Trazodone for Sleep: What to Know About This Antidepressant’s Common Off-Label Use
Is trazodone only used to treat depression? Learn why trazodone for sleep is often prescribed off-label, how it helps, and how much is considered safe to take.
trazodone
Used for Depression
Used for Depression
Trazodone is an atypical antidepressant that’s FDA approved to treat depression in people. Your vet might prescribe this medication off-label for your cat or dog to ease separation anxiety or anxiety related to certain situations, like a vet visit, fireworks, or travel. Trazodone is commercially available as tablets, but it can be compounded into a liquid. Both forms of the medication are given to your pet to take by mouth. Trazodone is typically given 1 to 3 hours before the stressful event, or as directed by the vet. Side effects that your pet could have include sleepiness, vomiting, diarrhea, and gagging.
What is Trazodone for pets?
What is Trazodone for pets used for?
- Situational anxiety in cats and dogs, such as going to the vet or groomer
- General anxiety in cats and dogs, such as separation anxiety or cage confinement after surgery
How Trazodone for pets works
Trazodone is a type of atypical antidepressant called a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI). It’s thought to ease anxiety in pets by affecting the amount of serotonin in the brain.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Desyrel |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Atypical antidepressant |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Trazodone essentials
Side effects of Trazodone for pets
The following side effects might get better over time as your pet gets used to the medication. Let your veterinarian know immediately if your pet continues to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Less Common Side Effects
- Drooling
- Excitement
- Behavior changes (e.g., aggression)
- Loss of coordination
Trazodone serious side effects
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet experiences any of the following.
- Serotonin syndrome: change in heart rate, fever, shaking, seizures
The following Trazodone side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Blurred vision
confusion
dizziness
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
lightheadedness
sweating
unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
confusion about identity, place, and time
decreased concentration
fainting
general feeling of discomfort or illness
headache
lack of coordination
muscle tremors
nervousness
pounding in the ears
shortness of breath
slow or fast heartbeat
swelling
Rare
Skin rash
unusual excitement
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Dry mouth (usually mild)
muscle or bone pain
trouble sleeping
trouble with remembering
unpleasant taste
Less common
continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
hearing loss
muscle aches or pains
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$46.99
GoodRx discount
$7.52
Pros and cons of Trazodone for pets
Pros
- Works within 1 to 2 hours
- Tablets can be broken along the score line if needed
- Can give to your pet as needed
Cons
- Not typically a first-choice medication for anxiety
- Can't give to pets taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like selegiline (Anipryl)
- Might need to give multiple times per day
Pharmacist tips for Trazodone for pets
- Trazodone is commercially available as 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg tablets. Depending on your pet's dose, you might need to break the tablet at the score line.
- Let your vet know if your pet has trouble swallowing trazodone tablets. The vet might have the medication compounded into a liquid so it’s easier for your pet to take. If so, follow the vet or pharmacist’s directions about how to measure the liquid and store the medication. They’ll also talk to you about when the liquid expires.
- Trazodone might upset your pet’s stomach. If your pet vomits or drools after they take the medication, try giving it to them with food next time. Talk to your vet about whether you should give your pet the medication again if they vomit right after taking it.
- If you’re giving your pet trazodone to prevent anxiety for situations like vet visits or fireworks, try to give the medication 1 to 2 hours before the event. This is about the time for the medication to work its best. Keep in mind that giving trazodone with food might make it take longer to work.
- If your pet is a working or service animal, they might not be able to do their job after they take trazodone. This is because the medication can make them sleepy. Tell your vet about any service activities that your pet needs to do before they take this medication.
- If your pet needs to take trazodone every day for anxiety, don’t suddenly stop giving it to them without first talking with your vet. Otherwise, your pet might have withdrawal symptoms. If your pet needs to stop taking the medication, the vet might give you instructions to slowly lower the dose over time before completely stopping to prevent withdrawal.
- In addition to giving your pet trazodone, you can help calm their anxiety with behavior modification. Talk to your vet about techniques that you can add to your pet’s routine to help. For example, you can try changing your routine when you leave the house to help with separation anxiety. You can also try keeping your pet entertained with music or puzzles while you’re gone.
- Your vet might prescribe trazodone with other sedating medications, like gabapentin. Giving these medications together can make their sedating effects more intense. Your pet might need lower doses of these medications when they’re used together to keep your pet safe.
Risks and warnings for Trazodone for pets
Trazodone can cause some serious health issues. This risk might be even higher for certain pets. If this worries you, talk to your veterinarian about other options.
Serotonin syndrome
- Risk factors: Taking other medications that raise serotonin levels
Pets that take trazodone can be at risk of developing a rare, but life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. Your pet is more likely to experience this side effect if they accidentally take more trazodone than prescribed (e.g., accidentally eating the medication bottle). In addition, your pet is at higher risk if they’re also taking other medications that raise serotonin levels, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include changes in behavior, diarrhea, shaking, high body temperature (fever), and even seizures. Contact your vet or an emergency vet as soon as possible if you notice that your pet is showing signs of serotonin syndrome.
Trazodone dosage forms for pets
The average cost for 30 tablets of 50mg of Trazodone is $7.52 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 84.00% off the average retail price of $46.99. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50mg | 30 tablets | $7.52 | $0.25 |
| 100mg | 30 tablets | $8.75 | $0.29 |
| 150mg | 30 tablets | $9.00 | $0.30 |
| 300mg | 30 tablets | $26.52 | $0.88 |
Typical dosage for Trazodone
The vet will determine the dose of trazodone for your pet based on different factors, like what species they are and how much they weigh.
Examples for trazodone dosing are included below.
Cats
- The typical dose ranges between 25 mg and 100 mg by mouth, given at least an hour before the stressful situation.
- Your vet might suggest that your cat take the medication just once before a stressful event or every 8 to 24 hours, depending on your cat’s needs.
Dogs
- Situational anxiety (e.g., before a vet visit): The typical dose ranges between 5 mg/kg to 7 mg/kg by mouth, given at least 90 minutes before the stressful situation. The maximum recommended total daily dose is 19.5 mg/kg.
- Separation anxiety: The typical starting dose ranges between 3 mg/kg to 7 mg/kg by mouth every 24 hours. The maximum daily dose is usually 19.5 mg/kg by mouth within 24 hours.
- Sometimes, the vet might recommend doses every 8 to 10 hours, depending on your dog’s needs.
Note: Trazodone is commercially available as tablets. But in some cases, the vet will prescribe trazodone as a compounded liquid so that you can measure the dose for your pet more precisely.
Interactions between Trazodone and other drugs for pets
Trazodone might interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your veterinarian know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that your pet is currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Trazodone. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Bepridil
- Bromopride
- Cisapride
- Dronedarone
- Fluconazole
- Isocarboxazid
- Ketoconazole
- Linezolid
- Mesoridazine
- Methylene Blue
- Moclobemide
- Nelfinavir
- Nialamide
- Phenelzine
- Pimozide
- Piperaquine
- Posaconazole
- Procarbazine
- Rasagiline
- Safinamide
- Saquinavir
- Selegiline
- Sparfloxacin
- Terfenadine
- Thioridazine
- Tranylcypromine
- Ziprasidone
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abametapir
- Abciximab
- Aceclofenac
- Acemetacin
- Acenocoumarol
- Alfentanil
- Alfuzosin
- Almotriptan
- Alprazolam
- Amineptine
- Amiodarone
- Amisulpride
- Amitriptyline
- Amitriptylinoxide
- Amobarbital
- Amoxapine
- Amphetamine
- Amtolmetin Guacil
- Anagrelide
- Anileridine
- Apixaban
- Apomorphine
- Ardeparin
- Argatroban
- Aripiprazole
- Aripiprazole Lauroxil
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Asenapine
- Aspirin
- Astemizole
- Atazanavir
- Azithromycin
- Baclofen
- Bedaquiline
- Bemiparin
- Benzhydrocodone
- Benzphetamine
- Betrixaban
- Bivalirudin
- Boceprevir
- Bromazepam
- Bromfenac
- Brompheniramine
- Bufexamac
- Buprenorphine
- Buserelin
- Buspirone
- Butalbital
- Butorphanol
- Calcium Oxybate
- Carbamazepine
- Carbinoxamine
- Carisoprodol
- Celecoxib
- Ceritinib
- Certoparin
- Chloral Hydrate
- Chlordiazepoxide
- Chloroquine
- Chlorpheniramine
- Chlorpromazine
- Choline Salicylate
- Cilostazol
- Ciprofloxacin
- Citalopram
- Clarithromycin
- Clobazam
- Clofazimine
- Clomipramine
- Clonazepam
- Clonixin
- Clopidogrel
- Clorazepate
- Clozapine
- Cobicistat
- Cocaine
- Codeine
- Conivaptan
- Crizotinib
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Dabigatran Etexilate
- Dabrafenib
- Dalteparin
- Danaparoid
- Darunavir
- Dasatinib
- Degarelix
- Delamanid
- Desipramine
- Desirudin
- Deslorelin
- Desvenlafaxine
- Deutetrabenazine
- Dexibuprofen
- Dexketoprofen
- Dexmedetomidine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Dextromethorphan
- Diacetylmorphine
- Diazepam
- Dibenzepin
- Diclofenac
- Difenoxin
- Diflunisal
- Dihydrocodeine
- Diphenhydramine
- Diphenoxylate
- Dipyridamole
- Dipyrone
- Disopyramide
- Dofetilide
- Dolasetron
- Domperidone
- Donepezil
- Doxylamine
- Droperidol
- Drotrecogin Alfa
- Droxicam
- Duloxetine
- Ebastine
- Edoxaban
- Efavirenz
- Eletriptan
- Encorafenib
- Enoxaparin
- Entrectinib
- Eptifibatide
- Eribulin
- Erythromycin
- Escitalopram
- Esketamine
- Estazolam
- Eszopiclone
- Ethchlorvynol
- Ethylmorphine
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etoricoxib
- Famotidine
- Felbamate
- Felbinac
- Fenfluramine
- Fenoprofen
- Fentanyl
- Fepradinol
- Feprazone
- Fingolimod
- Flecainide
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flunitrazepam
- Fluoxetine
- Flurazepam
- Flurbiprofen
- Fondaparinux
- Formoterol
- Foscarnet
- Fosnetupitant
- Fosphenytoin
- Fospropofol
- Fostemsavir
- Frovatriptan
- Galantamine
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Ginkgo
- Glasdegib
- Gonadorelin
- Goserelin
- Granisetron
- Halazepam
- Halofantrine
- Haloperidol
- Heparin
- Histrelin
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Hydroquinidine
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Hydroxytryptophan
- Hydroxyzine
- Ibuprofen
- Ibutilide
- Idelalisib
- Iloperidone
- Imipramine
- Indinavir
- Indomethacin
- Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
- Itraconazole
- Ivabradine
- Ivosidenib
- Ketazolam
- Ketobemidone
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Lapatinib
- Lasmiditan
- Lefamulin
- Lenvatinib
- Lepirudin
- Levofloxacin
- Levomilnacipran
- Levorphanol
- Lisdexamfetamine
- Lofepramine
- Lofexidine
- Lopinavir
- Lorazepam
- Lorcaserin
- Lornoxicam
- Loxapine
- Loxoprofen
- Lumefantrine
- Lumiracoxib
- Macimorelin
- Magnesium Oxybate
- Meclizine
- Meclofenamate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Mefloquine
- Melitracen
- Meloxicam
- Meperidine
- Mephobarbital
- Meprobamate
- Meptazinol
- Metaxalone
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- Methocarbamol
- Methohexital
- Metronidazole
- Midazolam
- Mifepristone
- Milnacipran
- Mirtazapine
- Mizolastine
- Moricizine
- Morniflumate
- Moxifloxacin
- Nabumetone
- Nadroparin
- Nafarelin
- Nalbuphine
- Naproxen
- Naratriptan
- Nepafenac
- Netupitant
- Nicomorphine
- Niflumic Acid
- Nilotinib
- Nimesulide
- Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
- Nitrazepam
- Norfloxacin
- Nortriptyline
- Octreotide
- Ofloxacin
- Olanzapine
- Ondansetron
- Opipramol
- Opium
- Opium Alkaloids
- Orphenadrine
- Osilodrostat
- Osimertinib
- Oxaliplatin
- Oxaprozin
- Oxazepam
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Oxyphenbutazone
- Ozanimod
- Paliperidone
- Palonosetron
- Panobinostat
- Papaveretum
- Papaverine
- Parecoxib
- Paregoric
- Parnaparin
- Paroxetine
- Pasireotide
- Pazopanib
- Pentamidine
- Pentazocine
- Pentobarbital
- Perampanel
- Perphenazine
- Phenobarbital
- Phenprocoumon
- Phenylbutazone
- Piketoprofen
- Pimavanserin
- Pipamperone
- Piritramide
- Piroxicam
- Pitolisant
- Ponesimod
- Potassium Oxybate
- Pranoprofen
- Prasugrel
- Prazepam
- Probucol
- Procainamide
- Prochlorperazine
- Proglumetacin
- Promethazine
- Propafenone
- Propofol
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Protein C
- Protriptyline
- Quazepam
- Quetiapine
- Quinidine
- Quinine
- Ramelteon
- Ranolazine
- Remifentanil
- Reviparin
- Ribociclib
- Risperidone
- Ritonavir
- Rivaroxaban
- Rizatriptan
- Rofecoxib
- Salicylic Acid
- Salsalate
- Secobarbital
- Selpercatinib
- Sertindole
- Sertraline
- Sevoflurane
- Sibutramine
- Siponimod
- Sodium Oxybate
- Sodium Phosphate
- Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
- Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
- Sodium Salicylate
- Solifenacin
- Sorafenib
- Sotalol
- St John's Wort
- Sufentanil
- Sulfinpyrazone
- Sulindac
- Sulpiride
- Sultopride
- Sumatriptan
- Sunitinib
- Tacrolimus
- Tamoxifen
- Tapentadol
- Telaprevir
- Telavancin
- Telithromycin
- Temazepam
- Tenoxicam
- Tetrabenazine
- Thiopental
- Tianeptine
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Ticagrelor
- Ticlopidine
- Tilidine
- Tinzaparin
- Tirofiban
- Tizanidine
- Tolfenamic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Tolterodine
- Topiramate
- Toremifene
- Tramadol
- Treprostinil
- Triazolam
- Triclabendazole
- Trimipramine
- Triptorelin
- Tryptophan
- Valdecoxib
- Vandetanib
- Vardenafil
- Vemurafenib
- Venlafaxine
- Vilanterol
- Vilazodone
- Vinflunine
- Voclosporin
- Vorapaxar
- Voriconazole
- Vorinostat
- Vortioxetine
- Warfarin
- Zaleplon
- Zolmitriptan
- Zolpidem
- Zopiclone
- Zotepine
- Zuclopenthixol
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
How much does Trazodone cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Trazodone (generic)
$7.52
Trazodone contraindications for pets
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a pet should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If your pet has any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to your pet, let your veterinarian know because Trazodone will not be safe for your pet to take.
- Taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like selegiline (Anipryl)
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Trazodone images
