Trazodone HCL: Uses, indications and cautions when using it

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Similar to all other antidepressants, trazodone HCL will increase serotonin levels in the brain. Patients who are prescribed to use trazodone HCL should absolutely follow the doctor's instructions to avoid possible bad consequences.

1. What is trazodone HCL?

What does trazodone HCL do? Trazodone HCL is a medication used to treat depression. It improves mood, appetite, and energy levels, helps reduce anxiety, and minimizes insomnia associated with depression.
Trazodone works by restoring the balance of serotonin - an important chemical found in the human brain.

2. Instructions for using Trazodone HCL

Read the instructions for use carefully before starting to take trazodone, if you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
The route of Trazodone HCL is oral, usually the drug is prescribed to take 1 or 2 times a day, take the drug after meals or take it as directed by the doctor.
If the patient is prescribed 1 dose of the drug per day but experiences drowsiness as a side effect, it is best to take the drug at bedtime. In case of need to take 2 doses per day, patients can take 1 of 2 doses at night before going to bed and take as directed by the doctor.
Dosage of the drug is based on the health status and ability of each patient to respond to treatment differently. To minimize the risk of side effects, doctors often start patients on the drug at a low dose and gradually increase the dose.
Note, the patient needs to take the medicine exactly as prescribed, do not arbitrarily increase the daily dose or use the drug more often than the dose instructed by the doctor, because the condition will not improve faster. When the dose is increased, however, the risk of serious side effects of the drug may increase.
It usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to see the full effect of the drug. Continue using Trazodone HCL as prescribed by your doctor even if your condition improves.
To ensure compliance with treatment, patients should take the drug at the same time every day, do not stop taking it without a doctor's prescription because it may cause anxiety, irritation. agitation and trouble sleeping if the patient stops taking the drug suddenly.

3. Side effects of the drug trazodone HCL

If a patient experiences any of the following effects that persist or get worse, tell their doctor or pharmacist immediately:
Nausea, vomiting; Diarrhea; Sleepy; Dizziness, fatigue, blurred vision; Weight change; Headache; Muscle pain; Dry mouth; There is an unpleasant taste in the mouth; Stuffy nose; Constipation ; Changes in sexual interest/ability. Serious side effects that should be reported to the treating physician include:
Run; Having nightmares; Tinnitus; Difficulty urinating, bloody urine; signs of infection (fever, sore throat); Shortness of breath; Stomachache. Very serious side effects that require immediate medical attention include:
Chest/jaw/left arm pain; Faint; Fast/irregular heartbeat; Convulsions; Eye pain, eye swelling, eye redness, dilated pupils, vision changes (seeing rainbows around lights at night).

Trazodone HCL can increase serotonin but rarely causes serotonin syndrome (very serious condition). However, this risk is increased if the patient is taking trazodone HCL at the same time as other serotonin-increasing drugs, so tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the medications the patient is taking.
Note, the patient should get medical help as soon as symptoms appear: fast heartbeat, vision hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, nausea/vomiting, severe diarrhea, seizures muscle twitching, unexplained fever, unusual agitation/restlessness.
For men, there are very few cases of erection lasting 4 or more hours, if this occurs the patient should stop using the drug and seek medical attention immediately.
Serious allergic reactions are rare, but patients should seek medical attention immediately if they notice severe symptoms of an allergic reaction such as: rash, itching, swelling (possibly swelling of the face/tongue). /throat), dizziness, difficulty breathing...

4. Measures to prevent side effects of trazodone HCL

Measures to prevent side effects when using trazodone HCL
To relieve dry mouth, patients can suck on hard candy (no sugar) or shaved ice, chew gum (no sugar), drink water... To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when changing from a sitting or lying position. Before taking trazodone, patients should tell their doctor about any allergy history to trazodone HCL or to nefazodone, medical history, especially personal or family history if bipolar disorder is present. attempted suicide, have or have ever had heart disease (irregular heartbeat, heart attack), liver disease, kidney disease, blood pressure problems, personal or family history of glaucoma. Trazodone HCL may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. Alcohol can make dizziness or drowsiness worse. Therefore, patients should not drive, use machines or do anything that requires alertness or clear vision while taking the drug. Trazodone may affect heart rate (QT prolongation). The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if the patient has certain medical conditions or is taking other drugs that may prolong QT. A reduced level of potassium or magnesium in a person's blood may also increase the risk of QT prolongation. This risk is increased if you take certain medications (such as diuretics) or if you sweat a lot, have diarrhea, or are vomiting. Older adults are often more sensitive to the side effects of the drug, especially somnolence, dizziness, and QT prolongation. During pregnancy, the drug should be used only when clearly needed and after the risks and benefits have been weighed by your doctor. Consult your doctor before giving to women who are breast-feeding. Untreated mental problems (such as depression) can become serious, so people should not stop taking their medication unless directed by their doctor.

5. Trazodone HCL drug interactions

Drug interactions can change the way the drug works or increase the risk of serious side effects. One product that may interact with trazodone HCL is digoxin (a heart medication).
Besides, taking MAO inhibitors concurrently with trazodone HCL can cause serious drug interactions (possibly fatal). Therefore, avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with trazodone HCL. Most MAO inhibitors are also not recommended for two weeks before and after treatment with trazodone HCL.
Other drugs that can affect the elimination of trazodone from the body, affecting the therapeutic effect of trazodone include: azole antifungals (itraconazole, ketoconazole), HIV protease inhibitors (ritonavir). , indinavir), macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin), drugs to treat seizures (such as phenytoin)...
The risk of serotonin syndrome is increased if the patient is taking other medications that increase serotonin including: one certain antidepressants (SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking products that cause drowsiness including: alcohol, antihistamines (cetirizine, diphenhydramine), sleeping pills (alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxers, and pain relievers opioid pain (codeine).

6. Trazodone HCL drug overdose

If the patient overdoses and begins to have serious symptoms such as fainting or difficulty breathing, call 911 immediately. Symptoms of overdose are usually: prolonged painful erection (for men), slow/fast/irregular heartbeat, unusual drowsiness, dizziness, excessive vomiting, trouble breathing, convulsions.
If the patient misses a dose, take it as soon as you remember, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose, do not double the dose to make up.
Store medicine at room temperature, away from light and moisture, do not store medicine in the bathroom and must keep all medicines out of reach of children and pets.
Do not flush the medicine down the toilet or empty it into the drain unless instructed, dispose of the product properly when it has expired or when it is no longer needed.
Trazodone HCL is prescribed by doctors to treat depression, to help improve mood, appetite and energy levels, and to reduce anxiety and insomnia associated with depression. For the drug to work best, patients need to follow the instructions of the doctor or pharmacist.

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Reference source: webmd.com