trazodone
Brand names: Desyrel
Trazodone is a medicine used to treat depression. It helps to improve your mood and can help you sleep better.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.05/unit
Generic Available
Yes (14 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Trazodone is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
Common side effects
Swelling, Blurred vision, Fainting
Key warnings
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults.
How It Works
Trazodone is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate mood.
How to Take It
Start with 150 mg per day, divided into multiple doses. Your doctor may increase the dose by 50 mg every 3 to 4 days. The maximum dose is 400 mg per day for outpatients, divided into multiple doses. Take trazodone shortly after a meal or light snack. You can swallow the tablet whole or break it in half, but do not chew or crush it.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is important to consider the risk of untreated depression during pregnancy. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in women exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. You can register by calling 1-844-405-6185.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store trazodone at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 8,622 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 15,113 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
15,113
Death-Related Reports
1,538
Hospitalization Reports
5,063
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 1,181 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 1,129 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 1,097 |
| 4 | HEADACHE | 909 |
| 5 | PAIN | 808 |
| 6 | DIARRHOEA | 793 |
| 7 | OFF LABEL USE | 711 |
| 8 | VOMITING | 676 |
| 9 | INSOMNIA | 673 |
| 10 | DEPRESSION | 656 |
| 11 | DYSPNOEA | 623 |
| 12 | DIZZINESS | 599 |
| 13 | FALL | 591 |
| 14 | ASTHENIA | 519 |
| 15 | ANXIETY | 512 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Trazodone is not approved for use in children.
Known Drug Interactions
Intervention: Trazodone is contraindicated in patients taking MAOIs, including MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue [see Contraindications (4), Dosage and Administration (2.3, 2.4), and Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].
Mechanism: Linezolid acts like a special type of medicine that can cause a dangerous buildup of a brain chemical called serotonin when mixed with trazodone. This can lead to a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
What to do: Do not take these two medications together. Your doctor will need to find an alternative treatment for you.
NSAIDs, Aspirin, or Other Drugs Affecting Coagulation or Bleeding Due to a possible association between serotonin modulating drugs and gastrointestinal bleeding, patients should be monitored for and cautioned about the potential risk of bleeding associated with the concomitant use of trazodone and NSAIDs, aspirin, or other drugs that affect coagulation or bleeding [s ee Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 ) ].
Mechanism: Both drugs can interfere with how your blood clots, which makes it easier for you to bleed or bruise.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for signs of bleeding, and you should report any unusual bruising or stomach pain.
Examples: isocarboxazid, moclobemide, phenelzine, selegiline, tranylcypromine Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of serotonergic drugs including trazodone and other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Mechanism: Both of these medications increase the amount of serotonin in your brain, which can lead to a dangerous reaction called serotonin syndrome.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about the risks, as they may need to adjust your doses or change your treatment.
Examples: isocarboxazid, moclobemide, phenelzine, selegiline, tranylcypromine Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of serotonergic drugs including trazodone and other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Mechanism: Using these drugs together can cause a harmful buildup of serotonin in your body.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should watch you for symptoms like confusion, sweating, or a fast heartbeat.
Examples: isocarboxazid, moclobemide, phenelzine, selegiline, tranylcypromine Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of serotonergic drugs including trazodone and other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Mechanism: These medications both raise serotonin levels, and taking them at the same time increases the risk of a toxic reaction.
What to do: Consult your doctor before combining these drugs to ensure they are safe for you to use together.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking trazodone suddenly?
Can I drink alcohol while taking trazodone?
What should I do if I experience a prolonged erection?
Can trazodone affect my ability to drive?
Is it safe to take trazodone with other medications?
How long does it take for trazodone to start working?
What if I feel worse after starting trazodone?
Can trazodone cause weight gain?
Does trazodone interact with grapefruit?
Can I take trazodone if I have glaucoma?
What are the common side effects of trazodone?
Does trazodone interact with other medications?
What drug class is trazodone?
Is trazodone safe during pregnancy?
Has trazodone been recalled?
Active Recalls
Failed Tablet/Capsule Specifications: Product complaint received that some tablets had a dent on the plain side of the tablet surface.
Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc
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alprazolam
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amitriptyline
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amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
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aripiprazole
Abilify
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What the FDA Data Shows for trazodone
The FDA label for trazodone (sold under brand names such as Desyrel) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Serotonin Antagonist and Reuptake Inhibitor (SARI) class. Trazodone is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Swelling, Blurred vision, Fainting.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 8,622 voluntary reports. The database also lists 40 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.05.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 1 recall record on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: August 30, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages