What Is Trazodone?
Trazodone is used to treat depression. Trazodone is in a class of medications called serotonin modulators. It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance.
Trazodone Uses
Trazodone is also sometimes used to treat insomnia and schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions); anxiety (excessive worry). Trazodone is also sometimes used to control abnormal, uncontrollable movements that may be experienced as side effects of other medications and for the management of alcohol dependence. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.
Dose Of Trazodone
Trazodone comes as a tablet to take by mouth. The tablet is usually taken with a meal or light snack two or more times a day. To help you remember to take trazodone, take it around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take trazodone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it, take it more often, or take it for a longer time than prescribed by your doctor.
Swallow the tablets whole or broken in half on the score mark. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of trazodone and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 3 to 4 days. Your doctor may decrease your dose once your condition is controlled. Trazodone controls depression but does not cure it. It may take 2 weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of trazodone. Continue to take trazodone even if you feel well. [1]
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Trazodone Side Effects
Trazodone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Weakness or tiredness
- Nervousness
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nightmares
- Muscle pain
- Dry mouth
- Rash
- Sexual problems in males; decreased sex drive, inability to get or keep an erection, or delayed or absent ejaculation
- Sexual problems in females; decreased sex drive, or delayed orgasm or unable to have an orgasm
- Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- Stuffy nose
- Tired, red, or itchy eyes
Some Trazadone side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING or SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS sections, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
- Chest pain
- Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- Loss of consciousness (coma)
- Fever, sweating, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, and severe muscle stiffness or twitching, agitation, hallucinations, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Fainting
- Seizures
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- Nosebleeds
- Small red or purple dots on the skin
- Erection lasting more than 6 hours
- Headache
- Problems with thinking, concentration, or memory
- Weakness
- Problems with coordination
Trazodone can cause painful, long-lasting erections in males. In some cases emergency and/or surgical treatment has been required and, in some of these cases, permanent damage has occurred. Talk to your doctor about the risk of taking trazodone. Trazodone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
Symptoms of overdose may include:
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Changes in heartbeat
- Seizures
- Difficulty breathing
- Painful erection that does not go away
Trazodone Warnings
No matter your age, before you take an antidepressant, you, your parent, or your caregiver should talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of treating your condition with an antidepressant or with other treatments. You should also talk about the risks and benefits of not treating your condition. You should know that having depression or another mental illness greatly increases the risk that you will become suicidal.
This risk is higher if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited) or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood) or has thought about or attempted suicide. Talk to your doctor about your condition, symptoms, and personal and family medical history. You and your doctor will decide what type of treatment is right for you.
- A small number of children, teenagers, and young adults (up to 24 years of age) who took antidepressants (‘mood elevators’) such as trazodone during clinical studies became suicidal (thinking about harming or killing oneself or planning or trying to do so). Children, teenagers, and young adults who take antidepressants to treat depression or other mental illnesses may be more likely to become suicidal than children, teenagers, and young adults who do not take antidepressants to treat these conditions.
- You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways when you take trazodone or other antidepressants even if you are an adult over age 24. You may become suicidal, especially at the beginning of your treatment and any time that your dose is increased or decreased. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: new or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; aggressive behavior; irritability; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; and frenzied abnormal excitement. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor when you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
Trazodone Interactions
Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of trazodone such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with trazodone. Do not use more than the recommended dose of trazodone, and avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns. [2]
Trazodone And Alcohol
Trazodone is one of the most commonly prescribed hypnotic medications in patients with sleep disturbances in alcohol recovery. A recent study concluded that treating insomnia with trazodone in patients with alcohol dependence might impede improvements in alcohol consumption and lead to increased drinking when trazodone is stopped. [3] Mixing trazodone and alcohol, however, can cause uncomfortable trazodone side effects.
Trazodone Withdrawal Treatment
Trazodone is a long-term medication. Although it is not inherently dangerous to take Trazodone for months or years, doing so may result in drug dependence. If a person needs to take Trazodone in order to feel normal, or if they feel withdrawal symptoms without it, they have become dependent. Whether or not antidepressants are addictive is up for debate since people do not typically crave these drugs. Regardless, people who stop taking Trazodone suddenly may experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Patients who no longer want to take this medication should talk to a healthcare provider about tapering off until it is safe to completely end treatment. [4]
In order to avoid the experience of withdrawal symptoms, a person may continue to use Trazodone even if it is no longer needed. In extreme cases, those with a dependency or drug addiction will visit different doctors for more prescriptions or purchase them illegally. The cycle between withdrawal and relapse is characteristic of an addiction disorder, but fortunately, prescription drug addiction can be treated with detox and combination therapy at a rehab facility.
Symptoms of Trazodone withdrawals may include:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Shock-like sensations
- Suicidal thoughts
- Vertigo or difficulty walking
- Trouble concentrating
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Chills
- Depersonalization
For anyone who suffers from trazodone addiction, just the thought of having to stop using can cause severe mental distress. Given that, the medical detox process is managed with the help of a medical detox center. In addition, a comprehensive team prescribing medications can alleviate your withdrawal pains while monitoring your health 24 hours. Thus, assuring both your safety and comfort. [5]
We Level Up TX’s thorough approach to rehabilitation supports several levels of care to ensure the best possible outcome for every client who enters our doors. Drug addiction treatment tailors the program to the individual and the individual to the recovery program.
Medical specialists begin by assessing the client’s history of mental health, drugs, and alcohol-related past. The needs of each client are specific and personalized, as the center aims to provide comprehensive support for mental health, addiction, and dual diagnosis treatment.
Clients in the residential therapy programs will live comfortably within the facility during this crucial and fragile time. This supportive environment is designed to give patients 24-hour care for sobriety, removing temptations for relapse and applying an air of recovery into every component of the treatment timeline. We Level Up TX treatment center finds that when clients are living in a supportive community, especially during their early recovery process, they can truly focus on what matters most: their recovery.
Make this your opportunity to reclaim your life. Call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists if you have questions about trazodone side effects. We will help you explore drug addiction treatment options. Your call is private and confidential, and there is never any obligation.
Sources:
[1] Trazodone – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health
[3] Trazodone and alcohol relapse: a retrospective study following residential treatment – National Center for Biotechnology Information
[2] Trazodone and Alcohol/Food Interactions – https://www.drugs.com/food-interactions/trazodone.html
[4] Trazodone Addiction And Abuse – https://www.addictioncenter.com/stimulants/antidepressants/trazodone-addiction-abuse/
[5] Adderall Addiction – We Level Up
