Why is trazodone a controlled substance?

Official Answer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recognize trazodone as a controlled substance because studies have not shown that people who take trazodone are likely to start abusing the drug.

What class drug is trazodone?

Trazodone is in a class of medications called serotonin modulators. It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance.

Is trazodone a strong sleeping pill?

While not recommended the first line of treatment against insomnia, trazodone can be a highly effective sleep aid. If you haven't had much luck with behavioral therapy or other types of medication from Ambien to Valium, you could find some benefit from trying trazodone.

Is trazodone and Xanax the same thing?

Is trazodone the same as alprazolam (Xanax)? No. You might experience some of the same side effects while taking alprazolam (Xanax) or trazodone, but the two medications belong to different medication classes. Trazodone is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), while alprazolam (Xanax) is a benzodiazepine.

What kind of narcotic is trazodone?

Trazodone is neither a narcotic nor classified as a controlled substance in the U.S., but it does require a prescription and carry risks. Trazodone is a prescription antidepressant medication, and many wonder if it is considered a controlled substance or narcotic in the United States.

Red Flags When Filling Controlled Substance Prescriptions

Why you shouldn't take trazodone?

Trazodone can also cause heart rhythm disorders. And some evidence suggests that it can cause priapism, or persistent erection, a medical emergency that may require surgery and can lead to impotence if not treated promptly.

Is it OK to take trazodone every night?

Is it safe as a sleep aid? Doctors generally consider trazodone safe in small doses for sleep disorders, such as insomnia. But it may not be as effective as medications such as Ambien for these sleep disorders. If a person is having trouble sleeping due to depression, they may require a higher dose of trazodone.

Which is better for sleep Ambien or trazodone?

The study found Ambien to be more effective than trazodone. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical guidelines recommend the following: Trazodone: “We suggest that clinicians not use trazodone as a treatment for sleep onset or sleep maintenance insomnia (versus no treatment) in adults.”

What should you not take with trazodone?

Do not use trazodone with buspirone (Buspar®), fentanyl (Abstral®, Duragesic®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), tryptophan, St. John's wort, or some pain or migraine medicines (eg, sumatriptan, tramadol, Frova®, Maxalt®, Relpax®, Zomig®).

What does trazodone make you feel like?

Even at lower doses, trazodone can cause you to feel relaxed, tired, and sleepy. It does this by blocking chemicals in the brain that interact with serotonin and other neurotransmitters, such as, 5-HT2A, alpha1 adrenergic receptors, and H1 histamine receptors.

Does trazodone make you gain weight?

Official Answer. Trazodone may cause weight gain for some people, but it is not a common side effect of the medication. Weight loss was shown to be slightly more common with trazodone. Research on the drug suggests that the relationship between trazodone and weight change is mixed.

Is trazodone like Benadryl?

Trazadone works to promote sleep in a few different ways. It is an antidepressant that makes people tired. It increases serotonin levels to improve your mood and acts as an antihistamine similar to Benadryl, making you drowsy.

How long does it take trazodone to kick in for sleep?

Trazodone works quickly as a sleep aid, often taking only 30 minutes to feel the effects.

Will trazodone show up as a benzo?

Impact of Antidepressants on Drug Tests

Certain antidepressant drugs are more prone to false-positive readings. For example, Wellbutrin (bupropion), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Desyrel (trazodone) can all potentially show up as amphetamines in a drug screen. Similarly, Zoloft (sertraline) may show up as a benzodiazepine.

Is trazodone a painkiller?

Trazodone for pain is also a frequent off-label use of the drug, and in particular, it can be useful for chronic pain.

What is the most likely side effect of trazodone?

Commonly reported side effects of trazodone include: blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and xerostomia. Other side effects include: syncope, edema, ataxia, confusion, diarrhea, hypotension, insomnia, sedated state, and tachycardia. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Are trazodone and Zoloft the same?

Zoloft (sertraline) Improves mood and helps you sleep. Oleptro (Trazodone) works well as a sleep aid, but has more side effects when used at higher doses for treating depression.

Can you take melatonin and trazodone together?

traZODone melatonin

Using traZODone together with melatonin may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination.

Is trazodone 50 mg a sleeping pill?

Trazodone is a prescription medication that has been used to treat depression disorders and sleep disorders. At low doses, trazodone helps you go to sleep and stay asleep at night without causing you to build up a tolerance or feel sleepy during the day.

Does trazodone cause liver damage?

Trazodone therapy can be associated with transient, usually asymptomatic elevations in serum aminotransferase levels and has been linked to rare instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury.

Does trazodone affect memory?

Trazodone produced small but significant impairments of short-term memory, verbal learning, equilibrium, and arm muscle endurance across time points.

What is better for sleep gabapentin or trazodone?

Although the overall sleep of each medication group improved significantly over time, patients who received gabapentin improved significantly more than did patients who received trazodone.

Is trazodone good for anxiety?

One 1993 study indicated that trazodone relieved anxiety at a comparable level to diazepam (Valium) in people with generalized anxiety disorder. Another 1987 study found that taking trazodone improved symptoms in a small population of people with panic disorder or agoraphobia with panic attacks.

Who should avoid trazodone?

serotonin syndrome, a type of disorder with high serotonin levels. closed angle glaucoma. heart attack within the last 30 days. torsades de pointes, a type of abnormal heart rhythm.

How many hours does trazodone last?

Trazodone has a half-life between five and 9 hours. This means it will take your body (on average) around seven hours to eliminate half of the drug. In a healthy adult, a single dosage of Trazodone can remain in the body for one to three days.