Trazodone

Brand names

• Alti-Trazodone
• Apo-Trazodone
• Desyrel
• Desyrel Dividose
• Novo-Trazodone
• Nu-Trazodone
• PMS-Trazodone
• Trazorel
• Trialodine

Usage

To treat symptoms of major depression. Trazodone may be taken with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants such as fluoxetine, sertraline, and paroxetine when these medicaments cause insomnia.

How it works

Trazodone helps to balance levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that is profoundly linked to mood, emotions, and mental state.

Side effects

Serious

Muscle twitching, confusion.

Common

Drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, lightheadedness, unpleasant taste in mouth, nausea and vomiting, headache.

Less common

Blurred vision, muscle pains, diarrhea, constipation, unusual fatigue.

Possible interactions

Other medicaments:

Trazodone may increase the effects of:

• antihypertensive medicaments and cause excessive lowering of blood pressure; dose adjustments may be necessary.
• medicaments with sedative effects and cause excessive sedation.
• phenytoin (Dilantin) or fosphenytoin (Cerebyx) by raising its blood level; observe for phenytoin or fosphenytoin toxicity.
• tramadol (Ultram).

Trazodone taken concurrently with:

• clonidine (Catapres) will lessen the therapeutic effect of clonidine.
• fluoxetine (Prozac) may result in an increased trazodone level and toxicity.
• monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors may result in undesirable side effects in some patients and beneficial therapeutic effects in others.
• other medicaments that cause central nervous system depression may have additive effects.
• paroxetine (Paxil) may result in toxicity (serotonin syndrome).
• some phenothiazines may result in excessively lowered blood pressure.
• ritonavir (Norvir) and perhaps other protease inhibitors may lead to toxicity.
• tramadol (Ultram) may increase seizure risk.
• warfarin (Coumadin) may result in decreased therapeutic benefits of warfarin; INR (prothrombin time or protime) should be checked more often if warfarin and trazodone are combined.

Herbal medicines or minerals:

Caution is advised with St. John's wort because of possible serotonin syndrome. Since part of the way ginseng works may be as an MAO inhibitor, do not combine ginseng with trazodone. Ma huang, Indian snakeroot and yohimbe are also best avoided while taking this medicine.

Alcohol:

This medicament can markedly increase the intoxicating effects of alcohol and accentuate its depressant action on brain functions.

Discontinuation:

It is advisable to discontinue this medicament gradually. Ask your physician for guidance in dose reduction over an appropriate period of time.

Comments