Trazodone is traditionally used to treat individuals with major depressive disorder. This antidepressant improves mental health by balancing the chemicals in the central nervous system (CNS), such as serotonin, to improve energy levels, anxiety, mood, and appetite. But that’s not all it can treat. It is sometimes prescribed off-label to treat those with insomnia because of its sedative properties.
RELATED: Get trazodone coupons | What is trazodone?
Reading: Trazodone max dose for sleep
Table of Contents
Is trazodone approved as a sleep aid?
Trazodone is not approved as a sleep aid by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but rather as a treatment of depression. While it has similar properties, trazodone is chemically unrelated to the popular antidepressant class: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Total sleep time is increased with trazodone, but unlike tricyclic antidepressants, trazodone does not affect deep sleep. Although the primary use of trazodone is not for a sleeping medication or sedation, studies have found that low doses of trazodone help treat insomnia.
One study explains that trazodone works for the treatment of insomnia by reducing the level of neurotransmitters that are associated with arousal effects. Therefore, many people may begin to feel sleepy or drowsy when taking trazodone.
Although not approved as a sleep aid by the FDA, it is often prescribed for insomnia. This practice of using medication for something other than its first intended use when approved by the FDA is common. This is called “off-label use.” Prescribing a drug off-label is up to the discretion and judgment of each healthcare provider based on their knowledge and expertise.
How much trazodone should I take for sleep?
Trazodone dosage for sleep ranges from lower doses 25 mg to higher doses of 150 mg. The maximum dose of trazodone for insomnia is 200 mg. Your healthcare provider may prescribe Desyrel or Oleptro, which are brand names for trazodone.
Also Read: Soft lump on dog belly
“Typically a starting dose of trazodone as a sleep aid is between 25 to 50 mg at bedtime, but max doses can go higher,” says Sean Kiesel, DO, who practices family medicine in Utah. “This is ultimately determined by you and your physician.”
RELATED: Is it safe to take sleep aids every night?
Advantages of taking trazodone for sleep
Typically trazodone is not the first choice of treatment for insomnia. Most medical experts recommend lifestyle changes or cognitive behavioral therapy to help treat insomnia. If this does not work, your doctor may suggest traditional sleep disorder medications including Lunesta or Ambien. If these prescription drugs are also not right for you, your healthcare provider may then prescribe trazodone as a sleep aid. There are many benefits to using Trazodone compared to other medicines, including:
- A systematic review of 45 studies performed in 2017 found that trazodone is safe as a treatment for insomnia.
- Trazodone is a non-addictive treatment. Some medications used in the treatment of insomnia are addictive. A class of drugs that were previously popular to treat insomnia were benzodiazepines, which help patients fall asleep faster and longer, these include drugs like Xanax or Valium. Now, these drugs are only given for short-term use due to the potential for users to become addicted.
- Since it is a generic drug covered by most insurance plans, trazodone is lower in cost than other medications.
- Trazodone works quickly as a sleep aid, often taking only 30 minutes to feel the effects.
- How long trazodone will keep you asleep still needs to be further researched, but one study found that sleep time was increased on average by 22 minutes.
- Trazodone may be helpful for those with sleep apnea, as studies have shown it increases respiratory thresholds.
Side effects of trazodone
If you’re considering taking trazodone as a sleep aid, there are side effects you should consider. The most common side effects include:
- Eye pain, blurred vision, seeing halos around lights
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
- Constipation, diarrhea, or nausea and vomiting
Serious side effects
- Thoughts of hurting yourself or others, unusual behavior especially in children, adolescents, and young adults
- Prolonged, painful erection (priapism)
- Anxiety, restlessness, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seeing or hearing things that are not there
- Confusion, weakness, muscle twitching
- Fast, pounding, or uneven heart rate
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
- Sudden increases in energy, feeling irritable, trouble sleeping
- Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
If you experience any serious side effects or worsening side effects it is important to seek medical attention and contact your healthcare provider.
It is important to tell your doctor all medications you are taking, as trazodone is known to have drug interactions with hundreds of medications. If trazodone is taken with any other medication that affects serotonin, patients could experience a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome.
Also Read: How long can a dog wait for acl surgery
Also, let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medication. The risk of untreated insomnia versus the potential for adverse fetal outcomes must be considered during pregnancy. Trazodone is excreted into breast milk. Patients should discuss the intention to breastfeed with their healthcare providers.
It’s important to consult your healthcare provider for medical advice about the discontinuation of trazodone, as you may experience withdrawal symptoms.
There are long-term side effects to taking Trazodone. Lowering blood pressure was found to be a problem with taking trazodone in a 2018 study. Other long-term side effects of trazodone can include:
- Driving errors
- Long-term storage recall deficits
- Sleep latency
- Muscle endurance
RELATED: Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking prescription sleep aids?
Trazodone alternatives
If trazodone doesn’t sound right for you, here are some other medications that are also used to treat insomnia.
Other sleep aids
Drug name OTC or Rx? How it works Standard dosage SingleCare savings Learn more Ambien (zolpidem) Rx It balances chemicals in the brain that cause insomnia 5 mg/day for females, 5-10 mg/day for males Ambien coupons What is Ambien? Silenor (doxepin) Rx Helps sleep maintenance by blocking histamine receptors 3-6 mg/day, depending on age Silenor coupons What is Silenor? Lunesta (eszopiclone) Rx It helps balance chemicals in the brain that cause insomnia 1-3 mg/day Lunesta coupons What is Lunesta? Benadryl (diphenhydramine) OTC Blocks histamine receptors, causing drowsiness 1-2 tablets/day 30 minutes before bed Benadryl coupons What is Benadryl? ZzzQuil (diphenhydramine) OTC Blocks histamine receptors, causing drowsiness 2 capsules/day ZzzQuil coupons What is ZzzQuil? Unisom (doxylamine succinate) OTC Blocks histamine receptors, causing drowsiness 1 tablet/day 30 minutes before bed Unisom coupons What is Unisom? Advil PM (ibuprofen-diphenhydramine) OTC Reduces pain, shortens the time it takes to fall asleep, increases duration of sleep 2 tablets or capsules/day Advil PM coupons What is Advil PM? Tylenol PM (diphenhydramine-acetaminophen) OTC Reduces pain, shortens the time it takes to fall asleep, increases duration of sleep 2 tablets/day Tylenol PM coupons What is Tylenol PM? Melatonin OTC Naturally promotes sleep 1-10 mg/day Melatonin coupons What is melatonin?
RELATED: Trazodone vs. Ambien
More insomnia remedies
Medications are not your only option if you are having difficulty sleeping. Lifestyle changes and home remedies can be helpful to get a good night’s sleep. Some possible options include:
Also Read: Small dog breeds for people with allergies
- Melatonin is a natural sleep aid that can be purchased without a prescription. “Melatonin in addition to sleep hygiene would be appropriate to try before trazodone,” Dr. Kiesel says. Although evidence surrounding its efficacy as a sleep aid is still lacking, many health professionals consider melatonin to be a safe sleep aid to try.
- Practice good sleep hygiene. “According to the American Sleep Association, you should be going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time, if your schedule allows,” explains Lindsey Hudson, APRN, NP-C, CDCES, a family nurse practitioner in Charleston, South Carolina, and a member of the SingleCare Medical Review Board. “Also, don’t watch TV, read, or use any electronics (like your phone, tablet, or computer) while in bed.”
- Exercise earlier in the day. “Try to avoid rigorous exercise too close to bedtime, as this can circulate endorphins and disrupt sleep,” Hudson says.
- Meditation is a great way to help treat insomnia and studies have shown the effectiveness of this technique.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to have great results in treating insomnia. Significant effects to helping insomnia have been found up to a year after treatment.
- Drink warm milk and tea. While there is not much evidence to support that these work, many people use these beverages to unwind in the evening. Skip the alcohol, as it can increase insomnia.
- Chinese herbal medicine was found in one study to help the treatment of insomnia. The most common herbs used to treat insomnia included Suanzaoren, Fuling, and Ganca.
