Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Trazodone. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Trazodone with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Trazodone. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• back pain
• changed sense of taste
• Constipation
• decreased appetite
• decreased sexual desire or ability
• Diarrhea
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• drowsiness
• Dry Mouth
• fatigue
• feeling jittery
• headache
• nausea
• sore throat
• unpleasant taste
• vomiting
• weakness

Although most of these side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• blurred vision
• breast enlargement (in men)
• breast leakage of milk (in women, even if not pregnant)
• changes in menstrual cycle
• confusion
• dizziness when rising from sitting or lying position
• fainting
• hot flashes
• inability to urinate
• memory problems
• muscle stiffness
• new or worsened emotional problems
• painful menstrual periods
• rapid, pounding heartbeat
• restlessness
• ringing in the ears
• signs of clotting problems (e.g., unusual nosebleeds, bruising, blood in urine, coughing blood, bleeding gums, cuts that don't stop bleeding)
• sweating
• symptoms of high blood sugar (e.g., frequent urination, increased thirst, excessive eating, unexplained weight loss, poor wound healing, infections, fruity breath odour)
• symptoms of low sodium levels in the blood (e.g., achy, stiff or uncoordinated muscles, confusion, tiredness, weakness)
• symptoms of mania (e.g., elevated or irritable mood, reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts)
• tingling symptoms
• uncontrolled movements
• vision changes

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• painful, prolonged erection of the penis (lasting more than 4 hours)
• seizures
• symptoms of a serious allergic reaction (swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, wheezing, or itchy skin rash)
• symptoms of serotonin syndrome (e.g., confusion, fast heartbeat, hallucinations, restlessness, shaking, shivering, sudden jerking of muscles, sweating)
• thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Trazodone.

50 mg
Each orange, biconvex, scored tablet identified "Trazodone" and "pms/50" on opposite sides, contains 50 mg of trazodone HCl equivalent to 45.5 mg of trazodone base. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, croscarmellose sodium, dibasic calcium phosphate, FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake, lactose, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose.

75 mg
Each salmon, round, biconvex tablet, identified "Trazodone" and "pms" over "75" on opposite sides, contains 75 mg of trazodone hydrochloride equivalent to 68.25 mg of trazodone base. Nonmedicinal ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, dibasic calcium phosphate, FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and pregelatinized starch.

100 mg
Each white, biconvex, scored tablet identified "Trazodone" and "pms/100" on opposite sides, contains 100 mg of trazodone HCl equivalent to 91 mg of trazodone base. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, croscarmellose sodium, dibasic calcium phosphate, lactose, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose.

Do not take Trazodone if you are allergic to trazodone or any ingredients of the medication.

There may be an interaction between trazodone and any of the following:

• Abiraterone acetate
• alcohol
• Alfuzosin
• antiarrhythmic medications (e.g., Amiodarone, Sotalol, quinidine, Flecainide)
• amphetamines (e.g., Dextroamphetamine, lisdexamphetamine)
• antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• Aprepitant
• "azole" antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, Voriconazole)
• Bicalutamide
• Bosentan
• Bromocriptine
• Buspirone
• Cabergoline
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Carbamazepine
• chloroquine
• Cobicistat
• conivaptan
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Deferasirox
• Degarelix
• Dexamethasone
• Dextromethorphan
• diuretics (water pills; e.g., Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide)
• Disopyramide
• dofetilide
• Domperidone
• Dronedarone
• droperidol
• Enzalutamide
• ergotamine-like medications (e.g., dihydroergoatime, ergotamine, methylergonovine)
• grapefruit juice
• Hepatitis C protease inhibitors (e.g., boceprevir, simeprevir, telaprevir)
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• Levomilnacipran
• lithium
• Lomitapide
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• Mefloquine
• Methadone
• Metoclopramide
• mifepristone
• Mirtazapine
• Mitotane
• Metronidazole
• Modafinil
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (M.O.S. e.g., , Moclobemide, Phenelzine, Selegiline, Tranylcypromine)
• nefazodone
• opioid pain medications (e.g., Codeine, Morphine)
• pentamidine
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• Pimozide
• primidone
• procainamide
• protein kinase inhbitors (e.g., Dasatinib, imatinib, Lapatinib, Pazopanib, Sunitinib)
• quinidine
• quinine
• quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin)
• rasagaline
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• rilpivirine
• St. John's wort
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• serotonin antagonists (anti-emetic medications; e.g., Granisetron, Ondansetron)
• serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs; e.g., Desvenlafaxine, Duloxetine, Venlafaxine)
• siltuximab
• sitaxentan
• Tacrolimus
• Tapentadol
• Tetrabenazine
• Tetracycline
• Tocilizumab
• Tramadol
• trazodone
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Desipramine, Trimipramine)
• "triptan" migraine medications (e.g., Sumatriptan, Zolmitriptan)
• Tryptophan
• Warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Trazodone. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Trazodone.

Behaviour changes and suicidal thoughts: Trazodone may worsen symptoms of depression, including thoughts of suicide or wanting to harm themselves or others. It may also cause agitated or aggressive behaviour. If you experience these symptoms or any other behaviour change while taking Trazodone, contact your doctor immediately. Family members or caregivers of people who are taking Trazodone should contact the person's doctor immediately if they notice unusual behaviour changes.

Bleeding: Trazodone may cause a reduced number of platelets in the blood, which can make it difficult to stop cuts from bleeding. If you notice any signs of bleeding, such as frequent nosebleeds, unexplained bruising, or black and tarry stools, notify your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will order routine blood tests to make sure potential problems are caught early.

Glaucoma: Trazodone may worsen symptoms of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eyes), such as blurred vision or eye pain or pressure. If you have glaucoma, discuss with your doctor how Trazodone may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Trazodone, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Heart rhythm: Trazodone can cause changes to the normal rhythm of the heart, including an irregular heartbeat called QT prolongation. QT prolongation is a serious life-threatening condition that can cause fainting, seizures, and sudden death. If you are at risk for heart rhythm problems (e.g., people with heart failure, Angina, low potassium or magnesium levels), discuss with your doctor how Trazodone may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Trazodone, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Blood pressure: Trazodone may cause Low Blood Pressure and possibly cause a feeling of lightheadedness when moving from a sitting or lying position to a standing position.

Dizziness: Trazodone can cause severe dizziness, especially when rising from a sitting or lying position. People taking medications that can cause dizziness should rise slowly from sitting or lying down to reduce the possibility of severe dizziness or fainting.

Drowsiness/reduced alertness: Trazodone may impair the mental or physical abilities required for potentially hazardous tasks, such as driving or operating machinery. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous tasks until you have determined how Trazodone affects you.

Priapism: Trazodone has been associated with prolonged or inappropriate erections (priapism) for a number of men taking Trazodone. If this occurs, stop taking the medication immediately and contact your doctor.

Seizures: Seizures have been reported for a small number of people taking trazodone. Most of these people were already taking medications for a previously diagnosed seizure disorder. If you have a history of seizures, discuss with your doctor how Trazodone may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Trazodone, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Serotonin syndrome: Rarely, severe, life-threatening reactions are possible when trazodone is combined with other medications that act on serotonin, such as tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are other medications used to treat depression. This is called serotonin syndrome. These combinations should be avoided. Symptoms of a reaction may include muscle rigidity and spasms, difficulty moving, changes in mental state including delirium and agitation. Coma and death are possible.

Stopping the medication: If Trazodone needs to be stopped, it should be done gradually, under the supervision of your doctor. Suddenly stopping trazodone can cause anxiety, agitation or sleep problems.

Pregnancy: The safety of trazodone for use during pregnancy has not been established. It should not be used by women who may become pregnant unless, in the opinion of their doctor, the expected benefits outweigh the potential risks. If you are or may be pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of Trazodone.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if trazodone passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Trazodone, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children and adolescents: The safety and effectiveness of trazodone have not been established for people less than 18 years of age.

Seniors: People over the age of 65 years may be more at risk of side effects from Trazodone and may require lower treatment doses.

Trazodone belongs to the class of medications called antidepressants. It is used to treat symptoms of Depression. It works by affecting the balance of chemicals in the brain that are associated with depression. It may take up to 4 weeks before the full beneficial effects of Trazodone are seen.

Trazodone may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of Trazodone may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Trazodone may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested Trazodone for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Trazodone, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking Trazodone without consulting your doctor.

Do not give Trazodone to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take Trazodone if their doctor has not prescribed it.