Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesBefore TakingDosageSide EffectsWarnings and Interactions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Before Taking
Dosage
Side Effects
Warnings and Interactions
Trazodone comes in a tablet and an extended-release tablet. Common brand names include Desyrel, Desyrel Dividose, and Oleptro.
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Trazodone is used to controlsymptoms of depression, but it cannot cure depression. Your healthcare provider may start you at a low dose and gradually increase it.
Trazodone increases serotonin activity in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that normally promotes a feeling of mental wellbeing.Trazodone is also indicated for the treatment of insomniaand anxiety symptoms.
Before you are prescribed this drug for the treatment of your depression, your healthcare provider will consider whether the possible benefits outweigh the risks. Trazodone may interact with many other medications. Talk to your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and vitamins that you currently take.
While some drugs pose minor interaction risks, others may outright contraindicate use or prompt careful consideration and/or monitoring for interactions.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, your healthcare provider may explore other treatment options for you besides trazodone.
Precautions and Contraindications
Trazodone should be used with caution in teenagers and young adults. Studies have shown that a small percentage of young people under the age of 24 who take trazodone may developsuicidal ideationor thoughts of harming themselves.
Your healthcare provider will talk with you about a plan for how to contact the appropriate resources should you or your child experience thoughts of self-harm while taking trazodone.
Trazodone should not be used in patients with a history of heart disease or a recent heart attack. This drug can cause or worsenQT prolongationwhich can cause an irregular heart rhythm that can lead to fainting, seizures, or even death.
If you have a history ofglaucoma, trazodone could worsen it. Your healthcare provider may ask you to have an eye exam before prescribing it.
Other Antidepressants
In addition to trazodone, the most common antidepressants include:
Trazodone is available as a regular release tablet and an extended-release tablet. It is available in a generic form. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), dosing should be as follows:
According to the journalPharmacy and Therapeutics, dosing for extended-release tablets also starts at 150 mg per day.These tablets are taken around bedtime because they can cause drowsiness.
All listed dosages are according to the drug manufacturer. Check your prescription and talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you are taking the right dose for you.
How to Take and Store
Aim to take your prescription at the same time each day.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If your next dose is coming up, skip the missed dose, and never double your prescription. Because trazodone can cause drowsiness, you may need to wait until the evening to take your dose.
It is safest to keep this medication in its original bottle with the lid tightly sealed. Make sure it is out of reach of children and kept in a cool, dry place. Rooms with heat and moisture, such as the bathroom after a shower, are not the best storage place for trazodone.
Common
The most common side effects of Trazodone are mild and do not usually require a change in dosing or prescription.
Common side effects include:
Severe
Because of Trazodone’s effect on your mood and heart function, certain side effects must be addressed right away.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of the following side effects:
Overdose Warning
A trazodone overdose can cause serious side effects—and could be life-threatening.
Symptoms of an overdose may include:
If you or your child experience any overdose symptoms, call the Poison Center immediately.
Trazodone should be used with caution in patients who:
Warnings
When used in adolescents and young adults, Trazodone comes with a boxed warning because it may cause suicidal thoughts.This side effect is rare, but it’s best to have a plan in place in the event that it does happen. Talk with your healthcare provider about changes in mood or thoughts that you should look for.
Have a list of emergency phone numbers to call for help if you notice yourself thinking of self-harm. If you are the parent of a patient taking trazodone, have honest discussions about this possibility and develop a family plan together.
When taken with other antidepressants, trazodone could causeserotonin syndrome. This happens when there is too much serotonin activity in your body. You could experience shivering, diarrhea, fever, seizures, and loss of consciousness. If you notice any of these symptoms while taking trazodone, talk with your healthcare provider right away.
If you and your healthcare provider determine that trazodone is not a fit for you, do not stop it cold turkey, because you could experience withdrawal symptoms. Your practitioner will most likely give you a schedule for gradually reducing your dosage.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Trazodone.Trazodone(Oral Route) Precautions. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/trazodone-oral-route/precautions/drg-20061280.Food and Drug Administration.Trazodone highlights of prescribing.Oleptro™ (trazodone hydrochloride) extended-release tablets.P T. 2011;36(2):2-18.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Trazodone.Trazodone(Oral Route) Precautions. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/trazodone-oral-route/precautions/drg-20061280.Food and Drug Administration.Trazodone highlights of prescribing.Oleptro™ (trazodone hydrochloride) extended-release tablets.P T. 2011;36(2):2-18.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Trazodone.Trazodone(Oral Route) Precautions. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/trazodone-oral-route/precautions/drg-20061280.Food and Drug Administration.Trazodone highlights of prescribing.Oleptro™ (trazodone hydrochloride) extended-release tablets.P T. 2011;36(2):2-18.
MedlinePlus.Trazodone.
Trazodone(Oral Route) Precautions. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/trazodone-oral-route/precautions/drg-20061280.
Food and Drug Administration.Trazodone highlights of prescribing.
Oleptro™ (trazodone hydrochloride) extended-release tablets.P T. 2011;36(2):2-18.
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