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What is Trazodone
 Trazodone
is an antidepressant medication. It works by changing the
actions of chemicals in the brain.
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.
Trazodone
may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this
medication guide.
General medical information about Trazodone
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.
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.
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.
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol
may increase drowsiness and dizziness while taking Trazodone.
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.
What you should find out before taking Trazodone Do not take Trazodone if you have had a heart attack
in the past 6 weeks. You may also require special monitoring
during treatment if you have any type of heart disease,
including a past heart attack, high blood pressure, irregular
heartbeats, or chest pain (angina).
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.
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.
How should take Trazodone 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.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
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.
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.
Store Trazodone at room temperature
away from moisture and heat.
If you miss a dose: 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.
What happens if you overdose: Seek emergency medical attention.
Symptoms
of a Trazodone overdose include drowsiness, nausea, vomiting,
seizures, an irregular heart beat, difficulty breathing,
painful erection, and death.
Avoid while taking Trazodone 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.
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.
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase
drowsiness and dizziness while taking Trazodone.
Possible side effects of Trazodone If you experience any of the following serious side
effects, stop taking Trazodone and seek emergency medical
attention or contact your doctor immediately:
- an
allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the
throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
- a prolonged (4 hours or longer), painful, or inappropriate
erection; or
- an irregular heartbeat or chest pains.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely
to occur. Continue to take Trazodone and talk to your doctor
if you experience
- dizziness or drowsiness;
-
headache;
- insomnia or vivid dreams;
- dry
mouth, upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting;
- diarrhea
or constipation;
- tremors (shaking); or
-
blurred vision.
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.
What other drugs will affect Trazodone Before taking Trazodone, tell your doctor if you
are taking any of the following medications:
- digoxin
(Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
- phenytoin (Dilantin);
-
a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid
(Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate);
or
- warfarin (Coumadin).
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.
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 herbal products. |
