My improved sleep quality is an encouraging sign

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with trazodone. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy.

Sleep issues haunt many of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As I mentioned in last week’s column, I’ve been having difficulty falling asleep, so I recently took steps to fight my sleep demons.

It wasn’t until mid-2024 that I started to struggle with sleep. The only exception was after my husband’s death in 2002, at which time my doctor prescribed Ambien (zolpidem). I learned that when the directions said to go to bed immediately after taking it, they meant just that. The Cleveland Clinic also notes that “after taking this medication, you may get up out of bed and do an activity that you do not know you are doing,” which can include eating, driving, sex, or sleepwalking.

My most recent experience with sleep medication came after trying all of the over-the-counter sleep aids I could find. While they worked a few times, they didn’t consistently help me sleep. The allure was that they’re not habit-forming.

I wrote last week that I started seeing a psychiatrist because I’ve been struggling with depression. During my second visit, he prescribed me trazodone, which has improved my sleep. My doctor assured me it wasn’t addictive and believed it’d also help with my depression, which is its primary use.

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Seeing improvements

After a few weeks of taking the medication one hour before bedtime, I noticed that my sleep statistics were improving, and my sleep score was in the high 80s (out of 100). I use a Fitbit to track these statistics, and one that I monitor carefully is my resting heart rate. If it exceeds 83 beats per minute (bpm) for more than one night, I’m to notify my cardiologist because this rate may indicate that my atrial fibrillation isn’t under control. I take a calcium channel blocker to regulate my heart rate. Since starting the trazodone, my resting heart rate has hovered around 78 bpm, which is excellent for me.

Another statistic that I monitor is the amount of time I spend in each sleep stage. I know I’m getting rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, in part because I can remember vivid dreams I’ve had, though dreams can happen in other stages. I am averaging about two hours of REM sleep per night.

I’m also getting more deep sleep, an essential stage of sleep where the body repairs itself. According to the Sleep Foundation, up to 20% of our sleep should be deep sleep. I sleep for about eight hours a night, and my Fitbit tells me I’m getting about 1.5 hours of deep sleep, so I should be on track.

Sleep is important to our health, especially with COPD, so we need to ensure we’re getting enough quality rest. I hope that you’re getting a good night’s sleep, but if you’re not, please speak with your doctor. If they’re unable to help, find a provider who can.

Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.