Trazodone for sleep online

Trazodone hydrochloride is an oral antidepressant medication. It was approved by the FDA in 1981 to treat major depressive disorder (MDD). It belongs to a class of antidepressants called serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs), which slow the reabsorption of serotonin (a chemical messenger) back into the brain to prolong its “feel good” effects.

Trazodone can be taken by itself or in combination with other medications to treat depression. It’s often used with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) antidepressants to prevent some of the more common side effects of those drugs: sexual dysfunction, anxiety, and insomnia.

Trazodone is also prescribed off-label (a condition it’s not FDA approved for) as a treatment for insomnia by itself, as well as several other mental-health conditions: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trazodone is also used off-label for other health conditions, including bulimia, substance abuse, chronic pain, and dementia.

Trazodone is a generic drug. The brand name for trazodone is Raldesy. Other brands of the medication — Desyrel, Desyrel Dividose, and Oleptro — have been discontinued in the U.S.

Trazodone requires a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider, such as a physician assistant/associate (PA), medical doctor (MD), or ​​nurse practitioner (NP). If one of these healthcare professionals thinks trazodone is appropriate for you to improve sleep, they can prescribe it for you.

Find a board-certified, licensed provider to discuss trazodone or other insomnia medications on Klarity Health.

If you and your provider decide trazodone is right for you, your provider can send your prescription to an online or local pharmacy or you can drop it off or submit it yourself.

Some states require at least one in-person visit before a provider can prescribe medication. Find online prescribing regulations for your state on the Center for Connected Health Policy website.

The most common potential side effects of trazodone are dry mouth, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness and lightheadedness, fatigue, nervousness, daytime sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, and skin conditions.

Trazodone also has potentially serious side effects. It comes with an FDA-boxed warning for increased thoughts of suicide and suicidal behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults taking the drug for MDD. Young patients should be closely monitored by their families and healthcare providers while taking it.

Trazodone is also linked to priapism (a prolonged painful erection that lasts for several hours). Medical intervention is required if patients have this side effect.

Patients with heart disease should be closely monitored by their providers because trazodone and other antidepressants have been associated with cardiac arrhythmias.

Trazodone shouldn’t be taken with other antidepressants, as it can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Other antidepressants include duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), bupropion (Wellbutrin), and sertraline (Zoloft). Wait at least 14 days after taking an MAOI to use trazodone. People taking the muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) should also avoid taking trazodone to avoid serotonin syndrome.

If you take Trazodone and have any side effects, work with your provider and consider reporting negative side effects to the FDA by visiting MedWatch or calling 1-800-FDA-1088.