Key takeaways:
Trazodone is an antidepressant. But it’s more commonly used off-label to treat insomnia (trouble sleeping) than it is to treat depression.
How long trazodone lasts in the body can vary based on certain factors. Usually, a dose of trazodone stays in the system for 1 to 2 days. But age, liver function, and kidney function can cause the medication to stick around longer.
Drug interactions can also increase or decrease how long trazodone stays in your system.
Trazodone is part of a group of medications called atypical antidepressants, though it isn’t commonly prescribed to treat depression. It’s more commonly used off-label to treat insomnia (trouble sleeping).
How trazodone works isn’t fully understood, but we know that it affects several chemicals in the body. One of those chemicals is serotonin, which can affect both mood and sleep.
Trazodone typically stays in the system for 1 to 2 days, but its therapeutic effects don’t last that long. Below, we’ll cover how long trazodone lasts in the body and other key things to consider.
As mentioned, a dose of trazodone usually lasts in the body for 1 to 2 days. To understand where this time frame comes from, we need to discuss what the term “half-life” means.
A medication’s half-life is the amount of time it takes for its initial concentration in the body to decrease by half. Trazodone’s half-life is somewhere between 5 to 9 hours. It takes about five half-lives for a medication to almost completely leave the body. So it can take 25 to 45 hours (1 to 2 days) for trazodone to be fully cleared from your system.
No, you can’t speed up how quickly trazodone leaves your body. Trazodone has to be metabolized (broken down) by the liver before it can be removed from your system. Drinking more fluids, or trying to “flush” the medication out of your system, won’t speed up this process.
We’ve already discussed how long trazodone stays in your body, but we haven’t discussed how long its therapeutic effects last.
Because the half-life of trazodone is fairly short, the medication’s therapeutic effects only last a few hours — even though it residually remains in your body for a longer amount of time. That’s why trazodone is typically taken 2 to 3 times a day for depression. Otherwise, its effects wouldn’t last throughout the day.
For insomnia treatment, a low dose of trazodone is usually taken once before bedtime. Its short-term effects on sleep typically only last a few hours, which can help minimize next-day drowsiness. Though this is seen as a benefit, many experts don’t recommend trazodone as a first-choice insomnia medication. This is because research is mixed on how effective trazodone is at addressing sleep issues.
Yes, there are several factors that can affect how long trazodone lasts in your body. Here are a few:
Age: Adults ages 65 and older may metabolize trazodone more slowly than younger adults. And this can cause trazodone to stick around in the body longer. For this reason, older adults may need a lower trazodone dosage.
Liver or kidney function: Trazodone is broken down in the liver and removed by the kidneys. So if you have liver or kidney problems, your body may have trouble clearing the medication. This can cause trazodone to build up in your system, increasing your risk of side effects. Your healthcare professional may recommend avoiding trazodone if you have kidney or liver disease.
Drug interactions: Some medications can affect how the liver breaks down trazodone. For example, carbamazepine (Tegretol, Tegretol XR), phenytoin (Dilantin), and rifampin (Rifatin) can cause your body to break down trazodone at a faster rate. This may decrease your blood levels of trazodone, making it less effective. On the other hand, medications like fluconazole (Diflucan) and verapamil can slow this process, leading to higher blood levels and an increased risk of side effects like extreme drowsiness.
Before you start treatment with trazodone, give your healthcare team a list of all the medications and over-the-counter products you take. And make sure to inform them of your full health history. They can use this information to decide whether trazodone is safe for you and what dosage to prescribe.
Trazodone and alcohol: Read what GoodRx Health pharmacists have to say about the risks of combining trazodone with alcohol.
How much should you expect to pay for trazodone? Learn about how much trazodone costs without insurance and factors that affect the price.
Treating insomnia: Check out this list of the best sleep medications to treat insomnia, courtesy of GoodRx Health pharmacists and physicians.
Stopping trazodone treatment too quickly can cause antidepressant withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include anxiety, agitation, and trouble sleeping. If you want to stop taking trazodone, your prescriber can help you gradually lower your dosage over time to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
It may be a good idea to stop taking trazodone if you’re:
Experiencing drug interactions: As mentioned, certain medications can increase or decrease trazodone levels in the body. Additionally, other medications with similar side effects to trazodone can amplify its risks, causing extreme drowsiness or dizziness.
Having side effects: Trazodone can cause mild side effects such as dry mouth, stuffy nose, and constipation. But if these side effects are making it hard to complete your daily tasks, trazodone may not be the best option for you. In rare cases, serious health issues, including bleeding and heart problems, can also occur. If you experience one of these side effects, you may need immediate medical attention.
Having suicidal thoughts and behaviors: According to studies, people under 25 have a higher risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressants. This risk may be more likely in the first few months of starting treatment and after a dosage change. While the overall risk for suicidal thoughts or behaviors with trazodone is low, it’s important to watch for mood changes. If you notice worsening depression or sudden changes in your behavior, contact your prescriber immediately.
Pregnant or breastfeeding: Research suggests that taking trazodone is unlikely to harm a fetus or a breastfed infant. Still, if you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, talk to your prescriber. They can help you decide whether it’s safe to take trazodone.
If you’re taking trazodone for insomnia, you may start feeling sleepy within 30 minutes of taking a dose. But it can take up to 2 hours for some people to feel the effects.
For depression, it can take 1 to 2 months for trazodone to be fully effective. But you may notice an improvement in how you feel within 1 week. Certain types of sleep issues, such as waking up often during the night, may also improve within 1 week of trazodone use.
There isn’t a universal answer for how long trazodone helps people sleep for. And trazodone may work for some people and not others.
The research on whether trazodone helps people sleep a greater amount of time is mixed. While studies generally suggest trazodone helps people sleep longer, the overall sleep benefits from the medication are usually small. Your prescriber can suggest other sleep aids if trazodone doesn’t help you.
Yes, trazodone can make you feel drowsy the next day, especially if you take it too late at night or if you take a large dose. If you notice that you’re feeling groggy when you wake up, try taking your trazodone dose a bit earlier in the evening. If you still feel too sleepy the day after taking trazodone, talk to your prescriber. They may lower your trazodone dosage or switch you to a different medication.
Trazodone is an antidepressant medication that’s FDA approved to treat depression. But it’s more commonly used off-label for sleep issues.
Trazodone typically stays in the body for 1 to 2 days after taking a dose. However, its therapeutic effects on sleep may only last a few hours.
Certain factors can affect how long trazodone stays in your system, such as your age, kidney function, and liver function. Drug interactions can also play a role. Before starting treatment with trazodone, talk to your prescriber about any other medications you take, and provide them with your full health history. They can help you decide if trazodone is the right medication for you.
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