Trazodone doesn’t just improve our sleep—it restores our sleep architecture and promotes healthier sleep patterns, so we can get longer lasting, restorative rest without the risk of dependency.

Before you get started, read more about important usage information for Trazodone.

Quick tips

Here are some quick tips to help you get the most from each dose:

• Take Trazodone 30-60 minutes before bedtime
• Do not take Trazodone on an empty stomach
• Avoid driving if you experience side effects
• Abstain from alcohol
• Do not quit Trazodone without first discussing with your prescriber

Trazodone is a safe and well-tolerated medication, but you may need to take precautions to observe your response to side effects after you start taking Trazodone.

Try taking Trazodone for the first time on a Friday night, when you can take the weekend to stay home and allow your body to adjust to the medication. You should only resume driving until you are certain that side effects like dizziness and drowsiness will not affect you during the day.

Follow these tips to ensure your body properly adjusts to the medication, so you can enjoy the most optimal benefits while minimizing side effects.

Getting started

When you first receive your Trazodone prescription, follow proper storage guidelines to maintain the quality of the medication.

Before you begin, review the titration instructions provided by your prescriber.

When you’re ready to end your prescription, understand how to wean off Trazodone.

Explore Trazodone benefits so you know what to expect.

Learn the best strategies for reducing side effects in your first weeks.

Storage

When your prescription arrives, check that the contents are properly sealed and undamaged. Be sure to keep your medication in its original container to maintain the utmost quality.

Store at room temperature (between 68°F and 77°F) and away from direct light, like in your pantry. Avoid storing Trazodone in areas with excessive heat or humidity, like your laundry room or utility closet. Always keep Trazodone where your children or pets can’t reach it.

Titration instructions

Trazodone follows a simple, standardized titration plan that will proceed as follows unless your AgelessRx prescriber tells you otherwise:

Week	Dose	Frequency
1-2	½ tablet (25mg)	Once nightly before bedtime
3+	1 tablet (50mg)	Once nightly before bedtime (as tolerated)

Please note that each Trazodone tablet will be 50mg in strength for all fulfilments. For the first 1-2 weeks, you must cut your tablet in half to reach your target dose.

To safely and reliably cut your tablet in half, use a pill splitter to ensure you are accurately dividing your dose. You can purchase inexpensive pill splitters at your local pharmacy or online retailers. Alternatively, you may use a sharp and sturdy knife that you can easily grip, like a chef’s knife.

If your prescriber increases or otherwise adjusts your dose, you may need to cut a Trazodone tablet in half to reach your prescribed dose.

Your prescribed Trazodone dose may differ from the standard titration plan listed above; always follow the titration instructions listed on your Rx bottle or in your AgelessRx portal.

Trazodone must be taken at night before bedtime to work best as a sleep aid. If you miss a dose of Trazodone and you’ve already fallen asleep, you can usually skip it and take your next dose the next night before bedtime unless it is still close to your normal bedtime. Do not double up on doses to compensate for a missed dose. Be careful not to miss multiple, consecutive doses to avoid increased side effects.

If you feel you’re not meeting your health goals on your prescribed dose, contact your prescriber to see if changing your target dose is right for you.

How to wean off Trazodone

Your prescriber will reassess your prescription every 3-6 months to determine whether an ongoing prescription is appropriate for you. Be sure to complete your routine check-ins to ensure your continued eligibility, or reach out if you feel your sleep has improved. If you decide to stop taking Trazodone, or if your prescriber recommends you stop, you should plan to eventually wean off Trazodone.

To wean off Trazodone, reduce your dose by 25mg every 1-2 weeks before discontinuing the medication.

If you are currently taking a target dose of 50mg, you may start taking ½ tablet (25mg) on your next dose. Keep taking ½ tablet before bedtime for 1-2 weeks (as tolerated), then discontinue the medication.

If you are currently taking a target dose of 25mg, your prescriber may recommend that you take ¼ tablet (12.5mg) for 1-2 weeks, or that you keep taking your current dose for another 2-3 nights before discontinuing.

Do not stop taking Trazodone abruptly. Do not stop taking Trazodone without first discussing it with your AgelessRx prescriber.

Trazodone benefits

Trazodone is a well-rounded and well-tolerated medication with a diverse range of potential sleep, mood, and cognitive benefits:

• Induces and maintains sleep
  Trazodone blocks key neurotransmitter receptors to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, with less nighttime awakenings.
• Improves moods and relaxation
  Trazodone may increase the serotonin available in your brain for a calming effect that could reduce anxiety.
• Boosts deep, quality sleep
  When taken at low doses, Trazodone produces a feeling of sedation that increases the quality and length of slow wave sleep, or deep sleep.
• Enhances cognitive function
  Trazodone may help improve concentration and memory recall as a secondary benefit of improving sleep quality.
• Restores sleep architecture
  Trazodone doesn’t just improve sleep—it also supports and encourages healthier sleep patterns.
• May reduce risk of cognitive impairment
  A 2019 study determined that Trazodone users exhibited a slower mental decline associated with age, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.

As a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI), Trazodone works by blocking the serotonin type 2 (5-HT2), histamine H1, and alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. This results in a calming sedative effect that promotes healthy sleep.

With a different mechanism of action than other sleep aids like benzodiazepines, Trazodone is also non-habit-forming with a lower risk of side effects like next-day grogginess.

Side effects

The most common side effects of Trazodone are:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Blurred vision

Other, less common side effects include:

• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Backaches
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dream disorder

Most side effects are mild and go away within a week or two, as your body adjusts to the medication.

However, the side effects of Trazodone are dose-dependent and may indicate that a particular dose is too high for you. If you find that some side effects persist or get worse within 1-2 weeks, try to reduce your dose by 25mg until your side effects resolve.

Some side effects of Trazodone may affect your ability to drive a vehicle, operate heavy machinery, and perform other tasks requiring concentration and coordination. Plan to stay home or arrange a ride for the first few days after starting Trazodone, until you’re sure you won’t be drowsy, dizzy, or fatigued after taking the medication.

To better understand how Trazodone may affect you, please review the Mayo Clinic’s full list of Trazodone side effects.

Important safety information

Trazodone may cause the following rare but serious side effects: cardiac dysrhythmia, hypotension (low blood pressure), prolonged QT interval, torades de pointes, hypersensitivity reaction, priapism (prolonged erection), or seizure. If you have a personal or family history of any of these, your AgelessRx prescriber may recommend an alternative solution.

Trazodone has a black box warning for suicidal thoughts or ideation. This risk increases in children or young adults and is higher within the first few months of treatment. AgelessRx does not prescribe Trazodone to anyone under the age of 25, but all patients should watch for new or sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. If you experience thoughts of suicide or worsening depression, stop using Trazodone immediately and contact your doctor or a qualified mental health professional. For mental health emergencies, dial or text 988 to speak with a trained health counselor 24/7.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Trazodone may affect the way some medicines work, and some medicines may affect the way Trazodone works. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications to treat depression or insomnia, including Prozac (fluoxetine) or Ambien (zolpidem).

Do not take Trazodone if you are currently prescribed a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Do not use Trazodone within 14 days of discontinuing an MAOI. MAOIs include saquinavir/ritonavir, colchicine, isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, pimozide, safinamide, saquinavir, selegiline transdermal, thioridazine, and tranylcypromine.

Some patients may be advised to discontinue Trazodone at least 24 hours before surgery requiring anesthesia. If you’re not sure whether you need to stop Trazodone for a particular procedure, speak with the doctor who ordered the procedure. Do not resume taking Trazodone until your doctor advises you that it is safe.

Do not take Trazodone if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed while taking Trazodone.

Do not take Trazodone if you are allergic to Trazodone or any of its ingredients.

The dose prescribed is for you and you alone. Do not, under any circumstances, share your medication with anyone.