Trazodone
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.
