Requesting certain type of antidepressant

[savourysnacks]

Hello

I have taken citalopram and sertraline in the past and had awful insomnia. I usually sleep fairly poorly, and it's the first thing to deteriorate when my mental state declines, the two AD's I've taken made it worse. I have been thinking for the past 2 years about starting AD's again, and the insomnia has been the thing that has put me off....that and dealing with frequent GP appointments.

Low mood has been bubbling along for a long time, and it's recently got much worse and I have awful anxiety as well for the first time, especially in the early hours. Having done some research, I want to try trazadone, which seems not to cause insomnia. However it seems that it's not one of the first options/readily given out by the GP.

I have two questions:

Has anyone requested a certain type of AD from the GP, one that isn't a 'first line' treatment, and the GP has accepted the request without being made to try and array of others first?

Are GP's giving AD's out over the phone these days? The last time I took them was before Covid days, and I recall needing to go back to the GP every two weeks, which was a nightmare then and likely worse now. Additionally, I have since moved to the online Babylon/EMed GP which was great initially, but terrible now, plus I'd have to travel quite a way to see them in person. Therefore if I did have to see a GP in person every 2 weeks, I would transfer to a local one.

Thank you for reading and for any experience you can share.

gps might be more familiar with mirtazapine… worth some research x

My GP allowed me anti depressants after just a phone consultation, although I can't help with whether they would allow a different medication as I just had sertraline

The weight gain associated with mirtazapine really puts me off. I haven't read the same with trazodone

Duloxetine is useful, SNRI, like mirtazipine but no weight gain associated with it.

Yes 100% I always would ask for a preferred medication, ADs for example only citalopram even if it's been a few years etc. the pill I would only ask for Yasmin even when they tried to put me on god knows what after a 3 year break due to DC etc. Advocate for yourself OP for sure

I take trazodone although it's prescribed by a psychiatrist. When my GP saw that I was on it, he said it was a brilliant drug and one of the best ADs which suggests he may have been okay to prescribe it.

Trazadone is really good for insomnia - I’ve been on it for PTSD and associated depression/ anxiety for about 10 years and it works well managing my moods and my sleep. Definitely ask for it - it’s the one my GP suggested because I couldn’t sleep…

I took Mirtazapine for six months. It did absolutely nothing for my depression, though it was prescribed following a bereavement, but I've suffered from low mood most of my life.

It did increase my appetite, but only for the first couple of hours after I'd taken it, then this side effect wore off after a couple of months.

The only positive is that it helped me sleep, and also had no other unpleasant side effects.

I also take Trazodone but its prescribed by my psychiatrist. Its considered rather an old antidepressant and, I believe, is more commonly prescribed for actual insomnia. Its been a life saver for me. It lifted my desperately low mood, completely halted my bingeing behaviour and I need to be comfy in bed before I swallow it as I'm asleep in 5 minutes. No drowsiness next day. Tell your GP you've done your research and he may very well listen and agree your request.

Thanks all, really useful.

I can't imagine being able to sleep for 7 fairly solid hours a night. I think that one thing alone would make a big difference to my depression/anxiety simply as I have less time to experience it.

I will ask (beg, plead, insist) for the trazodone.

Of course, what have you hit to lose by asking for a specific medicine?

Ask them sure. Come armed with info on why you want to try that one. Be prepared for them to say actually you could just try this one and listen to their explanation of why. You have more of a chance if you go in with it being a two way conversation rather than insisting.

Most antidepressants have insomnia and sleepiness as a side effect. For me it was a case of going through various ssri's, then snri's hoping to find one that fit. I was on sertraline for ages, then had a bout of agoraphobia which meant no repeat prescriptions and I felt no different without them. Insomnia was not good. I'm now taking citalopram and the insomnia isn't good but it's helped a little with the agoraphobia.
Now that my surgery does phone appointments I may moan about the sleep and see what happens.

Escitalopram.

I was prescribed this when Citalopram gave me insomnia.
I'm fine on it.

The older style tricyclics are good for sleep.

Hi - this is an old thread but I am interested to see how OP got on with Trazadone as I have just been prescribed it for depression / anxiety and grief. Just about to collect the prescription.....so two questions (i) did it help and (ii) what adverse side effects did you experience?

I put on 3 stone with this drug

Took me off that type of drug due to the fact it can cause heart problems

Hello....I am the OP, name changed since this post.
So strange I looked at this today, and there was a new post!
I've got on really well with Trazodone. I take 150mg before bed. It's not a miracle worker, but it has helped my sleep. I fall asleep easier and sleep more solidly/longer. It doesn't knock me out.
Anxiety and depression has improved too, I think that is largely due to sleeping better, not having so many hours in bed awake to spiral.
I've not put on any weight and didn't notice any change to my appetite.
It hasn't impacted sexual function, which other anti ds did.
I haven't had any side effects.

I hope you get on well with it and things improve soon. X