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What is the most important information I should know about trazodone?
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While you are taking trazodone you may need to be monitored for
worsening symptoms of depression and/ or suicidal thoughts at the start
of therapy or when doses are changed. This concern about the increased
risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors may be greater if you are 18
years of age or younger and are taking trazodone. In patients younger
than 18 years, the period of risk may extend beyond start of therapy or
when doses are changed. Your doctor may want you to monitor for the
following symptoms: anxiety, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping,
irritability, hostility, impulsivity, severe restlessness, and mania (mental
and/ or physical hyperactivity). These symptoms may be associated with
the development of worsening symptoms of depression and/ or suicidal
thoughts or actions. Contact your healthcare provider if you develop any
new or worsening mental health symptoms during treatment with trazodone.
Do not stop taking trazodone. |
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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other
hazardous activities. Trazodone may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If
you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. |
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Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting
or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall. |
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Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and
dizziness while taking trazodone. |
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Stop taking trazodone and call your doctor immediately if you
experience a prolonged (4 hours or longer), painful, or inappropriate
erection. This could lead to a serious condition requiring surgery. |
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Do not stop taking trazodone without first talking to your doctor,
even if you begin to feel better. It may be several weeks before your
symptoms begin to improve, and you may require continuous treatment for
quite some time. |
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Trazodone is an antidepressant medication. It works by changing the
actions of chemicals in the brain. |
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Trazodone is used to relieve symptoms of depression such as feelings
of sadness, worthlessness, or guilt; loss of interest in daily
activities; changes in appetite; tiredness; sleeping too much; insomnia;
and thoughts of death or suicide. |
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Trazodone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in
this medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
trazodone?
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• |
While you are taking trazodone you may need to be monitored for
worsening symptoms of depression and/ or suicidal thoughts at the start
of therapy or when doses are changed. This concern about the increased
risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors may be greater if you are 18
years of age or younger and are taking trazodone. In patients younger
than 18 years, the period of risk may extend beyond start of therapy or
when doses are changed. Your doctor may want you to monitor for the
following symptoms: anxiety, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping,
irritability, hostility, impulsivity, severe restlessness, and mania (mental
and/ or physical hyperactivity). These symptoms may be associated with
the development of worsening symptoms of depression and/ or suicidal
thoughts or actions. Contact your healthcare provider if you develop any
new or worsening mental health symptoms during treatment with trazodone.
Do not stop taking trazodone. |
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Trazodone should not be taken during the initial recovery phase
after a heart attack. Talk to your doctor before taking trazodone if you
have had a heart attack. You may also require special monitoring during
treatment if you have any other types of heart disease, high blood
pressure, irregular heartbeats, or chest pain (angina). |
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Stop taking trazodone and call your doctor immediately if you
experience a prolonged (4 hours or longer), painful, or inappropriate
erection. This could lead to a serious condition requiring surgery. |
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Trazodone is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is
not known whether trazodone will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not
take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are
pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. |
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It is not known whether trazodone passes into breast milk. Do not
take trazodone without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. |
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How should I take trazodone?
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Take trazodone exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not
understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to
explain the instructions to you. |
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Take each dose with a full glass of water. |
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Take trazodone with a meal or a light snack. Food increases the
amount of medicine that is absorbed by the body and it may help to
decrease dizziness. |
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It is important to take trazodone regularly to get the most benefit. |
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Do not stop taking trazodone without first talking to your doctor,
even if you begin to feel better. It may be several weeks before your
symptoms begin to improve, and you may require continuous treatment for
quite some time. |
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Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical
evaluations during treatment with trazodone to monitor progress and side
effects. |
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Store trazodone at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is
almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose
and take only the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose
of this medication. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected. |
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Symptoms of a trazodone overdose include drowsiness, nausea,
vomiting, seizures, an irregular heart beat, difficulty breathing,
painful erection, and death. |
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What should I avoid while taking trazodone?
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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other
hazardous activities. Trazodone may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If
you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. |
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• |
Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting
or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall. |
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Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and
dizziness while taking trazodone. |
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What are the possible side effects of trazodone?
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking trazodone and seek emergency medical attention or contact your
doctor immediately: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); |
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a prolonged (4 hours or longer), painful, or inappropriate erection;
or |
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an irregular heartbeat or chest pains. |
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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take trazodone and talk to your doctor if you experience |
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dizziness or drowsiness; |
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insomnia or vivid dreams; |
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dry mouth, upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting; |
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diarrhea or constipation; |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect trazodone?
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Before taking trazodone, tell your doctor if you are taking any of
the following medications: |
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digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); |
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a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan),
phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate); or |
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You may not be able to take trazodone, or you may require special
monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines
listed above. |
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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with trazodone.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or
over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal
products. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has more information about trazodone written for
health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 6.01. Revision date: 10/
27/ 04. |
