Trazodone Tablets: Uses, Dosage, and Safety Information

What Trazodone Is and How It Works

Trazodone is an oral antidepressant used for major depressive disorder. Many clinicians also prescribe it off-label as a trazodone sleep aid for short-term insomnia and for anxiety symptoms. Patients often start with Trazodone 50 mg at bedtime when sedation is desired. Immediate-release tablets are the most common form, and dosing can be once daily at night or divided during the day depending on the goal of therapy. If you are comparing trazodone cost and options, YouDrugstore makes ordering simple and secure.

YouDrugstore is a licensed Canadian pharmacy based in Manitoba that meets Canadian pharmacy standards. Prescriptions are reviewed by licensed pharmacists before dispensing, and our team can help with medication questions during posted office hours through customer-service chat. We partner with vetted international pharmacies to offer authentic brands and a broad selection at fair prices.

Trazodone belongs to the serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI) class. It blocks 5-HT2 receptors and weakly inhibits serotonin reuptake. This dual action supports mood while reducing anxiety and improving sleep continuity. It is available as trazodone tablets in several strengths, including Trazodone 50 mg tablet, Trazodone 100 mg tablet, and Trazodone 150mg options. Clinicians may choose different strengths for depression, insomnia, or augmentation therapy.

Dosage and Usage

Follow your prescriber’s directions. The dose and schedule depend on indication, tolerability, and other medicines. For depression, the dose is often divided and increased as needed. For sleep, lower single bedtime doses are common.

• Start as directed. A typical bedtime starting dose is trazodone hcl 50 mg. For depression, a prescriber may raise the dose in steps over several days.
• Titrate slowly. Doses may increase to trazodone tablets 100mg or higher based on response. Some patients use 150–300 mg per day in divided doses for depression.
• Take with food or a light snack to reduce stomach upset. Swallow tablets whole.
• Bedtime use. When used as a trazodone sleeping pill, a once-nightly dose helps reduce nighttime awakenings.
• Missed dose. Take the next dose at the regular time if close to the next scheduled dose. Do not double doses.
• Alcohol and CNS depressants increase drowsiness and risk. Avoid or limit based on prescriber guidance.

Storage and travel tips:

• Store at room temperature (15–30°C) away from moisture and light.
• Keep tablets in the original bottle or a labeled container.
• When you travel, keep medicine in your carry-on with a copy of the label.
• Do not leave tablets in a hot car or near heat sources.

Benefits and Savings

Trazodone is a versatile trazodone antidepressant that supports mood in major depressive disorder. It often improves sleep initiation and maintenance, so it is widely used as trazodone for sleep when insomnia coexists with depression or anxiety. Many patients tolerate it well, with less sexual dysfunction than some SSRIs. Lower bedtime doses can reduce nighttime awakenings and early morning waking. Daytime doses may help anxiety and agitation in selected cases.

YouDrugstore offers Canadian pricing, so many patients save 60–80% versus typical US prices. You can choose multi-month supplies to lower your per-month trazodone price. Our team can also send gentle reorder reminders so you do not run out. Friendly customer-service chat is available during office hours if you have order or shipping questions.

Side Effects and Safety

Most side effects are mild and improve as the body adjusts. Serious events are uncommon but need prompt medical attention.

• Common: drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, headache, nausea, constipation, blurred vision, and fatigue.
• Less common: orthostatic hypotension, daytime sedation, edema, sweating, and tremor.
• Serious: priapism (painful, prolonged erection), irregular heartbeat, fainting, serotonin syndrome (agitation, confusion, stiff muscles, fever), severe allergic reaction, and suicidal thoughts or behavior.
• Drug interactions: increased risk with MAOIs, linezolid, methylene blue, other serotonergic medicines, certain antiarrhythmics, and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers.
• Precautions: use care in patients with heart disease, recent myocardial infarction, angle-closure glaucoma risk, liver or kidney impairment, seizure history, and in older adults sensitive to falls.
• Alcohol and cannabis can worsen drowsiness and judgment.

Report persistent or severe side effects to a healthcare professional. For a comparison of SSRI adverse effects, see our article Fluoxetine Side Effects Patient Guide To Safe Use.

Onset Time

Trazodone for depression may start to improve sleep and anxiety within a few days. Mood benefits often appear after 1–2 weeks, with full effect in 4–6 weeks at a stable dose. When used as trazodone as sleeping pill at bedtime, sedation usually begins the first night, and sleep continuity may improve within the first week. Dose timing and consistency help obtain steady results.

Compare With Alternatives

Several antidepressants are options for depression and anxiety. Escitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) often chosen for first-line treatment of depression and generalized anxiety. It is generally non-sedating, which helps daytime function, but it may cause sexual side effects in some patients. Trazodone can be used at bedtime alongside an SSRI to support sleep when needed, under medical supervision.

Fluoxetine is another SSRI with a longer half-life. It can feel activating for certain patients and is usually taken in the morning. Those with prominent insomnia may prefer an evening medicine such as trazodone sleep aid to counter sleep disruption from activating treatments. See our article Fluoxetine For Anxiety How It Boosts Mood And Reduces Worry for more detail.

Paxil® (paroxetine) is an SSRI indicated for depression, panic disorder, and other anxiety disorders. It has a higher risk of weight gain and withdrawal symptoms on abrupt stop. Trazodone may suit patients who need sedation at night or who want a non-SSRI option. Choice depends on diagnosis, side-effect profile, and personal response.

Combination Therapy

Trazodone uses include monotherapy for depression and adjunctive use. Low bedtime doses can be combined with SSRIs or SNRIs to improve sleep. Monitor for serotonin syndrome when combining serotonergic agents. Avoid use with MAOIs, and allow required washout periods when switching. Non-drug approaches help too. Cognitive behavioral therapy, sleep hygiene, and relaxation training can enhance outcomes for Insomnia and Depression.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

Trazodone generic name is trazodone hydrochloride. It is suitable for many adults with depression, trazodone and depression-related insomnia, or anxiety symptoms. It may be less suitable for people with a history of priapism, uncontrolled heart disease, significant liver problems, or for those at high fall risk. Use care during pregnancy or nursing, and seek prescriber guidance for individualized decisions.

Cost matters for long-term therapy. Generic tablets offer good value, and you can compare trazodone price options across strengths. Some patients use a higher-strength scored tablet if appropriate and if a prescriber agrees to tablet splitting. Multi-month quantities often reduce per-month trazodone cost. You can set reorder reminders in your account so your supply arrives on time. YouDrugstore provides US shipping at Canadian prices, with friendly support if you need help placing your order.

People often ask trazodone what is it used for and trazodone what does it do. In practice, it helps with mood, sleep maintenance, and anxiety in select cases. It is not a primary pain treatment, though some clinicians use trazodone for pain-related sleep disturbance. Your prescriber will match the dose to goals, from trazodone 50 milligrams at night to higher divided doses for daytime symptom control. Options include trazodone 100mg and higher strengths based on response.

Authoritative Sources

Review official guidance and product information from trusted sources. See the FDA DailyMed page for Trazodone Prescribing Information. Health Canada provides listings in the Drug Product Database. You can also consult the FDA’s consumer resource, the Medication Guides, for safety updates.

You can order from YouDrugstore with confidence. Our licensed pharmacists review prescriptions, and our team supports your refill planning. We offer prompt, express, cold-chain shipping to the US, careful packaging, and fair Canadian pricing on brand and generic medicines.

This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always follow your prescriber’s directions and the guidance on your medication label. Seek medical help right away for severe or concerning symptoms.