Trazodone is a prescription medication that belongs to the class of drugs known as serotonin modulators. It primarily acts as an antidepressant and is also used for its sedative properties.
Trazodone works by influencing the activity of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, sleep, and behavior.
- Do not take trazodone unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.
- Do not share trazodone with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.
- Keep trazodone out of the reach of children.
- Take trazodone shortly after a meal or light snack.
- Do not crush or chew trazodone. If needed, trazodone may be broken in half along the score line.
Trazodone can affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how trazodone affects you. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel sleepy or tired after taking trazodone. Your healthcare provider may change your dose of trazodone or tell you to take trazodone at a different time of the day.
Do not stop taking trazodone without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping too quickly may cause serious side effects, such as anxiety, agitation, and sleep problems.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using trazodone?
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if trazodone is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.
- Heart conditions, including a family history of QT prolongation (a rare dangerous heart rhythm problem)
- History of heart attack
- Bipolar disorder or mania
- Liver or kidney problems
- Glaucoma
- Bleeding problems
- Low sodium levels
- Peyronie’s disease
- Sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, leukemia, or other serious medical conditions
Pregnancy. It is not known if or how trazodone could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take trazodone while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Breastfeeding. Trazodone may pass into your breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take trazodone while breastfeeding.