In case of overdose seek medical attention.
Symptoms of overdose may include:
- Heartbeat irregularities
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Long lasting erection
- Difficulty breathing
The most severe reactions reported to have occurred with overdose of trazodone alone have been respiratory arrest, seizures, and ECG changes, including QT prolongation. The reactions reported most frequently have been drowsiness and vomiting. Overdosage may cause an increase in incidence or severity of any of the reported adverse reactions.
Call your healthcare provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts or feelings.
The most common side effects of Trazodone include:
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Blurry vision
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
Trazodone can cause serious side effects or death.
Serious side effects include:
- Serotonin syndrome.
- Feeling high or in a very good mood, then becoming irritable, or having too much energy, feeling like you have to keep talking or do not sleep (Mania).
- Irregular or fast heartbeat or faint (QT prolongation).
- Low blood pressure. You feel dizzy or faint when you change positions (go from sitting to standing).
- Unusual bruising or bleeding.
- Erection lasting for more than 6 hours (Priapism).
- Low sodium in your blood (Hyponatremia). Symptoms of hyponatremia include: headache, feeling weak, feeling confused, trouble concentrating, memory problems and feeling unsteady when you walk.
Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
Call a healthcare provider right away if you have 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
Trazodone is prescribed as a tablet to be taken by mouth. It is generally taken with food.
Take Trazodone exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.Trazodone should be taken 1 to 2 times a day. Trazodone should be taken at the same time each day in the late evening, if possible at bedtime.Your doctor will start you out on a specific dose and may gradually increase the dosage. The amount of Trazodone prescribed will depend on your unique condition.
Trazodone should be swallowed whole or broken in half along the score line. Do not chew or crush Trazodone. Tell your healthcare provider if you cannot swallow Trazodone either whole or as a half tablet.
Trazodone may take weeks before the benefits are experienced. Continue to take Trazodone even if you feel that it is not working. Speak with your healthcare provider if you are concerned that Trazodone is not working for you. Do not stop taking Trazodone without talking to your healthcare provider first.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Trazodone will harm your unborn baby.
- 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 is a prescription medicine taken 1 time a day to treat major depressive disorder in adults.
Depression and other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts and actions. Some people may have a higher 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.
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. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider, not just the use of antidepressants.
Antidepressant medicines have other side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider about the side effects of your medicines.
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.
Store this medicine at room temperature (20°-25°C [68°-77°F]). Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.
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.
Active Ingredients:
Trazodone hydrochloride
For more information on Depression, the condition Trazodone treats, go to :
1-800-Therapist Depression Encyclopedia
It is important to keep a list of all medications you are currently taking. This should include all prescription, over the counter, and supplemental medications. This list should be kept with you at all times. Whenever you are beginning a new medication, be sure to consult your doctor and provide him or her with your list of medications.
For further information on Trazodone speak with a pharmacist.
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.
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.
Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Trazodone affects you. Trazodone can slow your thinking and motor skills.
Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking Trazodone until you talk with your healthcare provider. Trazodone may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse if you take it with alcohol or other medicines that cause sleepiness or dizziness.
Tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medications or if you are taking any prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements.
Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or are breast-feeding, or if there is any chance you could become pregnant.
If you have any surgeries planned be sure to inform your healthcare provider before taking Trazodone.
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 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 is not approved for use in pediatric patients
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.
Trazodone (commonly marketed as Desyrel) is an oral medication used primarily to treat major depressive disorder in adults. It is also commonly used to treat insomnia and other sleep disturbances, some symptoms of schizophrenia, and anxiety. It is part of a a class of medications called serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARI).
It works by affecting the serotonin receptors in the brain, maintaining mental balance.
It has been used investigationally and off-label for treatment of fibromyalgia, panic disorder, diabetic neuropathy, bulima, obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcohol withdrawal, and complex regional pain syndrome.
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.
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.
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.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Trazodone and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.