Uses:
Trazodone is an antidepressant medication. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in your brain.   Trazodone is used to relieve symptoms of depression such as feelings of sadness, worthlessness, or guilt; loss of interest in daily activities; changes in appetite; tiredness; sleeping too much and insomnia. Trazodone also is used occasionally to treat anxiety and cocaine withdrawal. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

Sometimes Trazodone must be taken for up to 4 weeks before you begin to feel better, although most people notice improvement within 2 weeks.

How To Take This Medication:
Trazodone comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken one or more times a day with food. Trazodone should be taken shortly after a meal or light snack to decrease the chance of dizziness or lightheadedness. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take trazodone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Continue to take trazodone even if you feel well. Do not stop taking trazodone without talking to your doctor, especially if you have taken large doses for a long time. Your doctor probably will want to decrease your dose gradually. This drug must be taken regularly for a few weeks before its full effect is felt.

Side Effects:
Side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

• More common
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness;  drowsiness ;  dryness of mouth (usually mild);  headache;  nausea and vomiting;  unpleasant taste 

• Less common
  • Blurred vision;  constipation;  diarrhea;  muscle aches or pains;  unusual tiredness or weakness.

Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Stop taking this medicine and check with your doctor immediately if the following side effect occurs:

Rare

• Painful, inappropriate erection of the penis, continuing. Stop taking Trazodone and call your doctor immediately if you experience prolonged, painful, or inappropriate erections. This could lead to a serious condition requiring surgery.

Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

• Confusion;  fainting;  muscle tremors 

Rare

• Fast or slow heartbeat;  skin rash;  unusual excitement 

Cautions: Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Trazodone may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall.   Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall.

Drug Interactions:
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking trazodone, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine)—Taking these medicines with trazodone may result in low blood pressure (hypotension); the amount of medicine you need to take may change

• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness) or
• Tricyclic antidepressants (medicine for depression)—Taking these medicines with trazodone may add to the CNS depressant effects

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of trazodone. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse (or history of)—Drinking alcohol with trazodone will increase the central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects

• Heart disease—Trazodone may make the condition worse

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Higher blood levels of trazodone may occur, increasing the chance of side effects

Missed Dosage:
If you take several doses per day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule.

If you take trazodone once a day at bedtime and do not remember to take it until the next morning, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Notes:
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Symptoms of overdose

• Drowsiness;  loss of muscle coordination ;  nausea and vomiting 

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 (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.