This medicine is used for treatment of depression. Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine to help relieve, anxiety, tension or to help you sleep. Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for other conditions as well. Top of page
General Information
This information is for educational purposes only. Not every known side effect, adverse effect, or drug interaction is in this database. If you have questions about your medicines, talk to your healthcare provider.
Follow the directions given to by your doctor. This medicine should be taken orally on a regular basis. It is best that that you take this medicine at bedtime unless otherwise directed by your doctor. The extended-release tablet and capsule should be swallowed whole. Do not chew, divide, or crush the extended-release tablet or capsule. Top of page
Missed Dose
Take your next dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double doses. Top of page
Storage
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Top of page
Possible Side Effects
dizziness, drowsiness
agitation, confusion
Consult your doctor immediately if you experience prolonged and painful erections.
Expected side effects are increased appetite and weight gain.
drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness
dry mouth
Unreported side effects are possible, talk to your healthcare provider if any other symptoms occur.
Alcoholic beverages can increase the effects of this medicine and should be avoided.
Don't drive or perform other tasks that require concentration, until you know how this medicine affects you.
This medicine can increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in some children and teens. Parents of children taking antidepressants should watch for signs of worsening depression or unusual changes in behavior.
Seek medical attention immediately. U.S. residents can call the national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Top of page
Drug Interactions
Before taking any new prescription or over-the-counter medication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Taking this medicine together with diazepam (Valium) may impair movement ability.
Avoid using this medicine with MAO inhibitors. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you if you are taking an MAO inhibitor.
Talk to your doctor if you are taking certain antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin or azithromycin. This medicine should not be taken with MAO inhibitors.
Let your doctor know if you are taking any vitamin supplements or herbal products. St. John’s Wort should be avoided while taking fluvoxamine due to the increased side effects of too much serotonin.
MAO inhibitors should not be taken while taking the following drugs:
dexfenfluramine
fluoxetine (Prozac)
fluvoxamine (Luvox)
paroxetine (Paxil)
sertraline (Zoloft)
venlafaxine (Effexor
Effexor XR)
Tell your doctor if you are taking other antidepressants, medications for blood pressure, medications for diabetes, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, vitamins or herbs.
This medicine may increase the affects antihypertensive drugs, drugs with sedative effects, phenytoin (Dilantin) or fosphenytoin (Celebyx) and tramadol (Ultram).
Do not take MAO inhibitors type A with this medicine. If you are not sure if you are taking an MAO inhibitor, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Certain other antidepressants, clozapine (Clozaril), haloperidol (Haldol), lithium, trazadone, and others may increase the risk of seizures. BEFORE taking any new prescription or over-the-counter medicine, talk to your health care provider.
Patients taking MAO inhibitors should not be take this medicine.
Nafazodone can decrease the effects of clonidine, methyldopa, diuretics (water pills), warfarin and drugs used to lower blood sugar (hypoglycemics). This medicine can increase the toxic effects of; terfenadine, astemizole, fluoxetine (Prozac), triazolam, alprazolam (Xanax) and phenytoin (Dilantin). Do not take this medicine within 14 days of stopping MAO inhibitors. If you are not sure what an MAO inhibitor is, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. If you are currently taking any of these medicines, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see if Nefazodone is right for you.
Possible drug interactions may occur with phenobarbital causing a decrease in the effect of the medications. Severe blood pressure problems and seizure can occur with taken with MAO inhibitors.
Talk with your physician or pharmacist if you are taking other medications.
If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, before taking this medicine talk to your doctor about the benefits versus the risks to your pregnancy.
In testing with animals, studies show delayed bone development. Use this medicine only if it clearly necessary. It is advised not to take this medicine while nursing. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Top of page
More Information
Antidepressant medications are used to treat a variety of conditions, including depression and other mental/mood disorders. These medications can help prevent suicidal thoughts/attempts and provide other benefits. However, studies have shown that a small number of people (especially children/teenages) who take antidepressants for any condition may experience worsening depression, other mental/mood symptoms, or suicidal thoughts/attempts. Therefore, it is very important to talk with a doctor about the risks and benefits of antidepressant medication, even if the treatment is not for a mental condition. Tell your doctor immediatley if you notice worsening depression, unusual behavior changes, (including possible suicidal thoughts/attempts), or other mental/mood changes. Be especially watchful for these symptoms when a new antidepressant is started or when the dose is changed. Top of page
This information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This is general information and should not in any event be construed as specific instructions for individual patients. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. The reader is advised to check with their health care provider before making any changes in their drug regimen.
Last reviewed:
On 8 Aug 2006
By John M. Grohol, Psy.D.
Registered: September 2005 Location: Big Orange Country Posts: 855
Review Date: Fri September 8, 2006
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8
Pros:
Works well for sleep, inexpensive
Cons:
Takes a while to get used to
I was prescribed this medicine to help me sleep a number of years ago. It works very well for me used in this way, I sleep 7 - 8 hours a night. When I first started taking it, however, I felt intoxicated when I awoke. This went away after a week or two. I tolerated it because I was finally getting rest again.
MyBestKids2 Elder
Registered: September 2006 Posts: 5628
Review Date: Mon September 11, 2006
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 5
Pros:
encourages sleep
Cons:
makes me too sleepey
Trazadone should be a last resort for patients who have had an ongong sleep disturbance.
DizzyLizzy Junior Member
Registered: August 2006 Location: New England Posts: 13
Review Date: Mon September 11, 2006
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9
Pros:
works very well
Cons:
I have been using Trazodone for over 5 years. I take it at bedtime to help me stay asleep, and the doctor prescribed it as a sleep medication... however, it has also helped by keeping my mild depression away. Other anti-depressants were always too strong for my mild depression, but Trazodone has worked great for the mild depression and as an aid to help me sleep.
eskielover Grand Magnate
Registered: October 2004 Location: Harrodsburg, Kentucky, USA Posts: 3673
Review Date: Thu September 14, 2006
Would you recommend the product? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 4
Pros:
Cons:
extream sleepiness, dizzyness, along with migraine pain
Trazadone also known as desyrel, had the same effects. The worse part was the dizziness caused by an extreme drop in blood pressure. Along with that came sleepiness & migraine headache pain. The blood pressure drop was the most serious part of taking the med & taking it was immediately stopped.
Rainbowzz Moderator Community Support Team
Registered: December 2005 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 6496
Review Date: Thu September 14, 2006
Would you recommend the product? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 3
Pros:
lightened anxiety by a small amount
Cons:
did not make me sleepy -at- all.
Was prescribed for both sleep disorder and bipolar. Had a nice lightening of anxiety the next morning, but did not help me to sleep at all even with higher doses.
Amerikasend Member
Registered: December 2006 Location: Merryland Posts: 22
Review Date: Mon December 4, 2006
Would you recommend the product? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 1
Pros:
none
Cons:
gave me a stuffy nose and a headache
I was prescribed this for sleep. Didn't help me sleep at all, but it did give me a real bad stuffy nose and a headache. I threw this crap in the garbage.
bandia Junior Member
Registered: June 2006 Location: USA Posts: 9
Review Date: Fri December 8, 2006
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8
Pros:
i fall asleep within minutes and stay asleep
Cons:
it lowers my blood pressure
After trying every sleep med known to humankind, Traz hit the spot. It did lower my blood pressure & I briefly went off it & back on Lunesta. Bye-bye sleep! I decided to take the side effect (I sometimes feel "swimmy" & when I do, I just pause and let my heartbeat settle) without hesitation when the docs said it was ok to take Traz if I wanted. I only need to take 12.5 mg a night.
Anonymous
Review Date: Thu December 28, 2006
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $30.00| Rating: 7
Pros:
works good for sleep...
Cons:
...only if taken with Ambien CR
see my review under Ambien CR.... it worked wonders for helping me sleep as long as I took it with Ambien CR
Grace03 Member
Registered: March 2007 Location: British Columbia, CANADA Posts: 44
Review Date: Thu March 22, 2007
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8
Pros:
Seems to control "racing thoughts" associated with Bipolar II. Allows the thoughts to slow down, so I can sleep. Combined with Seroquel=good sleeping meds
Cons:
Drowsiness: take at bedtime
;
DoubtingThomasina Junior Member
Registered: April 2007 Location: North Dakota, ASA Posts: 13
Review Date: Wed April 11, 2007
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 10
Pros:
works wonders for insomniacs!
Cons:
a little groggy in am
Trazodone is excellent for insomniacs. Knocks you out in 20 minutes or less. Hard to wake in the am but once you do, you feel well rested. It also works will with other antidepressants like Zoloft. Watch out for mild mania. Mood stabilizers necessary for Bipolaroids taking Trazodone.
mrstumnus Member
Registered: April 2007 Posts: 20
Review Date: Thu April 26, 2007
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 7
Pros:
Great for sleep, good for anxiety and mood.
Cons:
Dizziness (short-lived), nasal congestion, water retention.
I found Trazodone helped me sleep tremendously. It did make me feel very dizzy and slightly disorientated but this wears off after about 45 mins. It also causes a rather unpleasant nasal 'blocked' feeling, this is bearable though. It is very good for anxiety, I felt quite 'chilled' and calm, my mood felt considerably better though in a relaxed state, no 'hyper' feeling. Maybe best for short-term sleeping problems or extreme anxiety. No sexual side effects (female), slightly increased appetite and minor weight gain (but this was only due to fluid retention). Some 'hangover' tiredness next day. I assume this would lessen with further use.
cherryblossom Junior Member
Registered: April 2007 Posts: 15
Review Date: Sat May 12, 2007
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $4.00| Rating: 10
Pros:
helps me sleep
Cons:
don't know of any
this medicine works good with my other meds.I get so sleepy in about 30 min after I take it.
Prada Member
Registered: August 2007 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Posts: 26
Review Date: Fri September 14, 2007
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 7
Pros:
helped with sleep
Cons:
headaches, nausea, dizziness
It worked well, but the side effects were horrible. The 'hangover' feeling was worse than if I were to drink myself to alcohol poisoning.
clskrock Member
Registered: February 2008 Location: Southern California USA Posts: 76
Review Date: Fri February 15, 2008
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 6
Pros:
Makes me drowsy.
Cons:
nausea
My dosage was just increased to 150mg. which has upset my stomach.
missnsx Newly Joined
Registered: February 2008
Review Date: Thu February 28, 2008
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8
Pros:
Definately helped me fall asleep
Cons:
Crazy dreams!!
I found that it really helped me fall asleep quickly and stay asleep throughout the night. Lunesta and Ambien do not work for me however Trazodone does the trick. The only downside is that it causes me to have very strange and crazy dreams. Some of my friends whom have also taken it have also noted that it caused them to have weird dreams too.
thinker22 Poohbah
Registered: June 2009 Location: Pac NW Posts: 1016
Review Date: Tue July 7, 2009
Would you recommend the product? No |
Total Spent: $5.00| Rating: 4
Pros:
Did help me to sleep
Cons:
Had an interaction that caused me to feint
Do not mix Trazodone with even minor amounts of alcohol and other antidepressants. May cause feinting.
Wiltedpage Newly Joined
Registered: October 2009 Location: Salisbury, MD Posts: 1
Review Date: Wed November 4, 2009
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $4.00| Rating: 10
Pros:
Helping sleep disorders
Cons:
gorogy in the morning when first taking it.
I have been taking trazadone for over 4 years and it has been a God send. Before trazadone I can't remember ever getting a good nights sleep, but with it I sleep wonderfully, unless the dog wakes me up,with no side effects.
