Desyrel

Generic Name: Trazodone

US Brand Name: Desyrel

Other Brand/Trade Names): Trazodone is sold with the following brand names Desyrel, Molipaxin, Trittico, Thombran, Trialodine Trazorel

Uses

Trazodone is used to treat depression. This medication works by helping to restore the balance of a certain natural chemical (serotonin) in the brain.

Active Ingredients: Trazodone Hydrochloride

Inactive Ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, anhydrous lactose, colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, , polysorbate 80 and titanium dioxide.

Dosage and Forms

Trazodone comes in 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg and 300 mg tablets for oral administration.

Take Trazodone by mouth, usually once or twice daily after a meal or snack or as directed by your doctor. If drowsiness is a problem and you are taking 1 dose daily, take it at bedtime. If you are taking 2 doses each day, it may help to take 1 of the doses at bedtime. Follow your doctor's directions carefully.

If overdose of Trazodone is suspected,seek emergency medical attention immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include slow, rapid or irregular pulse; unusual drowsiness or dizziness; vomiting; weakness; loss of consciousness; and seizures.

Contraindications and Precautions

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to trazodone hydrochloride. 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 not be able to use trazodone, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

Side Effects

Trazodone shares side effects common to many antidepressants. The most frequent of these are dry mouth, constipation, and urinary retention, though these are less common than with tricyclic antidepressants. Increased heart rate, sedation, irritability, dizziness, and decreased coordination can also occur. As with most side effects associated with antidepressants, the intensity is highest at the beginning of therapy and tends to decrease with continued use.

Dry mouth, if severe to the point of causing difficulty in speaking or swallowing, may be managed by dosage reduction or temporary discontinuation of the drug.

Interactions

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).

You may not be able to take trazodone, or you may require special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.