 days then I had a return of symptoms. I am now on 150 mg per day and this will be my third day on this new dose. I am hoping that this dose will be my target dose for this medication. I am also going through counseling for PTSD and feel I am really getting to FEEL lots of my repressed emotions. I have read many testimonials about zoloft working well at 150 mg per day so I hope the same for me. Thank you

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Good luck

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I also guess the same. It will work. Simultaneously psychotherapy would also help.
Wish you early stability and happy and healthy life.
Regards.
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D