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Trazodone

Drug Class: Commonly Known As: Category:
Serotonin Antagonist and Reuptake Inhibitor (SARI) Trittico Adult

Trazodone - Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications

What side effects can Trazodone cause?

The mentioned side effects generally affect up to 10% of patients.

  • Nausea or vomiting
    • Take the medication with or after food.
    • Take small but frequent meals and avoid fatty or spicy food
  • Drowsiness or feeling tired
    • Avoid driving, or taking part in activities that requires concentration.
    • Discuss with your doctor if you can take your medication at a different time of the day.
  • Dry mouth
    • Chew sugar-free gum, suck on sugar-free hard candies or ice chips, sip water regularly
  • Constipation (difficulty passing motion)
    • Drink more water (if you do not have any fluid restriction), eat more high- fibre foods, and exercise regularly
    • Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you need medication to relieve your condition.
  • Dizziness
    • Get up slowly from a sitting or lying down position
  • Headache, decreased sexual drive or ability
    • Speak to your doctor if any of these affect your daily life

Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak with your doctor if they continue, get worse or are affecting your daily life.

Very rarely (affect less than 1% of patients) this medication may cause:

  • Painful erection of the penis (male sexual organ) lasting more than four hours (also knowsn as priapism)
  • Feelings of anxiety or agitation
  • Fast, pounding or irregular heartbeat
  • Unexplained fever, confusion, severe weakness, uncontrolled movements or muscle spasms (signs and symptoms of Serotonin syndrome)
  • Fits (seizures) 
  • Blurred vision
  • Difficulty passing urine

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

  • Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Before taking Trazodone , what precautions must I follow?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

  • You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
  • You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, your doctor would have discussed the potential benefits and side-effects with you and should you have further questions or concerns, do consult your doctor.
  • You have or have ever had:
    • Other drug allergies
    • Heart, kidney or liver disease
    • Medical conditions such as high or low blood pressure, fits (seizures), low sodium in the blood (hyponatremia), eye or blood/ bleeding problems
    • Other mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder or mania (abnormally high or excited mood)
    • Been taking other medications for low mood in the past 2 weeks

IMPORTANT:

In some cases, particularly in young people below the age of 25 years, this medication may cause the following changes to a person's mental condition, especially in the first few weeks of treatment or during dose changes:

  • New or worsening thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life
  • Worsening agitation, restlessness, violent behaviour, or
  • Other changes in mood or behaviour

Please inform your doctor as soon as possible, or for your family or caregiver to inform your doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

Do not stop taking this medication on your own without discussing with your doctor.

It is important to note that your doctor has prescribed this medication as he/she feels you will benefit more from taking this medication over the possible risks that it may cause, which have a low chance of occurring, and most people take this medication without any of such problems.

What food or medicine must I avoid when I take Trazodone ?

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication as it may make you feel very drowsy. This medication may interact with other medications. If you intend to take any over the counter medication, supplements, herbal remedy or traditional Chinese medicine, consult your doctor or healthcare professional first to confirm that it is safe to take with Trazodone.

Trazodone - Additional Information

  • Updated on 5/31/2021 12:00:00 AM
  • Article contributed by PSS National Medication Information Workgroup PSS National Medication Information Workgroup
The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

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