Trazodone Side Effects

Use of any drug is as good as initiating a chemical warfare, even if you are only ingesting it to treat a health condition. Trazodone is administered orally to treat depression and to treat the combination of symptoms of depression and certain anxiety symptoms. During the course of action trazodone tries to influence the concentration of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain cells. Acetylcholine is a known depressant, on the other hand neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and serotonin act as brain cell stimulants. Trazodone acts by increasing norepinephrine and serotonin concentration and tries to inhibit the action of acetylecholine. The following is a brief note on the known trazodone side effects which may prove to be helpful to you.

List of Trazodone Side Effects

Trazodone, an atypical antidepressant, shares properties of tricyclic antidepressants such as doxepin and of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants like sertraline. The following is a list of the side effects of trazodone, which may or may not affect people because of the individual tolerance against it.

• Blurred-vision
• Constipation
• Reduced appetite
• Dizziness in 10-30% patients
• Drowsiness in as many as 50% patients
• Along with body discomforts, you may as well experience dry mouth.
• Headache and light-headedness. Also there are complaints about sleeplessness
• Problems in coordinating movements
• Muscle aches or pains
• One may feel tremors, nauseous, tired and nervous.
• Stomach or chest pain
• Blood in urine
• Fainting
• Irregular heartbeat
• Experiencing light-headedness after getting on the feet from a lying position
• Sustained, untimely, or painful erections
• Seizures
• Stroke
• Vomiting
• Allergic reactions:
  1. Rash
  2. Hives
  3. Itching
• One may experience tightness in the chest area leading to shortness of breath and labored breathing.
• One may experience swelling of skin.
• Swelling in mouth, face, lips, or tongue areas
• Psychiatric side effects:
  1. Mania
  2. Paranoia
  3. Hypomania
  4. Delirium
  5. Agitation
  6. Self-destructive behavior

Trazodone is well known for its most pronounced sedating effect and you may feel that your mental alertness is less than usual. It is advisable that, whilst you are ingesting trazodone, you should not undertake hazardous tasks, such as driving or activities demanding mental alertness and physical coordination. The trazodone side effects are more pronounced in the early stages of the medications, which however, lessens or disappears with the continuation of the medication. Trazodone increases the heart rate, which makes it important that you should consult your physician before taking trazodone, if you have history of heart disease or have recently had a heart attack. Elderly patients suffering from benign prostatic hypertrophy, glaucoma, especially severe glaucoma and urinary retention, should be careful and seek medical guidance before taking trazodone, which like a true antidepressant promotes urinary retention. Trazodone and antidepressants (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) taken together may increase serotonin levels in the brain cells which could lead to a condition known as serotonin syndrome. The central nervous system depressants such as alcohol etc., enhances sedative side effects of trazodone.

The drugs like trazodone are depression medications used to treat different types of mood disorders. Psychiatrists and physicians may prescribe these medicines for few weeks or for years depending on the needs of the patients. The studies show that the use of antidepressants is increasing in the United States. 13 million people in 1996 and 27 million people in 2005, were prescribed an antidepressant. In the United States, a 2005 study report says that 11% of non-institutionalized women and 5% of men take antidepressants. Every drug has its side effects and trazodone is not an exception. However, the trazodone side effects can be avoided, if it is taken under the medical supervision.