Trazodone: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What Drug Trazodone?

What is trazodone for?

Trazodone is a drug used to treat depression. This medication can help to improve your mood, appetite, and energy levels as well as reduce anxiety and insomnia associated with depression. Trazodone works by helping to restore the balance of a certain natural chemical (serotonin) in the brain.

How do I use Trazodone?

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using trazodone and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication usually once or twice a day after a meal or light meal or as directed by your doctor. If drowsiness is a problem and you are taking 1 daily dose, use it at bedtime. If you are taking 2 doses daily, it may be helpful to take 1 of the doses at bedtime. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To reduce the risk of side effects, your doctor may start at a lower dose and gradually increase your dose.

Use this medication exactly as prescribed. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and the risk of serious side effects can be increased.

It is important to continue taking this medication as prescribed even if you feel well. To help you remember, use it at the same time every day. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Anxiety, agitation, and sleep disturbances may occur if the use of this drug is suddenly stopped.

It may take 2-4 weeks before you feel the full effect of this drug. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or gets worse.

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How do I store Trazodone?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Trazodone dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of trazodone for adults?

For depression:

Oral dosage form (extended-release tablet):

Initially, 150 milligrams (mg) per day as a single dose. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 375 mg per day.

Oral dosage form (tablets):

Initially, 150 milligrams (mg) per day, given in divided doses. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg per day.

What is the dose of trazodone for children?

Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients (less than 18 years).

In what dosage is trazodone available?

150 mg tablet 300 mg

Trazodone side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to trazodone?

Stop using trazodone and call your doctor if you have a penile erection that is painful or lasts 6 hours or more. This condition is a medical emergency and can lead to serious conditions that need to be treated with surgery.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor if you have new or worsening symptoms such as: mood swings or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, restless, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mental or physical), is more depressed, or has thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself.

Stop using trazodone and call your doctor if you have serious side effects such as:

extreme mood swings, restlessness, or trouble sleeping
dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeat
easy bruising or bleeding
agitation, hallucinations, rapid heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination
very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeat, tremors, feeling like you might pass out;
headache, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, weakness, loss of appetite, feeling shaky, seizures, shallow breathing or breathing that stops
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general feeling of pain

Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

drowsiness
mild headache
constipation or
blurred vision

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Trazodone Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Trazodone?

In deciding to use a drug, the risks of using the drug must be weighed against its benefits. It is up to you and your doctor. For this drug, the following should be considered:

Allergy

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to food, coloring, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read ingredients labels or packages carefully.

Children

Appropriate studies have not been carried out on the relationship of age to the effects of trazodone in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Elderly

The precise studies conducted to date have not shown parental-specific problems that will limit the usefulness of extended use trazodone tablets in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood), which may need caution in patients receiving trazodone.

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of ordinary trazodone tablets in the elderly.

Is trazodone safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There is no adequate research on the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

A = No risk,
B = not at risk in several studies,
C = May be risky,
D = There is positive evidence of risk,
X = Contraindicated,
N = Unknown

Trazodone Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with trazodone?

Although certain drugs should not be used simultaneously, in other cases two different drugs can be used together even if interactions are possible. In this case, your doctor may want to change the dose, or take other precautions that may be needed. Tell your health care professional if you are taking prescription drugs or other drugs on the market.

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this drug or change some of the other medicines you take.

Amifampridine
Cisapride
Dronedarone
Fluconazole
Furazolidone
Iproniazid
Isocarboxazid
Ketoconazole
Linezolid
Methylene Blue
Metoclopramide
Moclobemide
Nelfinavir
Pargyline
Phenelzine
Pimozide
Piperaquine
Posaconazole
Procarbazine
Rasagiline
Saquinavir
Selegiline
Sparfloxacin
Tranylcypromine

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not usually recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or change how often you use one or both drugs.

Alfuzosin
Almotriptan
Amiodarone
Amitriptyline
Amoxapine
Amphetamine
Anagrelide
Apomorphine
Aripiprazole
Arsenic Trioxide
Asenapine
Astemizole
Azithromycin
Brompheniramine
Buserelin
Buspirone
Carbamazepine
Ceritinib
Chloroquine
Chlorpheniramine
Ciprofloxacin
Citalopram
Clarithromycin
Clomipramine
Clozapine
Cobicistat
Cocaine
Crizotinib
Cyclobenzaprine
Dabrafenib
Dasatinib
Delamanid
Desipramine
Deslorelin
Desvenlafaxine
Dextroamphetamine
Dextromethorphan
Disopyramide
Dofetilide
Dolasetron
Domperidone
Doxepin
Droperidol
Duloxetine
Eletriptan
Erythromycin
Escitalopram
Eslicarbazepine Acetate
Fenfluramine
Fentanyl
Fingolimod
Flecainide
Fluoxetine
Fluvoxamine
Frovatriptan
Gatifloxacin
Gemifloxacin
Ginkgo
Gonadorelin
Goserelin
Granisetron
Halofantrine
Haloperidol
Histrelin
Hydroxytryptophan
Ibutilide
Idelalisib
Iloperidone
Imipramine
Ivabradine
Lapatinib
Leuprolide
Levofloxacin
Levomilnacipran
Lithium
Lopinavir
Lorcaserin
Lumefantrine
Mefloquine
Meperidine
Methadone
Metronidazole
Mifepristone
Milnacipran
Mirtazapine
Mitotane
Moxifloxacin
Nafarelin
Naratriptan
Nefazodone
Nilotinib
Norfloxacin
Nortriptyline
Octreotide
Ondansetron
Paliperidone
Palonosetron
Paroxetine
Pasireotide
Pazopanib
Pentazocine
Perflutren Lipid Microsphere
Primidone
Procainamide
Propafenone
Propoxyphene
Protriptyline
Quetiapine
Quinidine
Quinine
Ranolazine
Rizatriptan
Salmeterol
Sertraline
Sevoflurane
Sibutramine
Siltuximab
Sodium Phosphate
Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
Solifenacin
Sorafenib
Sotalol
St. John's Wort
Sumatriptan
Sunitinib
Telithromycin
Terfenadine
Tetrabenazine
Toremifene
Tramadol
Trimipramine
Triptorelin
Tryptophan
Valproic Acid
Vandetanib
Vardenafil
Vemurafenib
Venlafaxine
Vinflunine
Voriconazole
Vortioxetine
Ziprasidon
Zolmitriptan

Using this medication with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or change how often you use one or both drugs.

Atazanavir
Chlorpromazine
Digoxin
Fosphenytoin
Foxglove
Indinavir
Itraconazole
Phenytoin
Ritonavir
Thioridazine
Tipranavir
Trifluoperazine

Can food or alcohol interact with trazodone?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with trazodone?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

behavior changes or mood changes (for example, aggression, panic attacks)
bipolar disorder (mood disorder with mania and depression), or risk
glaucoma (angle closure type) or
heart rhythm problems (for example, QT prolongation)
hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood)
hypotension (low blood pressure)
mania or hypomania (mood disorder), history
priapism (painful or prolonged penile erection) - use with caution. It might make things worse
heart attack, recent - use is not recommended in patients with this condition
heart disease
heart rhythm problems (eg, QT prolongation), family history
hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood)
hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood) - use with caution. May cause side effects to be worse

Trazodone overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms may include:

gag
drowsiness
changes in heart rate
seizures
hard to breath
painful erection that doesn't go away

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.