What is trazodone?
Trazodone is an antidepressant medication. It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression
Trazodone is used to treat depression.
Trazodone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about trazodone?
Before taking trazodone, tell your doctor if you have bipolar disorder (manic depression), heart disease or "Long QT syndrome," liver or kidney disease, a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts, or if you have recently had a heart attack.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Do not drink alcohol. Trazodone can increase the effects of alcohol, which could be dangerous.
Trazodone may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Stop taking trazodone and call your doctor at once if you have a penis erection that is painful or lasts 6 hours or longer. This is a medical emergency and could lead to a serious condition that must be corrected with surgery.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking trazodone?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to trazodone.
Do not take trazodone if you have taken an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a trazodone dose adjustment or special tests:
bipolar disorder (manic depression);
heart disease;
liver or kidney disease;
a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts;
a history of "Long QT syndrome"; or
if you have recently had a heart attack.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether trazodone will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
Trazodone may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give trazodone to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.