What are the side effects of trazodone?

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asked Jun 9, 2022 in Mental Health by thegoat (1,010 points)
What are the side effects of trazodone?

2 Answers

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answered Jun 11, 2022 by Ifallasleepatwork (14,780 points)

The side effects of trazodone include.

Nausea.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Constipation.
Changes in appetite or weight.
Weakness or tiredness.
Nervousness.
Dizziness or lightheadedness.

Commonly reported side effects of trazodone include: blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and xerostomia.

Other side effects of trazodone include: syncope, edema, ataxia, confusion, diarrhea, hypotension, insomnia, sedated state, and tachycardia.

The Trazodone medication is used to treat depression.

It may help to improve your mood, appetite, and energy level as well as decrease anxiety and insomnia related to depression.

Trazodone works by helping to restore the balance of a certain natural chemical (serotonin) in the brain.

While not recommended the first line of treatment against insomnia, trazodone can be a highly effective sleep aid.

If you haven't had much luck with behavioral therapy or other types of medication from Ambien to Valium, you could find some benefit from trying trazodone.

Although trazodone was designed to treat depression and anxiety disorders, the medication is now widely prescribed as a nighttime sleep aid for patients who suffer from acute insomnia.

Trazadone works to promote sleep in a few different ways.

It is an antidepressant that makes people tired.

It increases serotonin levels to improve your mood and acts as an antihistamine similar to Benadryl, making you drowsy.

Trazodone can be a good sleeping pill to help with insomnia and improve sleep if taken at a high dose as an antidepressant but you should speak with your doctor before taking a higher dose of the Trazodone.

Normally Trazodone is taken along with another medicine for insomnia.

Speak with your doctor before increasing the dose of Trazodone or any other medicine.

Try taking some over the counter sleep aids or other herbs to help cure your insomnia first though.

0 votes
answered Nov 14, 2022 by erik-1993 (420 points)

Common side Effects of Trazodone:

  • Dizziness
  • Somnolence/Sedation
  • Fatigue
  • Blurred vision
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Dry mouth
  • Diarrhea
  • Back pain
  • Constipation

Less Common and Severe Side Effects:

  • Fainting
  • Disorientation
  • Decreased concentration
  • Nervousness
  • Muscle tremors
  • Slow or fast heartbeat
  • Uncoordinated movement
  • Ringing in the ears
  • General feeling of discomfort or illness
  • Rush
  • Shortness of breath
  • Swelling
  • Painful or prolonged erections
  • Suicidal thinking

Some side effects of trazodone may go away shortly after they appear as your body adapts to the drug. Some of them require medical attention.

If you notice any lingering side effects that influence your everyday life, you should discuss them with a medical professional.

Trazodone Withdrawal Symptoms
Alterations to serotonin receptors cause changes in the brain resulting in withdrawal symptoms. Trazodone decreases the number of neurotransmitters associated with arousal effects. The reduced volume of receptors can create withdrawal effects if the drug is abruptly stopped.

As a rule, the body needs some time to fix this on its own. However, one may have unpleasant symptoms during this period of adjustment. We cannot always talk about addiction when one experiences withdrawals, but it certainly shows a physical dependency on the drug.

Some of the withdrawal symptoms are:

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Irritability
  • Nausea/Vomiting
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Depersonalization
  • Shock-like sensations
  • Chills
  • Vertigo or difficulty walking

Do not stop taking Trazodone without prior approval from your doctor. Otherwise, you may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. If your doctor decides to take you off trazodone, they will tell you how to do it safely. Usually, it happens by lowering the dose gradually to prevent side effects from occurring.

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