Author: James Anderson

Trazodone Oral Route Precautions

Do not take more or less of it, take it more often, or take it for a longer time than prescribed by your doctor. This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there.

This can impair cognitive function, affect coordination, and increase the risk of accidents or falls. The interaction between alcohol and trazodone can intensify the effects of both substances and lead to adverse reactions. Trazodone is a central nervous system depressant that affects certain neurotransmitters in the brain, while alcohol is also a CNS depressant that can further dampen the central nervous system.

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If you or someone you know is struggling with trazodone and alcohol addiction, Gratitude Lodge in Southern California is here to assist you on the path to recovery. Our pet-friendly rehabs in Newport Beach and Long Beach, CA, are designed to address both trazodone and alcohol addiction, in addition to mental health conditions. However, experts are not sure about how great this risk is and how much it should be considered in deciding whether a child or teenager should take an antidepressant. Children younger than 18 years of age should not normally take trazodone, but in some cases, a doctor may decide that trazodone is the best medication to treat a child’s condition. Alcohol can interfere with this type of treatment, especially if a person is routinely drinking heavy amounts of alcohol as a way to try and reduce negative feelings they’re having. While unfortunately relatively common, this is often a practice that reduces a person’s overall mental health and can result in severe drug abuse and addiction.

When combined, these effects can be intensified, potentially leading to increased discomfort and digestive problems. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor.

Don’t stop taking an antidepressant or other medication just so that you can drink. Most antidepressants require taking a consistent, daily dose to maintain a constant level in your system and work as intended. Stopping and starting your medications can make your depression worse. A 1984 study reported that co-administration of trazodone and alcohol affected manual dexterity and causes mental confusion, and concluded that it was likely not safe to take both trazodone and ethanol.

Do not take trazodone with a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, isocarboxazid [Marplan®], linezolid (Zyvox®), methylene blue, phenelzine [Nardil®], selegiline [Eldepryl®], tranylcypromine [Parnate®]). Do not start taking trazodone during the 2 weeks after you stop a MAO inhibitor and wait 2 weeks after stopping trazodone before you start taking a MAO inhibitor. If you take them together or do not wait 2 weeks, you may develop confusion, agitation, restlessness, stomach or intestinal symptoms, a sudden high body temperature, an extremely high blood pressure, or severe convulsions. Trazodone has a half-life (i.e. the time it takes to metabolize 50% of a drug) of around 10 hours, and most of the drug is metabolized within 2 to 3 days. Therefore, to completely avoid having trazodone in your system before having alcohol, you need to wait that amount of time (2-3 days).

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In addition, experts believe the drug’s sedating properties come from its ability to block alpha-1 and histamine receptors. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. If this problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor. Make your tax-deductible gift and be a part of the cutting-edge research and care that’s changing medicine. You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. In addition to the potential side effects listed above (e.g. sedation, dizziness, etc…), there is also the chance of more serious problems with the combination.

It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance. For temporary relief, use sugarless gum or candy, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections. For some teenagers and young adults, this medicine can increase thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor right away if you start to feel more depressed or have thoughts about hurting yourself or others.

1. Trazodone and alcohol can both impair judgment and coordination individually.
2. However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist.
3. Do not start taking trazodone during the 2 weeks after you stop a MAO inhibitor and wait 2 weeks after stopping trazodone before you start taking a MAO inhibitor.
4. The tablet is usually taken with a meal or light snack two or more times a day.
5. You should know that having depression or another mental illness greatly increases the risk that you will become suicidal.

Therefore, if you have one drink, you want to wait at least one hour before taking trazodone. In your case, having had two shots, you want to wait at least two hours to allow your body time to metabolize the alcohol before having a drink. Trazodone alcohol can individually cause gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset.

This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements. If we go the other way around, taking trazodone before drinking (instead of trazodone after drinking), we have to take into account how long it takes our body to metabolize the drug. Alcohol and trazodone are both considered CNS (central nervous system) depressants, and combining them enhances these CNS effects. Some doctors may prescribe trazodone for insomnia, a common symptom of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. However, trazodone is not specifically recommended for this purpose in the alcohol withdrawal guidelines by either the World Health Organization (WHO) or the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Other uses for this medicine

When combined, these substances can cause excessive sedation, drowsiness, and impaired motor function. A notable risk of any significant alcohol use, even if a person isn’t taking trazodone, alcohol has significant addiction potential. While the drug is legal for adults to purchase, it is actually more dangerous than many more tightly regulated substances.

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Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine. It may take 2 weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of trazodone. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, to allow for changes in your dose and to help manage any unwanted effects.

When used together, these effects are magnified, making it dangerous to engage in activities such as driving or operating machinery. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy or less alert than they are normally.