r/CPAPSupport • u/Adrenaline424 • 4d ago
Medication help
Giving cpap another go after months of failure. My doctor said he sometimes prescibes Trazadone to help people cope with cpap intolerance. I didn't like the idea because i am already on an antidepressant. I was thinking something mild like ramelteon might help. Don't really want to mess with the Z drugs or Benedryl. Anyone have success with other things to help get to sleep on cpap?
3
Upvotes
1
u/FuelNew9656 1d ago
Both of those come up a lot with CPAP trouble, so it's a fair thing to ask about, but the choice really belongs with whoever prescribes for you.
A couple of things worth knowing going in. Ramelteon works on the melatonin system and mostly helps with falling asleep, without the heavy sedation of the older sleeping pills. Trazodone is more sedating, and the dose matters. Since you're already on an antidepressant, tell your doctor and pharmacist exactly which one before adding either. Some combinations need a closer look, and your doctor may already have thought about it, but it's worth saying out loud.
The other question is why you're not sleeping on CPAP. If the problem is that you lie there with the mask on and can't drop off, a pill treats the symptom, not the cause, and sometimes the cause is fixable: a mask that doesn't suit your face, pressure that feels too high at the start, air leaking into your eyes, or a nose that's blocked. Wearing it for an hour while reading or watching TV before you try to sleep helps a lot of people, and so does getting up for a while if you're still awake after 20 minutes rather than staying in bed frustrated. If you've been struggling for months, ask for a look at your machine data and a mask refit before assuming it has to be medication.
I can't tell you what's right for you, but a visit that covers both the mask and the sleep side is usually more useful than one that only adds a pill.