What is trazodone?

Trazodone is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SARI) antidepressant.

Trazodone is primarily used to treat depressive disorder by reabsorbing serotonin – the so-called happy hormone – which helps rebalance serotonin levels in the brain.

Trazodone uses

Trazodone helps treat depression by:

• improvement in mood
• Reducing anxiety and insomnia, which are the main symptoms of depression
• Appetite stimulation

Side Effects

Taking any medicine can cause certain side effects, including common, rare and dangerous.

common effects

The most common side effects of taking trazodone include:

• dizziness
• vomiting
• diarrhea or constipation
• nausea
• tiredness
• sleepiness (during the day)
• worry
• anorexia
• blurred vision
• Headache
• Daydream

Rare relics

Some rare serious side effects include:

• Irregular heartbeats
• Impaired cognition and movement
• Serotonin syndrome
• Activation of mania, especially in people with bipolar disorder
• Orthostatic hypotension and syncope
• Increased risk of bleeding
• Seizures
• Long lasting erection
• Allergic reactions to one of the components of the drug

Drug interactions

There are some drugs that should not be taken with trazodone, because they may cause a drug interaction that affects the effectiveness of one of the two drugs, the most prominent of these drugs are:

medicine	its therapeutic effect
benzodiazepines	It is a well-known class of medicine that has a sedative and anti-anxiety role
Clarithromycin	One of the most popular antibiotics
carbamazepine	One of the most popular epilepsy drugs
Digoxin	A common medicine for the heart
Phenytoin	One of the most popular epilepsy drugs
Alvorfarin	of anticoagulants

Dosage forms of trazodone

The most prominent pharmaceutical forms and dosages of trazodone are as follows:

Pharmacological form	Doses are available
Tablets Tablets, extended release	50 mg 100 mg 150 mg 300 mg
Tablets (Extended Edition)	150 mg 300 mg

Recommended dosage

Trazodone should be taken in prescribed doses and in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations. To find out the exact dosage as follows:

Dosage for adults

A pathological case	Recommended dosage
depression	The dose is 150 mg per day divided orally every 8 to 12 hours and increased by 50 mg per day every 3 to 7 days Outpatients: no more than 400 mg per day Hospitalization: no more than 600 mg per day
Insomnia	The dose ranges from 50-100 mg taken orally every day
Migraine prevention (unlicensed)	The dose is about 100 mg taken orally every day

Dosage for children

A pathological case	Recommended dosage
depression	Child under 6 years of age: safety and efficacy have not been established Child age between 6-12 years: the dose ranges from 1.5-2 mg/kg per day taken orally in divided doses initially, and the dose should not exceed 6 mg/g per day divided every 8 hours. Child age over 12 years: the dose ranges from 25-50 mg per day orally and increased by 100-150 mg in divided doses

Elderly dosage

A pathological case	Recommended dosage
depression	The dose ranges from 25-50 mg orally, then the dose is increased by 25-50 mg every three days or every week The dose should not exceed 75-150 mg per day

Trazodone pharmaceutical guidelines

There are some conditions you should tell your doctor about before you start using trazodone, including:

• during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Liver and kidney disorders
• Have any allergic reaction to the drug
• heart disorders

Common questions

1- Is trazodone safe as a treatment for insomnia?

Doctors generally consider trazodone safe in small doses for sleep disorders (eg insomnia).

If a person has trouble sleeping because of depression, they may need a higher dose of trazodone. If this is the case, a person increases the risk of developing side effects from the drug due to the higher dose.

2- When do you take trazodone?

The recommended dose is taken once or twice a day after eating a meal.

If drowsiness is a side effect of the patient, it is recommended in this case to take one dose a day before going to bed.

3- How long does trazodone take to treat depression?

It takes two to four weeks for trazodone to treat depression, and it is recommended to consult a doctor if symptoms persist.

4- Can the patient stop the medication when he feels better?

The patient must not stop taking trazodone except under the supervision of a doctor and after consultation with him.