Trazodone: Antidepressant, Sleeping Pill, Or Both?

Trazodone Insomnia:

Trazodone is an antidepressant in the serotonin modulators class of drugs. It is used to treat depression and works by increasing the action of serotonin in your brain. In addition to being used for managing depression, it can be used to treat insomnia and anxiety.

All the adverse events reported by the participants were mild. We did not calculate the mean score for each item in TESS because most of them were reported as zero. The most frequently reported adverse reactions were insomnia deterioration, akathisia, nausea, loss active of appetite, dizziness, and headache. During the whole trial, no serious abnormal laboratory results related to the trial were reported. As shown in Table 6, we did not observe significant differences in the occurrence of side effects between the two groups.

They can’t get to the root of the problem and won’t treat your sleep disorder. With our expert support and guidance you can retrain your mind and body for better sleep. So if you’re looking for an effective solution, that doesn’t involve medication, we’re here for you. This Hospital Pharmacy feature is extracted from Off-Label Drug Facts, a publication available from Wolters Kluwer Health. Off-Label Drug Facts is a practitioner-oriented resource for information about specific drug uses that are unapproved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

These risks are higher with drinking alcohol, taking benzodiazepines, and other central nervous system depressant drugs that can slow your breathing and reactions. Trazodone is most often prescribed at doses between 25mg to 100mg as a sleep aid. Even at lower doses, trazodone can cause you to feel relaxed, tired, and sleepy. It does this by blocking chemicals in the brain that interact with serotonin and other neurotransmitters, such as, 5-HT2A, alpha1 adrenergic receptors, and H1 histamine receptors. Insomnia is more than not being able to get a good night’s sleep. Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep can affect every aspect of your life, from work and play to your health.

Examples include street drugs such as MDMA/”ecstasy,” St. John’s wort, certain antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine), among others. The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of these drugs. As with all medications, if you’re prescribed trazodone you should only take the dose that your doctor has prescribed for you and let your healthcare provider know if you experience any side effects or have any concerns. When taken with other antidepressants, trazodone could cause serotonin syndrome. This happens when there is too much serotonin activity in your body. You could experience shivering, diarrhea, fever, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

In clinical trials, people taking trazodone for depression showed no signs of addictive behavior related to the drug. Compared to some other medications used to treat sleep problems, such as benzodiazepines, trazodone is thought to carry a lower risk of abuse. Trazodone is an FDA-approved antidepressant for treating major depressive disorders.[1] It can be used as part of combination therapy with other drugs or psychotherapies or used by itself for treating depression.

Trazodone has the potential to interact with many other drugs. Your medications should be carefully reviewed by your healthcare provider before you start to take trazodone. It can also cause abnormally low blood pressure and, in turn, trigger dizziness or even fainting, particularly in seniors, which can increase the risk of falling. A study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that seniors with dementia who were given trazodone as a sleep aid were as likely to fall as seniors given antipsychotics, other drugs that can cause sedation. Other drugs approved to treat insomnia can impair your ability to recall new experiences and may even’although rarely’cause you to walk, eat, have sex, or drive a car while essentially unconscious. There’s no evidence that trazodone can cause those serious side effects.

Firstly, it’s inexpensive.11 It’s been around for a long time so it’s not under patent anymore. This means it can be sold unbranded (in generic form) for relatively little cost, which makes it an affordable choice to prescribe. Refer to package labeling for complete prescribing information (eg, Warnings/Precautions, Adverse Reactions, Drug Interactions). Have a list of emergency phone numbers to call for help if you notice yourself thinking of self-harm.

It works by blocking histamines in the brain that keep you awake. However, its use is not recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. ‘Consumer 101’ TV show host Jack Rico gets expert CR tips on how to fall asleep faster and wake up more rested. Frieda Klotz is a journalist based in additional reading Brussels, and a senior contributor to Undark. Her writing has appeared in the Guardian, Irish Times, Al Jazeera America, Mosaic Science, and other outlets. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.

This regimen helps optimize its purpose as an antidepressant, eliciting higher compliance.[7] The dose may be increased every third day, up to 300 mg per day. The dose may be up to 600 mg per day in hospitalized patients. Results of multi-drug regiment studies showed that using citalopram and fluoxetine with trazodone had no significant impact on any alteration of serum level and no increased get the facts risk of headache, sedation, or serotonin syndrome. Be especially watchful for these symptoms when a new antidepressant is started or when the dose is changed. For many patients, the drug has a sedative effect, inducing a relaxed, sleepy feeling. In prescribing the drug for sleep disorders, physicians typically recommend taking a low dose at bedtime in order to limit the effects of drowsiness.

Findings from the current study are especially promising for the treatment of comorbid conditions. While the current findings are encouraging, larger randomized clinical trials using objective measures are still needed in order to better understand the effectiveness of trazodone in treating insomnia. Trazodone, a second-generation triazolopyridine antidepressant, is approved for the treatment of depression. Several studies have demonstrated that trazodone is helpful for improving nocturnal sleep maintenance without a hangover effect due to the relatively short half-value period (3’6 h) (9).

Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, metaxalone, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before and after treatment with this medication. Since untreated mental/mood problems (such as depression) can be a serious condition, do not stop taking this medication unless directed by your doctor. If you are planning pregnancy, become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, immediately discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medication during pregnancy. Take this medication by mouth after a meal or snack as directed by your doctor, usually once or twice daily.

The participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Do not increase your dose or take this medication more often than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and the risk of serious side effects may be increased.