Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon Side EffectsLess Common EffectsWhen to Seek HelpSigns of OverdoseWithdrawal SymptomsFAQs

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Table of Contents

Common Side Effects

Less Common Effects

When to Seek Help

Signs of Overdose

Withdrawal Symptoms

FAQs

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Trazadone is also sometimes prescribed for off-label uses. For instance, this drug is sometimes used to help treat mental health conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, while others are prescribed trazodone to sleep better.

If you are on this medication or are considering taking it, it’s helpful to know both common and less common trazodone side effects. We also share signs of overdose, as well as withdrawal symptoms that may be experienced when discontinuing trazodone use.

The Most Important Information to Know About TrazadoneIf you experience serious side effects when taking trazodone, such as low blood pressure, confusion, or thoughts of suicide, seek immediate medical attention.It is possible to overdose on Trazadone, making it important to only use this medication as prescribed.

The Most Important Information to Know About Trazadone

If you experience serious side effects when taking trazodone, such as low blood pressure, confusion, or thoughts of suicide, seek immediate medical attention.It is possible to overdose on Trazadone, making it important to only use this medication as prescribed.

Common Side Effects of Trazodone

Trazodone is generally well tolerated. However, some people do experience side effects when taking it. The most common trazodone side effects are:

These side effects may lessen or stop altogether once your body gets used to the medication. Talk with your healthcare provider if you experience trazodone side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Trazodone’s sedating effect is so common, affecting up to 41% of users,that the drug is often prescribed forsleep issues such as insomnia. Consequently, do not engage in potentially hazardous activities, including driving, until you know how this drug affects you.

Less Common Side Effects of Trazodone

In addition to trazodone’s most common side effects, some people experience other effects when taking this medication, although at a lesser rate. Less common trazodone side effects include:

Notify your healthcare provider if you experience any of these less common trazodone side effects, especially if they don’t go away or become severe.

Negative Side Effects of Antidepressants

When to Seek Medical Attention

Certain trazodone side effects require immediate medical attention. Taking higher doses of this medication or using it in combination with other drugs that affect serotonin levels can lead to serotonin syndrome, for instance.

Other potentially dangerous trazodone side effects that require immediate medical attention include:

Like all antidepressants, trazodone carries a black box warning. This warning cites an increased possibility ofsuicidal thinking or behaviorin children, teens, and young adults (those under 24 years of age) when taking this drug. Talk to a healthcare provider right away if you or a family member is experiencing suicidal thoughts.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Signs of a Trazodone Overdose

Call your healthcare provider or a poison control center immediately if you or a loved one have potentially overdosed on trazodone.Symptoms of overdoseinclude:

Withdrawal Symptoms for Trazadone

As withother antidepressants, it’s important to not discontinue trazodone without your healthcare provider’s approval and guidance. You will likely be put on a tapering schedule so the medication has a chance to gradually work its way out of your system, decreasing your risk of unpleasant effects.

Withdrawal symptomsthat may occur, especially if you stop using trazodone suddenly, include:

Talk with your healthcare provider if you experience any of these symptoms when discontinuing trazodone use. They can help you find ways to ease orcope with your withdrawal symptoms.

Frequently Asked QuestionsThe half-life of trazodone ranges from four to seven hours.This suggests that the medication should be eliminated from the body somewhere between 16 to 28 hours after the last dose (after four half-lives). The exact elimination rate depends on many factors, such as trazodone dosage, how long you used it, your body weight, and more.Learn More:Overview of a Medication’s Half-LifeYou may not feel the full benefit of trazodone for two weeks or more.So, if you’ve just started taking this drug, you might need to give it some more time before it starts to work. If you don’t notice results within a certain amount of time, your healthcare provider may increase the dosage or switch you to another medication.Learn More:How Long Does it Take Antidepressants to Work?Trazodone brand names include Desyrel, Desyrel Dividose, and Oleptro.Some people do take trazodone to sleep. Research has found that this drug may help you stay asleep longer and improve the quality of your rest—especially when taken short-term.Learn More:How to Get Better Sleep

Frequently Asked Questions

The half-life of trazodone ranges from four to seven hours.This suggests that the medication should be eliminated from the body somewhere between 16 to 28 hours after the last dose (after four half-lives). The exact elimination rate depends on many factors, such as trazodone dosage, how long you used it, your body weight, and more.Learn More:Overview of a Medication’s Half-Life

The half-life of trazodone ranges from four to seven hours.This suggests that the medication should be eliminated from the body somewhere between 16 to 28 hours after the last dose (after four half-lives). The exact elimination rate depends on many factors, such as trazodone dosage, how long you used it, your body weight, and more.

Learn More:Overview of a Medication’s Half-Life

You may not feel the full benefit of trazodone for two weeks or more.So, if you’ve just started taking this drug, you might need to give it some more time before it starts to work. If you don’t notice results within a certain amount of time, your healthcare provider may increase the dosage or switch you to another medication.Learn More:How Long Does it Take Antidepressants to Work?

You may not feel the full benefit of trazodone for two weeks or more.So, if you’ve just started taking this drug, you might need to give it some more time before it starts to work. If you don’t notice results within a certain amount of time, your healthcare provider may increase the dosage or switch you to another medication.

Learn More:How Long Does it Take Antidepressants to Work?

Trazodone brand names include Desyrel, Desyrel Dividose, and Oleptro.

Some people do take trazodone to sleep. Research has found that this drug may help you stay asleep longer and improve the quality of your rest—especially when taken short-term.Learn More:How to Get Better Sleep

Some people do take trazodone to sleep. Research has found that this drug may help you stay asleep longer and improve the quality of your rest—especially when taken short-term.

Learn More:How to Get Better Sleep

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bossini L, Coluccia A, Benbow J, et al.Off-label trazodone prescription: evidence, benefits and risks.Curr Pharmaceut Design. 2015;21(23):3343-3351. doi:10.2174/1381612821666150619092236U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Trazodone hydrochloride label.Cuomo A, Ballerini A, Bruni AC, et al.Clinical guidance for the use of trazodone in major depressive disorder and concomitant conditions: pharmacology and clinical practice.Riv Psichiatr. 2019;54(4):137-149. doi:10.1708/3202.31796U.S. National Library of Medicine.Trazodone.Labcorp.Trazodone.Yi X, Ni S, Ghadami M, et al.Trazodone for the treatment of insomnia: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Sleep Med. 2018;45:25-32. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2018.01.010

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bossini L, Coluccia A, Benbow J, et al.Off-label trazodone prescription: evidence, benefits and risks.Curr Pharmaceut Design. 2015;21(23):3343-3351. doi:10.2174/1381612821666150619092236U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Trazodone hydrochloride label.Cuomo A, Ballerini A, Bruni AC, et al.Clinical guidance for the use of trazodone in major depressive disorder and concomitant conditions: pharmacology and clinical practice.Riv Psichiatr. 2019;54(4):137-149. doi:10.1708/3202.31796U.S. National Library of Medicine.Trazodone.Labcorp.Trazodone.Yi X, Ni S, Ghadami M, et al.Trazodone for the treatment of insomnia: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Sleep Med. 2018;45:25-32. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2018.01.010

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Bossini L, Coluccia A, Benbow J, et al.Off-label trazodone prescription: evidence, benefits and risks.Curr Pharmaceut Design. 2015;21(23):3343-3351. doi:10.2174/1381612821666150619092236U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Trazodone hydrochloride label.Cuomo A, Ballerini A, Bruni AC, et al.Clinical guidance for the use of trazodone in major depressive disorder and concomitant conditions: pharmacology and clinical practice.Riv Psichiatr. 2019;54(4):137-149. doi:10.1708/3202.31796U.S. National Library of Medicine.Trazodone.Labcorp.Trazodone.Yi X, Ni S, Ghadami M, et al.Trazodone for the treatment of insomnia: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Sleep Med. 2018;45:25-32. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2018.01.010

Bossini L, Coluccia A, Benbow J, et al.Off-label trazodone prescription: evidence, benefits and risks.Curr Pharmaceut Design. 2015;21(23):3343-3351. doi:10.2174/1381612821666150619092236

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Trazodone hydrochloride label.

Cuomo A, Ballerini A, Bruni AC, et al.Clinical guidance for the use of trazodone in major depressive disorder and concomitant conditions: pharmacology and clinical practice.Riv Psichiatr. 2019;54(4):137-149. doi:10.1708/3202.31796

U.S. National Library of Medicine.Trazodone.

Labcorp.Trazodone.

Yi X, Ni S, Ghadami M, et al.Trazodone for the treatment of insomnia: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Sleep Med. 2018;45:25-32. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2018.01.010

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