Trazodone (By mouth)

TRAZ-oh-done

Treats depression.

Drug classes

Antidepressant (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Trazodone is used to treat depression. It is thought to work by increasing the activity of serotonin in the brain. Trazodone is an antidepressant.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Tablet, Long Acting Tablet

Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.

Regular tablet: Take it with or shortly after a meal or light snack.

Extended-release tablet: Take it at the same time each day, preferably at bedtime, without food.

The tablet can be swallowed whole, or you may break the tablet in half along the score line. Do not break the tablet unless your doctor tells you to. Do not crush or chew the tablet.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Do not use trazodone if you currently take an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) or have used an MAOI in the past 14 days.

Tell your doctor if you also use any of the following:

Carbamazepine, digoxin, phenytoin, indinavir, ritonavir, buspirone, fentanyl, lithium, tryptophan, St John’s wort, tramadol Medicine to treat a fungal infection (such as itraconazole, ketoconazole), a diuretic (water pill), blood pressure medicine, an NSAID pain or arthritis medicine (such as aspirin, celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen), a blood thinner (such as warfarin), other medicine for depression, or triptan medicine to treat migraine headaches

Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to trazodone.

Warnings

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, bleeding problems, glaucoma, heart disease, heart rhythm problems, or low blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you recently had a heart attack.

For some children, teenagers, and young adults, this medicine may increase mental or emotional problems. This may lead to thoughts of suicide and violence. Talk with your doctor right away if you have any thoughts or behavior changes that concern you. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has a history of bipolar disorder or suicide attempts.

This medicine may cause the following problems:

Serotonin syndrome (more likely when used with certain other medicines) Heart rhythm problems (QT prolongation) Low sodium levels Higher risk of bleeding

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Stand or sit up slowly if you are dizzy.

Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before you have surgery or medical tests.

Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Anxiety, restlessness, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seeing or hearing things that are not there

Confusion, weakness, muscle twitching

Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat

Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting

Painful, prolonged erection of your penis

Sudden increase in energy, feeling irritable, trouble sleeping

Thoughts of hurting yourself or others, unusual behavior

Unusual bleeding or bruising

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Constipation, mild nausea

Dry mouth

Eye pain, vision changes, seeing halos around lights

Headache

Sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Desyrel, Desyrel Dividose, Oleptro, Trazamine

There may be other brand names for this medicine.