Trazodone
Description
Trazodone is an antidepressant medication used in the treatment of depression. This medicine works by increasing the levels of a chemical called serotonin in the brain, which helps to improve mood and reduce the feeling of anxiety.
Trazodone causes side effects that include nausea, diarrhoea or constipation, decrease in appetite, dry mouth, confusion, tremor, headache, sweating, drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, etc. Consult your doctor if these side effects bother you for a long time or become severe.
Trazodone may be taken with or without food in the dose and duration prescribed by your doctor. Take it at the same time regularly for the ease of remembering. Do not stop taking Trazodone without consulting your doctor. Abrupt discontinuation of this medicine may cause withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, agitation, confusion, irritability, confusion, trouble sleeping, etc. Your doctor may reduce the dose gradually over a period to prevent such unwanted effects.
Trazodone should be avoided if you are allergic to it or if you recently have had a heart attack. To make sure this medicine is safe for you, inform your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, or have heart, liver, or kidney problems. Also, Trazodone should be used with caution as it may cause mood and behavioural changes and suicidal thoughts. Consult your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in mood and behaviour or develop thoughts of self-harm while taking medicine.
Trazodone is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Trazodone
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Decreased concentration
- General feeling of discomfort
- Fatigue
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Tremor (Shaking and trembling of arms and feet)
Uses of Trazodone
What is it prescribed for?
- Depression
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe time taken for Trazodone to show its effect is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which Trazodone remains active in your body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with Trazodone as it can increase the side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty in concentration.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Trazodone.
- Usage in pregnancy?Trazodone is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless necessary. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant to understand the potential risks and benefits of taking this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Trazodone may pass into the breastmilk at low levels. Hence it is not recommended for use while breastfeeding unless necessary. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding to understand the potential risks and benefits of taking this medicine.
Allergy
Avoid taking Trazodone if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of your face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO)
MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors) are medications used to treat depression and other mental health conditions. Avoid taking Trazodone with MAOIs or within two weeks after discontinuing MAOIs, as it can lead to life-threatening complications.
Heart attack
Trazodone is not recommended for use if you recently have had a heart attack as it may further worsen your condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Trazodone is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless necessary. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant to understand the potential risks and benefits of taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
Trazodone may pass into the breastmilk at low levels. Hence it is not recommended for use while breastfeeding unless necessary. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding to understand the potential risks and benefits of taking this medicine.
General warnings
Suicidal tendencies
Trazodone may cause changes in mood and behaviour and may lead to suicidal tendencies. Report any mood changes to your doctor immediately so that counselling can be done.
Kidney and Liver disease
Trazodone should be used with caution if you have kidney or liver problems as it may further worsen your condition. Your doctor may adjust the dose based on your clinical condition.
Hypotension
Hypotension is a decrease in blood pressure. Trazodone should be used with caution if you have hypotension as this medicine may cause a further decrease in blood pressure and worsen your condition.
Monitor your blood pressure regularly, especially when the dose of this medicine has been altered. It is advised to get up slowly from a sitting or a lying position to avoid a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Hyponatraemia
Hyponatraemia is a condition in which sodium levels in your blood are lower than normal. Trazodone should be used with caution as it may increase the risk of hyponatraemia. This risk is especially higher in the elderly or if you are taking diuretics (water pills that increases sodium and water excretion from the body).
Use in children
Trazodone is not recommended for use in children less than 18 years of age as the safety and efficacy data are not clinically established.
Bleeding
Trazodone may alter platelet (blood cell that helps form blood clots) function and prolong the bleeding time. Inform your doctor immediately if you experience any unusual bleeding or bruising, black and tarry stools, etc. Consult your doctor before using medicines such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, or Naproxen together with Trazodone as it may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Other Medicines
Trazodone may interact with other medicines that you are taking and cause undesired effects. Hence, inform your doctor about all your current medicines, including any herbs and supplements, before beginning treatment with Trazodone.
Ability to drive or operate machines
Trazodone may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Hence, avoid performing activities that require high mental alertness, such as driving vehicles or operating machines during treatment with this medicine.
Withdrawal symptoms
Avoid sudden discontinuation of Trazodone as it may cause withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, irritability, nausea, dizziness, trouble sleeping, etc. Your doctor will reduce the dose gradually over a period to avoid such undesired effects.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose of Trazodone as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical attention in case of an overdose of Trazodone.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
N/A
Instructions
Consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with Trazodone as it can increase the side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty in concentration.
Interaction with Medicine
Carbamazepine
Fluoxetine
Ritonavir
Gatifloxacin
Disease interactions
Angle Closure Glaucoma
Angle Closure Glaucoma is a condition that develops when the drainage angle (a structure inside the eye that allows the draining of the fluid from the eye) gets blocked. This may cause an increase in fluid pressure inside the eyes and lead to vision loss. Trazodone should be used with caution if you have angle-closure glaucoma as it may worsen your condition.
Seizures
A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in your brain resulting in abnormal behaviour and loss of consciousness. Trazodone should be used with caution if you have a history of seizures as this medicine may trigger seizures.
Heart Disease
Trazodone should be used with caution if you have heart problems due to the increased risk of side effects such as an increased heart rate, irregular heartbeat, heart block, etc. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Mania
Mania is a condition in which you experience extreme changes in your mood or emotions, energy level, or activity. Trazodone should be used with caution if you have a history of mania, as it may trigger the symptoms of mania and worsen your condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Trazodone exactly as instructed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts than prescribed.
Consult your doctor if you experience any undesired effects that persist or worsen.
Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor as it may cause withdrawal symptoms.
Avoid consuming alcohol during treatment with Trazodone, as it may increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty in concentration.
This medicine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Hence, avoid driving vehicles or operating machines if you experience such symptoms.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Trazodone works by increasing the levels of a mood-enhancing chemical called serotonin in the brain, which helps in reducing the symptoms of depression and improving the mood.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Phenylpiperazine antidepressants
Schedule
Schedule H
Medicines.org.uk. 2022. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 3 February 2022].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2022. DailyMed - trazodone hydrochloride- Trazodone Hydrochloride tablet. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 3 February 2022].
Drugs, H., 2022. Trazodone: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 3 February 2022].
Information on this page was last updated on 14 Feb 2022
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.