Trazodone: warnings, side effects, and more

If you've ever experienced depression, you know that it's not just a mood. It's a condition that affects your ability to eat, sleep, and function on a day-to-day basis.

Luckily, there is a wide range of treatment options available. While prescription drugs can be a valuable way to get how you're feeling back on track, you should understand both the potential benefits and risks of trazodone.

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Trazodone is what's called a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor, and is used to treat major depressive disorder.

It's also a popular choice for treating depression associated with sleep disturbances. Trazodone works by increasing levels of available serotonin in the brain, which can alleviate symptoms of depression (NIH, 2017)

Many people with depression experience difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, and certain antidepressants, like trazodone, can help. Sometimes, trazodone is prescribed for insomnia, even in the absence of depression. In fact, one survey found that about a quarter of all off-label antidepressant prescriptions were for trazodone and insomnia (Wong, 2017). 

Usually, higher doses are prescribed when trazodone is used as an antidepressant, and lower doses have sedative effects to alleviate insomnia (Stahl, 2014). Although trazodone isn't a first-line treatment for people whose insomnia has no underlying medical or psychological condition, it's a first-line treatment for people with both depression and insomnia (Schutte-Rodin, 2008).

Healthcare professionals may also prescribe trazodone to manage agitation or aggression in patients with dementia. Trazodone is available as a generic drug and sold under the brand names Desyrel and Oleptro.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a black box warning, their most stringent advisory, about the risks associated with trazodone (FDA, 2017): antidepressants like trazodone increase the chance of suicidal thoughts and behaviors––especially in children, teenagers, or young adults.

Families and caregivers should be aware of this risk, especially during the first few months of therapy or after a dose increase. Be on the lookout for suicidal thoughts, attempts, or other mood changes. Trazodone is not FDA-approved for use in people under 18 years of age.

Patients diagnosed with depression taking trazodone may be at an increased risk of attempting suicide or self-harm (Coupland, 2014). Your healthcare provider can work with you and family members to help monitor the severity of any depression symptoms, especially when starting the medication or after a change in dosage.

Trazodone is more likely than other antidepressants to cause mania, which are periods of elevated mood and excitability (Terao, 1993). It can also cause anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, irritability, hostility, impulsivity, and movement disorders. These may be signs that the medication needs to be stopped or changed.

This is also the reason that trazodone should not be prescribed to anyone with a history of bipolar depression. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience any of these symptoms.  

Don't stop taking this medication without speaking to a healthcare provider first.

Abruptly stopping it may cause what's called discontinuation syndrome (NIH, 2017). Roughly one in every five patients who've been on an antidepressant for at least six weeks may experience side effects from suddenly stopping treatment including nausea, flu-like symptoms, difficulty sleeping, sensory disturbances, and balance problems (Warner, 2006).

The most common side effects of trazodone are drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, and dry mouth (Zhang, 2014). Trazodone is a sedative or hypnotic, which means it may impair motor abilities and slow your reaction time.

Trazodone is also more likely than other antidepressants (such as fluoxetine, brand name Prozac) to cause drowsiness, dizziness, and lightheadedness (Beasley, 1991). Clinical trials have reported other side effects including blurry vision, constipation, confusion, fatigue, nervousness, tremors, and weight gain or loss (FDA, 2017).

Trazodone may cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome, which is when serotonin levels in the body are too high. Symptoms may be mild, but can be life-threatening (Volpi-Abadie, 2013). Signs of serotonin syndrome include agitation, anxiety, restlessness, disorientation, sweating, increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting, tremor, and flushed skin.

Shaking and over-responsive reflexes are particularly common (Simon, 2020). If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. 

Other serious side effects of trazodone include fainting, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias), chest pain, seizures, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (NIH, 2017).

The side effects of trazodone are dose-dependent, so you have a higher chance of experiencing adverse effects with higher doses (Jaffer, 2017). If you're working with a healthcare provider to manage depression, they can help find the lowest effective dose to minimize any side effects.

If you've ever had a heart attack or arrhythmia, you may be prescribed a lower dose of trazodone or a different medication entirely (Tisdale, 2016). Tell your healthcare provider about any medical conditions you have or drugs you're taking before starting treatment with trazodone. 

It's more likely you'll experience side effects if you take trazodone with certain medications.

A system in your liver called CYP3A4 breaks down trazodone (Rotzinger, 1998). Certain medicines slow this system down, which prevents your body from breaking down trazodone at the normal rate. This increases your risk of side effects due to higher levels of the drug in your system (NIH, 2017).

As mentioned earlier, taking trazodone with certain medications and over-the-counter supplements increases the risk of developing serotonin syndrome. This includes ergot derivatives, MAOIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, fentanyl, lithium, and St. John's wort (NIH, 2017).

Trazodone may also increase your risk of bleeding, especially when combined with blood thinners. This includes common painkillers like NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). If you need to take blood thinners while on trazodone, your healthcare provider may adjust the dose to limit bleeding risk.

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Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Current version

May 12, 2021

Written by

Linnea Zielinski

Fact checked by

Yael Cooperman, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Yael Cooperman, MD, Ro

Yael Cooperman is a physician and works as a Senior Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.