GENERIC NAME:

TRAZODONE - ORAL (TRAZZ-oh-doan)

BRAND NAME:

Desyrel

What is Desyrel (trazodone)?

Trazodone is an antidepressant medication. It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression

Trazodone is used to treat depression.

Trazodone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

How should you take Desyrel?

Take Desyrel shortly after a meal or light snack. You may be more apt to feel dizzy or light-headed if you take the drug before you have eaten.

Desyrel may cause dry mouth. Sucking on a hard candy, chewing gum, or melting bits of ice in your mouth can relieve the problem.

Take it as soon as you remember. If it is within 4 hours of your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take 2 doses at once.

Store at room temperature in a tightly closed container away from light and excessive heat.

Desyrel (trazodone) side effects

Stop taking trazodone and call your doctor at once if you have a penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer. This is a medical emergency and could lead to a serious condition that must be corrected with surgery. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; or
• problems with urination.

DRUG INTERACTIONS:

All antidepressants that increase concentrations of serotonin in the brain, including trazodone, should not be taken with MAO-inhibitors. Drugs in the MAO-inhibitor class include isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and procarbazine (Matulane). Such combinations may lead to confusion, high blood pressure and tremor. This same type of interaction may occur when trazodone is used with selegiline (Eldepryl). If a patient is switched from trazodone to an MAO inhibitor, at least one week should be allowed after stopping trazodone before the MAO inhibitor is begun. After stopping an MAO inhibitor, two weeks should elapse before starting trazodone.

Increased blood concentrations of digoxin and phenytoin (Dilantin) have been reported in persons taking trazodone due to a decrease in the metabolism (break-down and elimination) of these drugs by trazodone.

Carbamazepine (Tegretol) may decrease blood levels of trazodone by increasing its elimination from the body. Ketoconazole (Nizoral), ritonavir (Norvir), and indinavir (Crixivan) inhibit the breakdown of trazodone leading to increased blood levels of trazodone and potential side effects.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of trazodone can be fatal when it is taken with alcohol, barbiturates such as phenobarbital, or sedatives such as diazepam (Valium).

Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, vomiting, penis erection that is painful or prolonged, uneven heart rate, seizure (black-out or convulsions), or breathing that slows or stops.

Overdosage

Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. An overdose of Desyrel in combination with other drugs can be fatal. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

Breathing failure, drowsiness, irregular heartbeat, prolonged, painful erection, seizures, vomiting