Generic Desyrel

Product Information

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.

What is the most important information I should know about Desyrel (trazodone)?

Before taking trazodone, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have bipolar disorder (manic depression), schizophrenia or other psychiatric illness, a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts, or if you have recently had a heart attack.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

Trazodone works best if you take it after a meal or a snack. 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. Trazodone can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking trazodone. Alcohol can increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by trazodone. 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.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Desyrel (trazodone)?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to trazodone.

Before using trazodone, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

bipolar disorder (manic depression);

schizophrenia, or other psychiatric illness;

a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts; or if you have recently had a heart attack.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Trazodone may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give trazodone to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take Desyrel (trazodone)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Trazodone works best if you take it after a meal or a snack. You may need to take this medicine at bedtime, because trazodone can cause drowsiness. Follow your doctor's instructions.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using trazodone. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. It may take up to 2 weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks of treatment. You may need to take trazodone for several weeks or months to control your depression symptoms.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store trazodone at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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.

What should I avoid while taking Desyrel (trazodone)?

Trazodone can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking trazodone. Alcohol can increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by trazodone.

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.

Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

dizziness or drowsiness;

headache;

sleep problems (insomnia);

dry mouth, stuffy nose;

nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;

diarrhea or constipation;

muscle pain;

loss of coordination; or

blurred vision.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect Desyrel (trazodone)?

Before taking trazodone, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

an HIV medicine such as indinavir (Crixivan) or ritonavir (Norvir);

an antibiotic such as ketoconazole (Nizoral) or itraconazole (Sporanox);

digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

seizure medicine such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol) or phenytoin (Dilantin);

warfarin (Coumadin); or

if you have taken an MAO inhibitor within the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with trazodone. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.