Trazodone (Oral Route)

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, to allow for changes in your dose and to help manage any side effects.

Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. To prevent a possible return of your medical problem, your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount of medicine you are using before you stop completely.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; medicine for seizures or barbiturates; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

Before having any kind of surgery, dental treatment, or emergency treatment, tell the medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are using this medicine. Taking trazodone together with anesthetic medicines (numbing medicines) that are used during surgery, dental treatments, or emergency treatments may cause an increase in CNS depressant effects.

For some teenagers and young adults, this medicine can increase thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor right away if you start to feel more depressed or have thoughts about hurting yourself or others. Report any unusual thoughts or behaviors that trouble you, especially if they are new or get worse quickly. Make sure the doctor knows if you have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Also tell the doctor if you have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. Let the doctor know if you or anyone in your family have bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder) or have tried to commit suicide.

Make sure your doctor knows about all the other medicines you are using. This medicine may cause two serious conditions called serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)-like reactions when taken with certain medicines that are also used for depression, mental conditions, or migraines. Check with your doctor first before taking any other medicines. Stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away if you have more than one of the following symptoms: agitation; confusion; diarrhea; difficulty with breathing; a fast heartbeat; a high fever; high or low blood pressure; loss of bladder control; muscle twitching; overactive reflexes; poor coordination; restlessness; seizures; severe muscle stiffness; shivering; sweating; talking or acting with excitement; trembling or shaking that you are unable to control; unusually pale skin; or tiredness.

This medicine can cause changes in the heart rhythm, such as a condition called QT prolongation. It may change the way your heart beats, and cause fainting or serious side effects in some patients. Contact your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of heart rhythm problems, such as fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeats.

This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. If this problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Trazodone may cause dryness of the mouth. For temporary relief, use sugarless gum or candy, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Copyright © 2013 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.