About Trazodone
This medication is approved for the treatment of all types of depression.
Other clinically accepted uses include treatment for agoraphobia,
chronic pain, insomnia (drug-induced or normal), essential tremor,
and repetitve screaming. This medication increases the availability
of the neurotransmitter serotonin to the brain, and this effect
is thought to relieve symptoms of depression.
Trazodone is only available by prescription, use as directed.
Trazodone Side Effects
Common Trazodone Side Effects: Blurred vision, constipation,
dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, muscle aches, nausea or vomiting,
weight gain. Do not drive if you feel dizzy, drowsy, or that your
vision is blurred due to side effects of this medication.
Adverse Side Effects: Altered heartbeat (irregular, fast,
or slow), anger, confusion, delusions, difficult urination, fainting,
liver toxicity, loss of muscle coordination, muscle tremors, nightmares,
priapism (painful, inappropriate erection lasting over 4 hours),
rash (allergic reaction), seizure, severe drowsiness, unusual taste
in mouth.
These adverse effects range from infrequent to rare, and should
move you to contact your doctor or seek medical attention as soon
as possible. If you think that some of the above symptoms may be
caused by an overdose, or if you experience priapism, seek emergency
attention at once.
Cautions: Trazodone should be used with caution in some
circumstances, and not at all in others. To ensure that your treatment
is as safe and effective as possible, inform your prescribing physician
about any history of the following conditions.
- Alcoholism or Drug Abuse: Your doctor may want to monitor
your treatment more carefully, it is not safe to use alcohol or
other drugs while undergoing trazodone treatment.
- Allergies: If you have had an allergic reaction to this
medication in the past, you should not take it. Inform your doctor
of any other food, dye, or drug allergies.
- Cardiovascular: If you have had a recent heart attack,
you should not use trazodone. If you are being treated with hypertension,
your doctor may need to adjust the doses of your medications.
This medication can make certain cardiovascular conditions worse,
use with caution, and the advice of a fully informed physician.
- Carcinoid Syndrome: Do not take this medication.
- Epilepsy or Seizure Disorder: This medication may interact
with other medications used to treat seizure disorder, speak to
your doctor about safe medication schedules or dosage adjustments.
- Kidney or Liver Dysfunction: Increased risk of side effects,
as the medication may build up in the body. Dosing adjustment
may be necessary.
- Pregnant or Breastfeeding: Speak to your doctor for guidlines,
absolutely avoid this medication in the first trimester of pregnancy
or if you plan to become pregnant.
- Priapism: Speak to your doctor before using this drug
if you have experienced sustained erection lasting 4 hours or
more.
- Electroshock Therapy: Consult your physician if you need
this therapy while using trazodone.
- Surgery: Inform your doctor, dentist, or surgeon if you
need to have a procedure performed requiring anesthesia. Trazodone
may interact with certain drugs used in surgery, and could lead
to severe oversedation.
Trazodone Interactions
Certain medications may interact with trazodone, even certain over the counter preparations. This medication is a CNS depressant, and should be used cautiously with any medication or herbal treatment that may cause drowsiness. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about a reaction with an over the counter medication.
- Alcohol - Trazodone should not be mixed with alcohol, individuals
are advised to avoid it completely during treatment.
- Any medication which may cause drowsiness
- Antihistamines like Tavist or Benadryl may cause oversedation.
- Antiseizure treatments like Cerebyx (fosphenytoin) or Dilantin
(phenytoin) may build up to toxic levels in combination with trazodone.
- Benzodiazepines (a class of antidepressants, anti-panic agents,
sleep medications, and muscle relaxants) such as Valium
(diazepam), Halcion (triazolam),
Restoril (temazepam), Librium(chlordiazepoxide),
Tranxene-SD (clorazepate), Klonopin
(clonazepam), Paxipam (halazepam), Ativan
(lorazepam), ProSom (estazolam), or Xanax
(alprazolam) can result in oversedation in combination with
Trazodone. Some of these drugs may also lower the seizure threshold,
especially with abrupt withdrawal. If you must use these medications
together, speak to your doctor about the safety of your treatment.
- Blood pressure medication may interact with trazodone to cause
undesirably low blood pressure. If you are using this type of
medication (beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, etc.) speak
to your doctor about precautions like dose adjustments, even if
you are using the medication for another condition.
- Coumadin (warfarin) - The benefits of this medication may be
reduced when combined with trazodone treatment. Dosage adjustments
or periodic monitoring should be employed if you must take them
together.
- Ginseng - This herb acts as a mild MAO inhibitor, and should
not be combined with trazodone.
- Kava kava - Do not use this herb while taking trazodone.
- MAO inhibitors - Trazodone used concurrently with MAO
(monoamine oxidase) inhibitors, a class of antidepressants and
antisenility drugs, such as Eldepryl (selegiline), Furoxone (furazolidone),
Nardil (phenelzine), Marplan (isocarboxazid), or Parnate (tranylcypromine),
may increase the risk of undesirable side effects, but
may have beneficial side effects in some patients. Caution and
careful medical supervision are advised.
- Muscle relaxants such as Flexeril
(cyclobenzaprine), Skelaxin
(metaxalone), Soma (carisoprodol),
or Robaxin (methocarbamol)
may cause oversedation in combination with trazodone. Flexeril
may also increase the risk of seizure.
- Narcotic analgesics of any kind, like Darvon (propoxyphene),
Darvocet (propoxyphene, acetaminophen), Demerol
(meperidine), Codeine, Percocet
(oxycodone, acetaminophen), Vicodin
(hydrocodone, acetaminophen), Vicoprofen
(hydrocodone and ibuprofen) or OxyContin
(oxycodone) should be mixed cautiously with trazodone, as
this would increase the risk of oversedation. Consult your doctor
about how best to manage your medication schedule if this combination
is necessary.
- Norflex (orphenadrine)
- Risk of oversedation.
- Protease inhibitors like Agenerase (amprenavir) or Norvir (ritonavir)
may cause a toxic buildup of trazodone in the body.
- Sedatives like Fioricet
(butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine), Fiorinal
(butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine), Phenobarbitol, Seconal, or
other barbiturates can cause oversedation.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Celexa
(citalopram), Paxil (paroxetine),
Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), or Zoloft (sertraline)
may increase the risk of drug toxicity or serotonin syndrome.
- Sleep medication like Ambien
(zolpidem), Sonata (zaleplon),
or over the counter sleeping pills should not be taken at the
same time as trazodone. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about
arranging a medication schedule if you must take both, though
your trazodone dosage schedule can probably be arranged to reduce
your need for sleeping pills.
- Street drugs - Marijuana may increase sedative effects from
trazodone. You should refrain from using any illegal drugs while
taking prescription medication, as it greatly increases the risk
of adverse side effects and overdose.
- St. John's Wort - Do not take this herb while taking trazodone.
- Tranquilizers such as Haldol (haloperidol), Mellaril (thioridazine),
or Thorazine (chlorpromazine) may cause oversedation or lower
blood pressure to undesirable levels.
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil
(amitriptyline), Asendin (amoxapine), Anafranil (clomipramine),
Pertofrane or Norpramin (desipramine), Sinequan
(doxepin), Tofranil (imipramine), Aventyl or Pamelor (nortriptyline),
Vivactil (protriptyline), and Surmontil (trimipramine), may increase
the risk of seizure in combination with trazodone.
- Ultram (tramadol) - Increased
seizure risk.
- Valerian - Do not take this herb while taking trazodone.
Trazodone Dosages
Trazodone is available in tablet form, in dosages of 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg.
The following use guidelines are for the general adult population,
and may not apply to your case. A typical starting dose is 50 mg,
3 times daily or 75 mg, twice daily. This dose may be increased
by 50 mg every few days as per your doctor's instructions, but should
not exceed 400 mg daily on an outpatient basis. Always follow your
doctor's instructions exactly, to ensure safe and effective treatment.
Trazodone Directions
Take this medication exactly as directed, preferably with food
for best absorption. Do not take double doses of this medication.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost
time for your next dose, resume your regular dosing schedule, skipping
the missed dose.
It may take from 2 to 4 weeks to see the full benefits of treatment,
at which time you and your doctor should discuss the need for ongoing
therapy. Continue taking trazodone for the full duration suggested,
even if it seems to have no effect. Steady blood levels of this
medication are necessary for treatment to be successful, or accurately
evaluated.
If you are having surgery, are being treated in an emergency
room, or must visit the dentist, inform your doctor that you use
trazodone. This medication may interact with certain drugs used
during surgery, so you will want to notify your doctor or dentist
in advance if possible.
This medication may cause drowsiness, and can add to the
effect of taking over the counter or prescription allergy or cold
medication, sedatives, muscle relaxants, seizure control treatments,
some prescription pain medicine, or any other medication that can
make you feel sleepy. Speak with your doctor about combining any
medication with trazodone, even over the counter treatments.
Store Trazodone away from direct light and heat. Store in a dry location;
avoid storing it in the bathroom, near sinks, or other areas where
it may become damp. Do not use after the expiration date.
Keep Trazodone away from children; both when storing it, and when
discarding any unused medication.
Trazodone and Pregnancy
Animal studies of trazodone use during pregnancy indicated increased rates of fetal death and birth defects. This medication has not been studied for safety during pregnancy in humans, and individuals are advised to completely avoid it during the first trimester. Speak to your doctor if you are planning to become pregnant, or intend to breastfeed during treatment.
Trazodone and Children
This medication has not been studied in individuals under 18 years
of age, and has not been proven to be a safe and effective treatment
for them. Some doctors do prescribe trazodone to children over the
age of 6, and would have to make dosing and usage recommendations
for that particular child.
Trazodone and Seniors
Seniors are generally more affected by this medication, and starting doses may be lower than for the general adult population.
Trazodone is manufactured by Geneva and Watson
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This document is provided for information only. It is not a substitute for consultation with a physician, either to diagnose symptoms or prescribe treatment. Any dosages mentioned are general guidelines only, please follow the directions of your doctor or pharmacist exactly when taking medication. We have made every effort to ensure that this information is accurate, but only your doctor can say if a medication, or drug combination, is safe for you. Information intended for US residents only.
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