Trazodone Information and Uses

Trazodone

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Trazodone Overview Follow Medication

Trazodone is a prescription medication used to treat depression. Trazodone belongs to a group of drugs called serotonin modulators, which affect the natural substance in the brain called serotonin, but the exact way it works to treat depression is not known.

This medication comes in tablet form and is usually taken 2 or more times a day, after a meal or snack.

Common side effects of trazodone include drowsiness, dizziness, and dry mouth. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how trazodone will affect you. Do not take trazodone with alcohol.

Uses of Trazodone

Trazodone is a prescription medication used to treat depression.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Side Effects of Trazodone

Trazodone and other antidepressant medications can cause serious side effects (see "Drug Precautions").

Call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

thoughts about suicide or dying
attempts to commit suicide
new or worse depression
new or worse anxiety
feeling very agitated or restless
panic attacks
trouble sleeping (insomnia)
new or worse irritability
acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
acting on dangerous impulses
an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
other unusual changes in behavior or mood

Some of the less serious side effects of Trazodone are:

drowsiness
dizziness
dry mouth
nausea/vomiting
headache

This is not a complete list of Trazodone side effects. Ask your doctor for more information.

Trazodone Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Many medicines can interact with Trazodone. Talk to your doctor if you take one of the following medicines:

antifungal medicine (ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole)
warfarin (coumadin)
antidepressants
MAO inhibitors
digoxin
phenytoin
carbamazepine
HIV medicines

These are not all the possible drug interactions with Trazodone. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Trazodone Precautions

Important Information about antidepressant medicines, depression and other serious mental illnesses, and suicidal thoughts or actions:

Antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment.
Depression and other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts and actions. Some people may have a particularly high risk of having suicidal thoughts or actions. These include people who have (or have a family history of) bipolar illness (also called manic-depressive illness) or suicidal thoughts or actions.
How can I watch for and try to prevent suicidal thoughts and actions in myself or a family member?

Pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed.
Call the healthcare provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings.
Keep all follow-up visits with the healthcare provider as scheduled. Call the healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you have concerns about symptoms.

Call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

thoughts about suicide or dying
attempts to commit suicide
new or worse depression
new or worse anxiety
feeling very agitated or restless
panic attacks
trouble sleeping (insomnia)
new or worse irritability
acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
acting on dangerous impulses
an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
other unusual changes in behavior or mood

More information about antidepressant medications:

Never stop an antidepressant medicine without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping an antidepressant medicine suddenly can cause other symptoms.
Antidepressants are medicines used to treat depression and other illnesses. It is important to discuss all the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. Patients and their families or other caregivers should discuss all treatment choices with the healthcare provider, not just the use of antidepressants.
Antidepressant medicines have other side effects. Talk to the healthcare provider about the side effects of the medicine prescribed for you or your family member.
Antidepressant medicines can interact with other medicines. Know all of the medicines that you or your family member takes. Keep a list of all medicines to show the healthcare provider. Do not start new medicines without first checking with your healthcare provider.
Not all antidepressant medicines prescribed for children are FDA approved for use in children. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider for more information.

Do not drink alcohol with Trazodone.

Trazodone can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position.

Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Trazodone affects you.

Trazodone Food Interactions

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Trazodone and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.

Inform MD

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any ingredient in Trazodone.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Trazodone and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Trazodone will harm your unborn baby.

Trazodone and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Trazodone is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Trazodone Usage

Trazodone tablets are taken by mouth.
Trazodone should be taken shortly after a meal or light snack.
The dosage will likely be started at a low level and increased gradually.
Trazodone can cause drowsiness, making it easier to take at bedtime.
It may take up to four weeks before the beneficial effects of Trazodone can be seen.
Do not suddenly stop taking Trazodone. You could experience withdrawal symptoms.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for the next dose.
Avoid alcohol.

Trazodone Dosage

Take Trazodone exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you.

Usual Adult Dosage

An initial dose of 150 mg/day in divided doses is suggested. The dose may be increased by 50 mg/day every 3 to 4 days. The maximum dose for outpatients usually should not exceed 400 mg/day in divided doses. Inpatients (more severely depressed patients) may be given up to but not in excess of 600 mg/day in divided doses.

Maintenance

Dosage during prolonged maintenance therapy should be kept at the lowest effective level. Once an adequate response has been achieved, dosage may be gradually reduced, with subsequent adjustment depending on therapeutic response.

Although there has been no systematic evaluation of the efficacy of trazodone beyond 6 weeks, it is generally recommended that a course of antidepressant drug treatment should be continued for several months.

Trazodone Overdose

If you take too much Trazodone, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Forms of Trazodone

Trazodone tablets are available in 50 mg and 100 mg strengths.

Active ingredient: trazodone hydrochloride, USP.

Inactive ingredients vary by manufacturer. See manufacturer package insert for more information.

Other Requirements

Store this medicine at room temperature (20°-25°C [68°-77°F]). Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Trazodone FDA Warning

Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs

Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of trazodone hydrochloride tablets or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. Patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber. Trazodone hydrochloride tablets are not approved for use in pediatric patients.