hit counter

Trazodone Withdrawal Symptoms + Duration

Trazodone is an antidepressant drug that works as a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI). Although it is primarily utilized to treat major depression, Trazodone is also used to treat conditions like anxiety disorder and insomnia due to its anxiolytic and hypnotic properties. Various off-label uses for the drug include: fibromyalgia, nightmares, pain syndromes, panic disorder, diabetic neuropathy, OCD, alcohol withdrawal, and eating disorders.

Data collected from double-blind studies indicate that the effectiveness of Trazodone is similar to that of other drugs including: Amitriptyline, Doxepin, and Mianserin. Although the efficacy of this drug is relatively comparable to other medications, an unfavorable side effect of this drug is sudden drops in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension) when standing up. Other unfavorable less common side effects include: impaired vigilance, cardiac arrhythmia, and priapism.

From a medical standpoint, this drug can be ideal for those who have anxiety and/or insomnia in addition to depression. Although some people have found Trazodone very helpful at treating their symptoms, others find it ineffective and/or cannot tolerate the side effects. Additionally some people try it, but find that the antidepressant effect wears off. After taking Trazodone for awhile, many people end up making the decision to discontinue and face the inevitable withdrawal symptoms.

Factors that influence Trazodone withdrawal

When withdrawing from antidepressant medications, there are always going to be various factors that influence the duration of withdrawal and the intensity of symptoms that you experience. These factors include things such as: the time span over which you took Trazodone, the dosage you have been taking, how quickly you taper, as well as your individual physiology.

1. Time Span

How long have you been taking Trazodone? It is thought that the longer you take an antidepressant medication, the greater the likelihood that you have become dependent on it. Those who have been taking this drug for an extended period of time (e.g. years) are likely going to experience significantly more severe withdrawal symptoms compared to someone who has been taking it for a few months.

In many cases, the greater the time span over which you take this drug, the more difficult it will be to withdraw from. Individuals who have been taking this drug for years will have a much tougher time readjusting to sober functioning than those who were on it for less than a year.

2. Dosage (50 mg to 400 mg)

Most people start at a dose of 150 mg, but doctors may have you titrate upwards in dosage if the starting dose is ineffective. The maximum recommended daily dosage is 400 mg, but in the event of very severe depression, some individuals are prescribed up to 600 mg per day in divided doses. In cases of individuals being treated for conditions other than depression, a lower dose such as 50 mg may be prescribed.

In general, the greater the dose of this drug that you have been taking, the more difficult it will be to withdraw from. When you titrate up to a relatively high dose, your body becomes dependent on that particular dosage for functioning. Discontinuing from a higher dose (e.g. 400 mg) usually results in a longer withdrawal duration and more intense symptoms than someone quitting from a lower dose (e.g. 50 mg).

3. Cold Turkey vs. Tapering

When coming off of Trazodone, it is never recommended to quit “cold turkey” as this can result in more severe and longer-lasting withdrawal symptoms. If you were on this medication for an extended period of time, it is always recommended to follow a gradual tapering protocol. To be on the safe side most experts recommend to taper at a rate of 10% of your current dose every 4 weeks.

So if you were taking 300 mg per day, start by reducing your dose to 270 mg then after another month passes, drop to roughly 243 mg. The tapering process can take an extended period of time, but this allows your nervous system to gradually adjust to the drops in dosage. If you quit cold turkey, you may shock your nervous system, leaving it in a state of disarray and end up coping with very severe withdrawal effects.

4. Individual Factors

There are many individual factors that play a huge role in influencing what you experience during withdrawal. There are some people who quit Trazodone “cold turkey” and/or with very quick tapering periods who experience zero withdrawal symptoms. There are other people who quit cold turkey and experience such severe discontinuation effects that they end up in the hospital for a few days.

In any regard, it is important to understand that what you experience during your withdrawal will be unique and influenced by individual factors. Some people naturally are less sensitive to withdrawals than others and therefore may not have as much difficulty readjusting to sober functioning. Individual habits such as: whether you take other psychiatric drugs, amount of exercise, diet, social support, etc. can also have an effect on the withdrawal process.

Trazodone Withdrawal Symptoms: List of Possibilities

Below are a list of possible symptoms that you may experience when coming off of Trazodone. Keep in mind that you may not experience every last symptom listed here and that the severity of symptoms is subject to individual variation.

  • Anger: When you withdraw from a medication that helped you keep your cool while you took it, you may feel the exact opposite during your withdrawal. Trazodone tends influence serotonin activity in the brain by acting as an antagonist and reuptake inhibitor. Your brain no longer has influence from the medication, which can cause some people to lose their cool during withdrawal.
  • Anxiety: Discontinuation of this medication can lead people to experience significant increases in anxiety. This drug has anxiolytic properties, meaning it provides relief from anxiety. When you stop taking it, your anxiety levels may be higher than ever before. This is due to the fact that your neurotransmitters are essentially not recovered to the level of functioning prior to taking the drug.
  • Chest tightness: Some individuals report feeling a tightness feeling in their chest. Chest tightness can be a result of anxiety, but in many cases its due to the fact that the nervous system is attempting to regain drug-free functioning. It may take some time for this feeling of tightness to subside.
  • Crying spells: Many people feel increasingly depressed and moody when they withdraw from an antidepressant. These feelings of depression and hopelessness during withdrawal can lead to crying spells or crying for seemingly no reason.
  • Depersonalization: If you feel unlike your normal self or like a zombie, this may be what is referred to as depersonalization. Many times people quit taking a drug and it leaves them feeling as if they are in some sort of alternate reality. In reality, it’s a combination of brain activity changes along with neurotransmitter levels that can make a person feel depersonalized.
  • Depression: People who were depressed prior to taking this medication are likely going to experience increases in depression while withdrawing. The depression people experience during withdrawal can be very severe due to the fact that quitting the drug left the brain chemically imbalanced. For more information read: Do antidepressants cause a chemical imbalance?
  • Disorientation: Many have reported feeling disoriented while withdrawing from Trazodone. The disorientation can be extreme at times, especially if you didn’t follow a gradual tapering protocol. If you are feeling especially “out of it” (i.e. spacey, dizzy, etc.) you may want to taper at a slower rate.
  • Dizziness: One of the most common discontinuation symptoms for any antidepressant is that of dizziness. You may feel very dizzy, especially in the early days of withdrawal. The dizzy feelings and/or potentially vertigo should gradually lessen the longer you are off of this drug.
  • Faintness: Do you feel especially faint after quitting Trazodone? Many individuals report feeling a general sense of faintness and as if they need to lie down. This is usually a result of dizziness, vertigo, and/or lightheadedness.
  • Fatigue: Feelings of excessive tiredness and lethargy are common, especially during the early stages of withdrawal. You may have a tough time getting up in the morning and/or mustering up the energy to be productive.
  • Headaches: During withdrawal, it is very common to experience headaches. These headaches may range in severity from being mild to full blown migraines. Additionally anxiety during withdrawal can contribute to making these more intense. Expect these to be most intense during the first few weeks of withdrawal.
  • Insomnia: This medication is used to help treat insomnia as it has hypnotic (sleep-inducing) properties. When you stop taking it, you may experience a rebound of insomnia as a result of low serotonin levels and spikes in anxiety.
  • Irritability: You may notice that other people or that “little things” are starting to irritate you. You may become very angry and have a short-fuse when going through withdrawal. Although this feeling is usually a result of neurotransmitter imbalances, the irritability should improve over time.
  • Itching: Some people quit Trazodone and notice within a few days that they have become excessively itchy. The itchiness can feel like an allergic reaction or hives. It is thought that this is a relatively severe reaction by your nervous system after removing a stimulus (Tradozone) that has influenced its functioning. The itching will likely eventually subside as time passes, but some people have reported it for months following their last dose. It is thought that a gradual taper may also help reduce itching and facilitate a quicker recovery if you do experience this symptom.
  • Mood swings: Your moods may swing from feeling depressed and hopeless to feeling anxious and irritable to angry. Many people will end up dealing with negative moods that can be caused or influenced by low serotonin levels. As your nervous system resets itself, your mood will likely stabilize.
  • Muscle weakness: Some people have reported that they notice feeling muscle weakness and/or joint pain when they come off of Trazodone. This weakness is generally a result of nervous system sensitivity and your body having not yet fully restored homeostatic functioning.
  • Nausea: Do you feel nauseous now that you stopped taking this drug? Nausea is a very common thing to experience upon discontinuation. In extreme cases it can lead to vomiting, but if you taper off of this drug slowly, this can be significantly reduced and/or avoided.
  • Sleep problems: It is common to have sleep difficulties when going through antidepressant withdrawal. You may find it difficult to fall asleep at a normal time due to insomnia. Additionally you may notice that you feel sleepy during the day. As a month or two passes, your sleep pattern will likely start to normalize.
  • Suicidal thoughts: During withdrawal, you may feel more suicidal than you did prior to taking this medication. These thoughts can be a result of low serotonin levels and altered functioning as a result of taking this drug. Your brain functioning will eventually reset, but in the meantime you may feel suicidal. Just keep in mind that you will make a full recovery as time passes, but if these thoughts are severe, seek help from a psychotherapist.
  • Sweats: Another way many people’s nervous systems react to quitting this drug is via sweating. You may notice that you now have heavy night sweats and/or are sweating profusely throughout the day. This is considered one way that your body detoxifies itself.

Trazodone Withdrawal Duration: How long does it last?

There is no specific duration for withdrawal from Trazodone as everyone will have a different experience.  It is documented that its half-life falls within the range of 5 to 9 hours; with an average of 7.3 hours.  This means that Trazodone stays in your system for approximately 1.67 days after your final dose.  Therefore the drug shouldn’t be in your body for more than 48 hours after you’ve discontinued.

However, just because the drug is out of your system does not mean that withdrawal is done. Many people fall victim to the misconception that once the drug is fully out of your system, you should feel completely fine. Based on many reports of Trazodone withdrawals, most people end up experiencing withdrawal symptoms that persist for weeks after their last dose.

Those who have used the drug over a long-term have reported protracted withdrawals that last for months beyond their last dose. For people who have used Trazodone for many years, full recovery and functioning readjustment could take up to a complete year after discontinuation. During your withdrawal, the important thing to keep in mind is that you will eventually get better.

It may take a few weeks, months, or even a full year to feel better, but just know that you will eventually experience healing. If you are having a tough time dealing with symptoms, focus on taking things one day at a time. Consider getting yourself into a psychotherapist for additional emotional support and guidance during your withdrawal.

Take the time to eat healthy, stay productive, and get some light exercise as all of these things will aid in your recovery. Have you experienced withdrawal from Trazodone? If so, feel free to share your experience and/or insight in the comments section below. By sharing your experience, you may help someone who is going through the challenge of withdrawal that you have already overcome.

Related Posts:

MHD News (100% Free)

* indicates required

232 thoughts on “Trazodone Withdrawal Symptoms + Duration”

  1. I’m a 42 year old man and this has been the worst thing I’ve ever felt. I was prescribed 50mg Trazodone about 2 years ago to help me with my sleep. I’ve never really had trouble sleeping, just with my sleep schedule, and Trazodone was very convenient. I could take the pill and be sleepy 30 minutes later.

    A few weeks ago I woke up with an anxiety/panic attack that was literally the worst feeling I’ve ever felt in my life. Like real existential fear, questioning my existence type feelings. These feelings felt completely unnatural to me and made me wonder if I was poisoned or dying and lasted for about 4 waking hours. I decided to stop the Trazodone since that was the only drug I was on. Oh boy. That was 8 days ago…

    I was fine for the first two days, but then a wave of symptoms hit me on the third day:

    -Anxiety: I’ve never felt so afraid in my life. Every past regret or future worry were crammed into my head at the same time. I would physically flinch at my own thoughts and how much they hurt my brain. The worst were during the first three days of withdrawal.

    -Crying spells: I cry at the drop of a hat. I’m crying right now writing this, but I think the crying actually helps work out the withdrawal, so I don’t fight it.

    -Depersonalization: This was the symptom that actually made me realize that I was having Trazodone withdrawal. I literally was having trouble grasping my existence. I felt like time was not real, yet I was running out of it anyway. Almost like the other commenter who felt like God (or the Creator, or the Universe, whatever you believe) had abandoned them.

    -Nausea: I can’t eat. I have to force my food down. If I could just not eat I would, but that would probably make things worse.

    -Sweats/Chills: At first it was the sweats, now it’s the chills, but as soon as I put on a blanket I get hot again.

    -Disorientation: I’m really sensitive to sound and some light. I can’t watch TV or listen to the news or music. I also can’t handle fiction, which is weird. The only thing that doesn’t irritate me is reality, like outside under the sky.

    -Mood swings: The first three withdrawal days the symptoms were pretty consistently bad and so was my mood, but now I swing from feeling slightly better to horrible anxiety 4 to 5 times a day.

    -Tinnitus: I’ve had very mild tinnitus for years and I have to purposefully listen for it to notice it, but it’s more pronounced now.

    I took Dramamine Less Drowsy (meclizine) for the first 5 nights to combat the nausea and disorientation which I think helped me sleep.

    Yesterday afternoon I feel like I had my first real breakthrough, almost like a fever breaking. I went for a run and had some really good soup and I felt like me again. I was able to watch some TV with my wife. She was watching one of those travel food shows and the food on TV looked really good and I was genuinely interested in the show.

    I am not a runner or very consistent at exercise, but it seems to help and I will try anything to get rid of these feelings. I should get more exercise anyway. I went to bed after that and tried to get some natural sleep. I got about 6 hours but when I woke up and rolled over after 6 hours the anxiety kicked right in and I had to get out of bed.

    I think I’m getting better but part of the anxiety is wondering if it will ever go away. I will post a follow-up in a few weeks. This is the darkest place I’ve ever been and I am still scared, but right now also cautiously optimistic.

    Reply
    • Take ease in knowing ‘This too shall pass… thank God it didn’t come to stay’! The emotions, I also found to be one of the biggest battles. Years ago when on trial for my first Morphine Pump Implant, they inadvertently took me off Oxycontin cold turkey… it was one of the worst experiences of my life.

      That, too, did pass. Hang in there, my friend, and you will get through it, and the emotions will settle down. One thing I learned is that I will never try to go off meds on my own without the doctor knowing!!! That was a big mistake I made with the Trazodone!

      Take care, and take time to unwind… confide in those close to you as to what you are thinking and feeling… having someone around who at least knows makes the battles less intense. I also found to never pray for patience… for that comes often by experiencing tough times!!! LOL.

      Reply
    • Update: It’s now been 15 days since I stopped taking Trazodone. I believe I am getting better but it is not a measurable process and is very subjective. My primary care doctor doesn’t really believe that withdrawal from a “low dose” of 50mg Trazodone should be this intense, but I know me, and this is not right.

      Here’s an update on my symptoms:

      Insomnia: This is new; I wake up every 2-3 hours and find it hard to get back to sleep. Work nights consist of 6 hours of sleep broken up in the middle by 2 hours of awake.

      Vision: It seems like my prescription changed. I can see fine up close but distant objects have noticeably changed. I have an appointment with my optometrist in 4 days.

      Anxiety: The anxiety is less acute now and more of a generalized feeling of anxiety. The worst anxiety is worrying about my sleep and when this will all go away.

      Crying spells: I’ve stopped crying every few hours. I guess that’s good.

      Depersonalization: I no longer feel like I’m in some alternate reality, but I still have trouble watching TV or movies, which sucks because I could use the escape right now.

      Nausea: I still have very little appetite. I’ve lost about 15 pounds, but this is the most unrewarding weight I’ve ever lost.

      Sweats/Chills: Still get chills every now and then, the sweats are mostly gone.

      Disorientation: The sensitivity to noise and light has mostly subsided.

      Mood swings: My mood has stabilized for the most part. Just want this to be over.

      Tinnitus: The tinnitus is still there.

      My doctor gave me a short prescription to Xanax but I haven’t taken any. I’ve been trying Melatonin and Tryptophan but it doesn’t seem to do much.
      I can’t shake the feeling that my sleep and my brain are permanently broken, but every experience I’ve read on this blog and others say that they eventually get better and get back to themselves.

      I will post another update in 7 days.

      Reply
    • Update #2: It’s now been 22 days since I stopped taking Trazodone. I will start this update by saying I am definitely better. There is hope, it gets better. It’s not that every day is better than before; it’s more like 2 days better, 1 day worse, 2 days better…

      My symptoms for the most part have subsided. They are still there, just very muted in comparison to the existential hell of the first week. I can eat again, though I’m still not “hungry”, I do enjoy my food when I eat. I’ve lost 20 lbs. and my vision really did change.

      I went to the optometrist and they gave me a new prescription. They said my eyes are perfectly healthy, just a different prescription. Wow. I still have mild underlying anxiety and a little sadness. Also, I am still having trouble immersing myself in a movie or TV show because I still get twinges of depersonalization and anxiety from my brain telling me “this is fake” and “this fake stuff is from the past”.

      I had some musical breakthroughs that make me feel really warm and almost brought me to tears because I could feel that way again. I suggest songs like Bill Withers – Lovely Day, or Iz Kamakawiwo’ole – Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World. Even if those kind of songs aren’t usually your style, give it a try.

      I still can’t sleep more than 3 hours at a time which kind of makes me angry because before trazodone, once I was asleep, I was out. The tinnitus is still there, but I think it’s just because I keep checking to see if it’s there.

      I’m pretty emotional from this experience and even now that the symptoms have mostly subsided, the memory of the thoughts I had during the withdrawal may have changed me. The feeling that time isn’t real but I am running out anyway was so profound that I think it really left a mark on my spirit.

      I’ll post a final update when I feel like I am fully past this.

      Reply
    • It’s now been 29 days since I stopped taking Trazodone. I don’t really have much of an update. Not very much has changed. I still feel like I’m almost through this, but right now I’m finding the insomnia unbearable. I wake up every 1-2 hours.

      I’ve resorted to trying Benadryl which helps a bit. I also tried some of the Xanax my doctor prescribed. Both are mildly effective but I’m afraid of getting myself dependent on new chemicals.

      Has anyone successfully conquered or made it through the insomnia after Trazodone withdrawal? Did you use another sleep aid short term, or just tough it out until it (hopefully) goes away?

      My sleep is significantly worse than before I started Trazodone…

      Reply
  2. My situation is much different from those I have read. I have been on trazodone for insomnia for 5 yrs or more. It got so it would not help me sleep and my arthritis pain seemed to be worse after I took it. I also would binge eat after taking it. I gained weight.

    Last nite I decided I would not take it since I don’t sleep taking it, why not be up all nite without it? I actually got 2 periods of sleep 3 hrs and 2 hours. On trazodone I felt my arthritis became worse and the binge eating was awful.

    So last nite with 5 hours of sleep seemed good. It was a surprise to me. I did have a headache but nothing too bad. I’m going to try again tonite cold turkey.

    Reply
  3. I just started stopping Trazodone for sleeping. I did ask the Dr. for a substitute because I have tried before. I suggested Silenor, low dose Doxepin. It did help me get to sleep and my blood sugar was lower the next day. I’m diabetic.

    I never liked Trazodone, but it did put me to sleep. It’s very difficult for people with sleeping problems to get something. What works for one person doesn’t work for others.

    Reply
  4. I have to say, after reading some of the comments below that I have nothing but admiration for you guys. I was only on Trazodone for 3 & 1/2 months when suddenly it became very toxic to my body and I ended up in the ER. It has been a week now and I have been struggling with terrible depression, bad thoughts, hopelessness, helplessness, thinking that God does not care about me anymore, etc.

    Reading your comments helps. It helps knowing that I am not weird, insane or abnormal. I am taking Turmeric curcumin complex one per day beginning yesterday. It does seem to help with the depression. This has been one of the scariest times of my life. I was only on Trazodone but had an Rx for paroxetine (which I did not take because of the Trazodone) and I threw out every pill that I had!

    So, I am going cold turkey. The ER doctor flushed out my system which I am sure helped. He thought I was having a heart attack but I knew that it was the drug. Never again! I am 73 years old and have never been a pill taker, except for depression the past 10 years. There have to be better methods of dealing with depression and insomnia than prescription meds.

    Prayer does help me a lot usually, but this past week the mud has been so thick (depression) that I have hardly been able to pray. However, I do feel that God is taking care of me even though I have felt as if I am going crazy and cannot handle even the smallest thing right now. I just want to curl up and go to a better place. Thanks for caring and sharing. It helps!

    Reply
    • Prayer can be the MOST effective way of handling our emotions, and life’s ups and downs! Remember that even in the darkest moments, He is there and cares… no condemnation! Keep up the fight, you will see it through!!! God Bless

      Reply
    • Really sorry to hear about how you have been struggling. Some medication can help I think, so you don’t have to dismiss everything. But Trazodone is a drug I wish I had never been prescribed. I have chronic pain and I am on a lot of medication, including morphine, and nothing has ever made me feel as ill as Trazodone.

      I really don’t think they should prescribe it. I was on it for over 10 years and have been really slowly withdrawing for 10 months now. They tried to withdraw me faster and I was so ill. I think that talk therapy helps a lot with depression. And it doesn’t have to be a professional, having someone to talk to makes you feel less alone.

      But, sometimes it is hard to talk to people in your life as you feel as though you are always talking about being depressed. So if you ever want someone to talk to, even if it is just to email and vent with no response, feel free to get in touch. Depression is a hard slog. Take care and let me know if you want a pen pal. :) Vicky

      Reply
  5. I have been on 50mg of Trazodone for several years to help me sleep. I also have a Morphine Pump implant for chronic pain from a fractured L3. Recently, while acting as caregiver for my wife, I missed four or five days in a row, silly me… thinking because I was taking it for sleep, there would be no side effects!

    NOT! Usual symptoms for about four days. That was three weeks ago and I am still ‘edgy’, moody and listless… tough to get going! Thanks to this site I have a clearer picture of what has been going on and how NOT to stop a medication! I also take Celexa for ‘nerves’ due to the long term morphine.

    I am also on 2 to 8 mgs of luminol, ooops, I mean Dilaudid as a breakthrough pain pill. All in all, I find the Trazodone effective but will not be going off it again unless my doctor knows! I have not told my wife as she would get upset that I sacrificed for her! Blessings!

    Reply
  6. Omg kill me now! I’m a recovering heroin addict been clean 9 years and feel as though weaning off Trazodone is worse. I suffered a traumatic brain injury may 20th 2011 and my doctor put me on Trazodone to deal with my chronic lifelong insomnia.

    Trazodone is ruining my life I am in more pain then I dreamed possible. My body aches so extremely, I feel like I got hit by a car. I’ve been suffering from extreme abdominal pain and urethral burning for years now. I’ve been to so many doctors trying to get diagnosed that has been my entire life.

    Finally after lengthy research I discovered that all my problems just might be due to Trazodone toxicity syndrome. HOW DUMB ARE THESE DOCTORS!? How is it that they’ve tested me for every imaginable illness trying to diagnose my pain yet the thought never occurred to them hmmm might be the Trazodone.

    SINCE EVERY SYMPTOM SHE’S HAVING IS A SIDE EFFECT OF PROLONGED TRAZODONE USE! Agh! I literally have the worst doctors in the world. Anyway I’m in the worst agony of my life and don’t feel I can go on. Any advice is appreciated. I just need at least part of the pain to stop. I can’t take it anymore.

    Reply
    • I’m w/o my psychiatrists knowledge weaning off Trazodone too. After cancer & chemo I felt like crap my body had been abused so bad. I decided my liver etc. needed a break from the trazodone after I read how bad it is for me. I hurt before but its worse. But I know it’ll get better.

      Hang in there. You are strong & beat heroin and you can do this. I was told each time we try to quit a drug it is harder than the previous time. But withdrawal aside I’m starting to feel like I’m me again. God bless & good luck.

      Reply
  7. Two an a half years ago a Veterans Administration doctor put me on 150mg Trazodone for insomnia. It did seem to help some and enabled me to get 5 or 6 hours of sleep a night if I added Melatonin 3mg and 15ml of ZZZquil.

    I was waking up in the morning groggy and dizzy so I cut back to 100mg with no withdrawal symptoms that I recall, but my dizziness worsens the longer I took it, so I asked them to try me on Lunesta to see if alleviate my dizziness.

    Not realizing that there were severe withdrawal effects, I stopped the Trazadone, Melatonin, and ZZZquill cold turkey and for a few days felt much better, then all hell broke loose. Dizziness, pain in every part of my body, headache, fatigue and felt like I would have to get better to die.

    Thanks to the internet and websites like this I have realized my problem. Went back to 50mg Trazodone for two weeks with much relief, then cut back 12.5mg and two days later, more withdrawal. I will slow down to 12.5mg every three weeks, and do it even slower if necessary because I feel like I finally see light at the end of the tunnel.

    Reply
  8. I have been taking 200mg Trazodone each night since going through a divorce in 2001. I tapered off for 6 weeks, taking my last 50mg one week ago. I’m still hot/cold/sweating & somewhat sick to my stomach but I’m not going back!

    I am blessed to have a very supportive husband who is helping me. I’m determined and I hope others will be too. This is a nasty drug and while it’s helped over the years, I’m happy to be on my way to being drug free!

    Reply
  9. Can anyone please help? I tried to cut down on my trazodone 50mg a couple of weeks ago having successfully come off (or what I thought, off duloxetine) now I am suffering from the most severe suicidal depression, fatigue where I can barely get from one room to the other, anxiety and a whole range of distressing symptoms.

    I’ve had to go back on the trazodone thinking my symptoms would get better, but sadly they haven’t and I’m wondering whether it’s a combination of coming off duloxetine that has suddenly hit me and cutting down on trazodone. How long do these withdraw symptoms last, before they finish me off for good? In a desperate way, what could I do to help me? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Emma – I was on Duloxetine 30mg and Trazodone 50mg among several other meds for many years. I made a decision about 2 months ago to get off ALL meds. With a good doctor by my side, I cut out all but Duloxetine and Trazodone and two blood pressure meds (down from 10 meds).

      Next was the Duloxetine, a NASTY drug to withdrawal from. I tapered from 30mg to 20mg, then started dumping part of the capsule out, and after a couple weeks on about 10mg, I just stopped. The brain zaps and fatigue were the worst part, but after 2 weeks now, it seems to be subsiding, except that I am also tapering off Trazodone from 50mg to 25mg to 12.5mg where I am now, and I feel a bit like a zombie.

      Every muscle hurts and I haven’t slept well (or at all) in several weeks. I trust that it WILL GET BETTER and am pushing through. I won’t go back. I am an IT professional with ten direct reports, and some days, like today, are VERY HARD to pretend everything is OK and to try to function.

      I have faith in God and in the fact that this is temporary and I WILL BE MEDICATION FREE in no time. Hang in there Emma, it will get better.

      Reply
    • Hi Emma, I know you posted a while back. Hopefully everything is well now. I think you may have been having such a hard time because you were lowering or stopping 2 medications at once. That is too much for your body to handle.

      Pick which one is more important to stop first and slowly titrate down. Once you are completely off that med give your body a couple weeks. Then slowly titrate down the 2nd med. This can take quite some time depending on how sensitive you are. DON’T rush it.

      Reply
  10. Although I did not write down the exact date I started coming off trazodone, I know it has been at least 2 months. I started a rather rapid tapering of trazodone (I was taking 100 ml. per day). I was initially prescribed 200 ml per day and had dropped to 100 quite a while before I decided to get off it altogether.

    I started by cutting it in half for a couple weeks following by cutting by half again. But I was only on 25 ml per day for a short time before I decided to go cold turkey. If I had it to do again, I don’t know if I would have quit completely so quickly.

    I didn’t feel so bad at first but the effects stayed with me longer, I think. I still, after 2 months totally drug free, suffer from insomnia, irritability, and lack of motivation. It doesn’t feel like depression, I sometimes just don’t feel. And at other times I cry at the drop of a hat.

    I never experienced menopause, per se, while I was going through it but I now am experiencing the symptoms I have heard other women describe-night sweats, insomnia, irritability, sadness and crying, confusion, headaches, hot flashes, and the list goes on. The worst, I think, is the insomnia.

    I have begun to dread nighttime. It goes on forever. But the good news is it’s getting better. Instead of waking up every hour, I have slept as long as 5 hours before waking up. I am learning several things through this.

    I am learning to control my emotions and I have learned I just don’t require as much sleep as I thought I did.

    Reply
    • I began tapering two months ago from 200mg, which I had been taking for 17 years. I have been completely off for two weeks now but have been suffering from the awful night sweats as well. Early morning is very warm for me too. But… it’s all getting better!

      I feel great and slept really well last night – first time in a long while. I actually slept with my sheet and comforter on which has been absolutely impossible even with the AC turned down low and a fan blowing on me.

      There is hope! I hope people don’t give up as I did a couple of times. I decided this was it. I’m so happy! Have faith out there!

      Reply
  11. I have been taking Trazodone 100 mg for about a year. I have been having trouble reaching orgasm. I have read it may cause anorgasmia. I would much rather have insomnia than to be unable to climax.

    Anyone else have this problem? I am going to taper off Trazodone to see if that helps but have been scared reading all the withdrawal symptoms.

    Reply
    • Hey Snoopy, you’re not the only one. I take 100mg a day for sleep, as well as 50mg of quetiapine. Trazodone gave me ED, so I was prescribed Viagra. The Viagra works well, but gives me headaches, which I just put up with. Climaxing sometimes doesn’t happen. I really want to get off all these drugs.

      Reply
  12. My husband has been been trying to come off trazodone for months. Withdrawal was so severe he was hallucinating, aggressive, crying, having dark thoughts, horrible cold sweats… He was on 300 mg and his doctor stopped it abruptly…

    We put his dosage back up to 200 mg and tried to lower it by 50 mg… Again it was bad so we put the dose back up. Then my daughter brought us some CBD oil 1000mg per bottle. We started to take 2 drops 3x per day. It has helped tremendously.

    We start to reduce dosage again tomorrow… 12.5 mg every 3weeks. Hopefully the CBD oil will help reduce withdrawal symptoms. He’s 73 with various chronic illnesses, the withdrawal is brutal but if we can minimize it with CBD oil it will be bearable.

    Reply
  13. Hello! I’ve been on Trazodone for about 3 months now at 12/12.5mg. Its caused me to now develop Orthostatic Hypotension. I was given this as a sleep aid, thankfully I didn’t take the 50mg dose and cut it down.

    I’ve cut the 12.5mg in half and will start that tonight and stay there for a week or so – and cut down as I can (the pills fall apart). Should this be ok?

    Reply
  14. I was taking trazodone for about 20 years. Yes I had it bad. It worked very well. Got me out of the rut I was in and kept me going with life. At one of my doctors appointments Dr. ask if I was ever going to stop taking trazodone. I looked at her and said not sure I can. I might crack up.

    Anyway I got to thinking about it. I stopped taking some other meds I was on for various reasons and thought why not try to get off of trazodone. I did a lot of reading on how to do it and also what to expect from other peoples stories on here.

    So on my journey I started, I cut one pill in half and took 350mg. Yes I was taking four pills a night each of 100 mg. Total 400mg. I took 350 for three weeks and then went to 300 mg. Took for 3 weeks and kept on doing the half a pill away ever three weeks. When I got to the last one I was getting nervous.

    However I took 1/2 pill until the rest were all gone. There were some hard moments however I am still not taking any. I ended in Jan 2018. I did go through the itching sometimes. Bad at night. I tried not to scratch or I would bleed. Yikes. The other thing I notice is my sleeping. It sucks now.

    I’m trying to get use to that however. Keep on trucking – you can do it. Eat well, get out and get some exercise and try to smile even if it hurts to. You will get better. I’m happy to be off of them. I like my own way of thinking, most of the time. Haha. Anyway that is my story and I am sticking to it. Be sweet.

    Reply
  15. I was on Trazodone for 5 months. I was originally prescribed 50 mg to aid in sleep issues due to anxiety. I still wasn’t able to get through the night without waking up multiple times so it was upped to 100 mg. I found that after a few months I was able to fall asleep/sleep through the night fairly easily so I decided I didn’t need to be on 100 mg.

    I started cutting the pills in half and taking 50 mg per night about a month-a month and a half ago. I kept finding that I was falling/staying asleep with ease so I stopped taking the doses (without consulting my doctor). I had horrible withdrawal symptoms including terrible anxiety, night sweats, and extreme dissociation.

    All the symptoms have subsided except the dissociation, which I am very concerned about. The dissociation is causing me to become depressed and increasing my anxiety.

    Anyone else have this issue or know how long it should last? I haven’t taken a dose in over 2 weeks but the withdrawal symptoms are still STRONG. Hoping this all settles fairly soon without the aid of anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications.

    Reply
    • Hi. Can you be more specific? What do you mean by disassociation? I also experienced really bad side effects. After about a week of having stopped taking it, I began to experience really bad insomnia, feelings of impending doom, panic attacks, etc.

      I also began to have digestive issues and heartburn, which I mistook for heart problems. Even now, almost a year later, I still experience headaches when I am on the computer, and vertigo if something on TV moves really fast.

      Reply
    • Kayla – Your problem isn’t the Trazodone. Most all prescription drugs should not be stopped cold turkey. If you do, there will be a backlash of side effects. ALWAYS have your doctor help you wean off the medication.

      The 100mg Trazodone was apparently helping. You should have stayed on that dosage. I take 150mg every night. I started out taking 50mg every night in 2002. Over the years my doctor increased dosage due to it got where it was not helping as much.

      I’m always amazed how many people quit cold turkey or decrease dosage on their own, that is a no-no.

      Good luck & best wishes! ?

      Reply
    • The problem is definitely the trazodone. I’ve taken this drug as prescribed for 18 years. My doctor stopped it cold turkey on me 7 years ago and I thought I was going to die. I reinstated 6 years ago and got my life back but I never went to the dose that actually helped me sleep.

      I’ve taken 50 mgs for 6 years now. I just started a taper because I can’t stand to be on a medicine simply because I can’t handle the withdrawal. I’m at around 30 mgs now and it’s rough but so far doable. A slow taper is your best bet!

      Reply
    • How long have you had the withdrawal symptoms? I stopped over a month ago and still have lots of muscle pain and stiffness.

      Reply
  16. I have only been taking this medicine for a month and a half now. And I just stopped taking it after I had panic attacks. The dosage was only 50mg and it was used for insomnia. Now I am experiencing panic attacks several times a day. I do not like the way this makes me feel. Do anyone know how long should I experience these withdrawals?

    Reply
    • I was taking 50 mg for about three months and never liked the way it made me feel. Plus, it made my BP drop way low. I was put on it because we just found out my husband has stage 4 prostate cancer so I was very anxious and unable to sleep.

      Treatment has started even though the prognosis isn’t the best. I decided to go off cold turkey two weeks ago today. It took 3 three days for withdrawal to kick in. I was assured that it’s not addictive when it was prescribed but withdrawing from it is horrible.

      Nausea, chills, and such muscle pain that I could barely move. I kept considering going back on it because I was so miserable but I kept telling myself just one more day. Today is the first day that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

      No nausea or chills and muscles are much better. I think you just have to remain determined if you want off of it. I should have researched more but I was in a very low place at the time.

      Reply
        • Hi, John! I am a month since going through trazodone withdrawal and I also experienced chills for almost three weeks. I certainly experienced all spectrum of discontinuation symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, dissociation, panic attacks, insomnia, poor appetite, crying spells, upset stomach), such a horrible experience.

          I thought I was going to die. There are days I still feel anxious, but is manageable. I also developed an allergic reaction to the med that I didn’t recognized at first. I was congested and with sinusitis and that subsided after stopping Traz. Sometimes, feel muscle stiffness in neck and shoulders.

          I won’t ever come back to that nightmare. I have helped myself with activating my faith in Jesus, drinking chamomile tea, focusing on my work not on my thoughts… Wanted to share my experience, definitely you are not the only one! Wish you the best! God bless you!! :-)

          Reply
      • Hazel, how long did it take for that day to come for you to see the light at the end of tunnel? I was on 50mg for 3 months, cut it in half for a few weeks, then cut that in half for a week, then stopped. Day 3 of being off (yesterday) the withdrawal symptoms kicked in. I’m wondering if it was days or weeks for you? My doctor told me just to stop it a month ago and there wouldn’t be any effects. Clearly she was wrong. Just looking for some hope. Thanks.

        Reply
        • Hi Kristin. I found all of the comments here very helpful but was hoping to see more follow-ups of people saying they finally made it through to the other side. I don’t know how long it took Hazel, but I will reply.

          I’m now on day 24 of stopping 50mg of Trazodone cold-turkey. I can safely say that there is hope and the really deeply disturbing withdrawal only lasts a few weeks. The severe symptoms have mostly subsided for me and are more like echos of what they originally were.

          I’m not exactly completely over it, but I’m better. Your brain is not permanently stuck this way. Just stay with it.

          Reply
  17. I have been feeling so lethargic for the last few weeks. I am currently living with a kidney stone, so blamed my lack of ambition on that, however I do not have any infection, and a wonderful acupuncturist helped stabilize the stone.

    So I started thinking back to what could be causing this lack of energy and will power, to do anything. Then I remembered 4 weeks ago I quit Trazodone. I have been taking it for 27 years. I thought that since it has always been a small dose of 50 mg there should be no problem.

    It was wonderful to find this blog and understand that I am having many of the same problems. I am sleeping fine, but many more hours than normal. I hope that it does not take as many years to be free of this as the length of time I have been taking it, as I may be dead before then.

    Reply
  18. I asked my doctor for a sleep study for sleep problems. She gave me trazodone in the meantime calling it a mild sleep aid that wouldn’t be addictive. I started at 150mg and after one week my stomach was killing me.

    I took it total for two weeks and decided to stop cold turkey not giving any thought to what this medication actually does to you. Few days after being off starting getting severe panic attacks, depression and anxiety like crazy.

    Crying spells, sadness and insomnia. It’s been 4 weeks now off of this medication and withdrawal still going strong!!! I had to go to the hospital this week cause I felt like I was going to die.

    I keep reading everyone is different, I really hope my body can heal from all this. I’m trying to heal the natural way.

    Reply
    • I have been through this myself. Please be careful. Prolonged stress and anxiety can cause heart problems. First thing you need to do is realize that there is nothing physically wrong with you. The drug withdrawal is what is causing this.

      Secondly, you need to go get a vitamin B12 shot, and get checked to make sure you are not vitamin deficient. Eat as healthy as possible. Preferably vegetarian, until your stomach calms down and you can digest normal food properly. And above all, pray to God for peace.

      Reply
  19. I just went through Percocet withdrawal cold turkey after 18 years of successful chronic pain treatment when I got a new doctor. I have Fibromyalgia. Then she wanted me to stop the 400 mg of trazodone I have been on for 11 years for the major depression of Bipolar 2 so she could switch me to Cymbalta, claiming it will give me better pain control.

    The withdrawal symptoms of cramping, sweating, increased pain, severe headaches and insomnia were identical. Six days of hell each time. Why don’t doctors tell you about this when they put you on drugs? At least with the trazodone withdrawal, I am not vomiting.

    What are they encouraging us to put in our bodies? I am not sure I want to take the Cymbalta next week as scheduled. Then they wonder why patients commit suicide. Try to find a doctor that will taper you slowly. If it takes a year, so be it.

    Reply
  20. 12 years on Trazodone… at first 100mg then up to 200 mg for a few years. Then in 2018 I tapered to 50mg… and then in a week or so to 25mg and then in another week to 12mg. This was way too fast of a withdrawal and now I have not slept for more than 3 hours in days.

    It is about 2 weeks since I have had no Trazodone. I have increased bladder frequency, no real sleep, bad dreams, and nightmares when I do sleep. I need to concentrate on my artwork and other obligations. My hands shake and my mouth is dry.

    I guess this will all abate sometime in the future, but I am annoyed to be so under the influence of a drug that I never knew could be so lethal!. Also, I am 87 years old, but with lots of spirit and talent. I wish I knew how long I could be a victim of the withdrawal. I will see my PP next week.

    Reply
    • So sorry to hear you are suffering. I have taken 100 mg for over 10 yrs and also am trying to take myself off. I am going to need to see my psychiatrist for this since it’s been 4 weeks off of the meds and I’m continuing to have similar experiences like yourself. Please seek professional help. You’re going through hell to get released from this powerful substance. My thoughts are with you friend.

      Reply
  21. I have taken Trazodone for many years, probably 10+. I have decided to cut down from 100 to 75, then now to 50. I didn’t realize that it was the Trazodone withdrawal that was causing me to have anxiety, tremors, headache, and nausea off and on for the last month. I will be persisting with my taper, as I don’t want to do this all again. I’ve come this far, so I might as well continue on.

    Reply
    • Oh Kristin, I’m having the same thoughts as you about coming this far with the withdrawals. I didn’t realize it was going to be so difficult but in the end hopefully worth it. It’s been about 4 weeks and my depression is bad, crying spells like in PMS, insomnia at night, and tiredness during day. What about you? Better now? Let’s hang in there sister! We can do this, right?

      Reply
  22. I’m like many of you, my doctor said this drug once addicted should not be stopped abruptly as it impacts balance in your brain. Anyhow, I’ve over the years weaned down to 50 mg with occasions bumping hirer if I need to. I have many of the symptoms listed such as vision, headaches, mood shifts and frankly it just doesn’t work as well as it use to with only 50mg.

    When I take more than that, I’m often worthless the next day. Getting off has been difficult and to be honest I think it should be on the warning label. This drug is addictive and could cause withdrawals if stopped abruptly. My dr told me when I started it was not addictive, boy was he wrong.

    Reply
  23. 50 mg taken once daily for sleep for a year as I work 3rd shift started changing my personality. I’d get angry at times after a few glasses of wine or black out very easily and started driving my car aggressively, that alarmed me so I’m off cold turkey day six. Had to use a couple sick days off work because the only time I feel OK is when I’m lying down.

    Vision trouble, anxiety, dizziness, disorientation, emotional, back pain, diarrhea, sweats, head and body ache. I’ve been drinking lots and lots of herbal tea to calm and detox me and its been working and I expect tomorrow day 7 to be much better. Trazodone is a good drug but in my opinion it should not be taken daily for more then a few weeks.

    Reply
    • Update; Going cold turkey it took about 10 days to feel like it was really out of my system and 2 weeks to feel normal. Now I take Magnesium Citrate 400 mg 3 times a day and drink Yogi Bedtime Tea when trying to get to sleep as a substitute… to my surprise its working and it feels great to be off drugs. Magnesium Citrate was recommended to me from a trusted Health Food Store.

      Reply
  24. I took Trazodone for a few weeks a over year ago and have been trying to get off ever since. I regret taking the drug. This is the worst thing I have ever experienced in my life. Among many side effects and withdraw effects my ears has been ringing for over a year now.

    I have constant tingling and pain in my legs. The good news is that my dose is almost down to nothing. Unfortunately the withdraws are continuing. Not fun.

    Reply
  25. I have been in 50 mg of trazodone for 20 years. It is a terrible drug, but over the years I needed them. I live in England, so unlike others, I can’t cut down on the mg. 50 mg is the lowest we have here so for three months I have been taking one every other day. I’m still in a bad place – crying, terrible anxiety, muscle pain, etc. I’m 70 years old and just want all of these terrible symptoms to go away someday.

    Reply
    • Hi, I have been on 50mg trazodone for 10 years. I am also in the UK and have been advised I cannot decrease the dose any lower than 50mg as it is not supplied in lower doses.

      I decided to take the capsule apart and have emptied the powder cutting it in half, and re-adding 25mg to each half of the capsule. I’m on day 2 and don’t feel too bad apart from the anxiety. Maybe you could do something similar? Good luck!

      Reply
      • Update 10 days later.

        Day 2 I started feeling very anxious. This subsided by day 4; I had no other symptoms. At day 8 I reduced the dose again to 12.mg. I’m now on day 10 and the anxiety has returned along with severe fatigue and disorientation.

        I usually walk 10 miles a day with my dogs and go to the gym daily but I am struggling to walk for half an hour at the moment! I’m totally exhausted!

        One thing I find really strange is that I was prescribed this medication for severe insomnia but tapering hasn’t affected me getting to sleep at all which I’m thrilled about:)

        I’m determined to get off this drug and feel really positive about achieving it :)

        Reply
        • Update 5th June 2018 (1 month later). I am now free of this drug completely!! There is hope people. ??

          So 1 month ago I went from 50mg to 25mg then 12.5mg a week later and lastly 5-6mg. I know for some people this may seem to fast but I managed and it wasn’t too bad. After each taper I did feel pretty bad for a few days with many of the side effects mentioned, but I knew it wouldn’t last for ever so just persevered.

          I am so happy to finally be off it. The irony of this whole journey is that I have been on trazodone for severe insomnia for 10 years and now that I’m off of it I’ve been sleeping better than ever!

          Reply
          • Hi Maria, this is so encouraging! I recently started this medicine (50mg a day) for insomnia. I didn’t have insomnia at all but I suddenly couldn’t sleep, and for two months the situation is not getting any better.

            Trazodone worked for me well and I was always on a hurry to reduce the dosage and every time I tried it, my sleep got worse. Your message is very encouraging to me…

            I hope I could achieve the same soon… Was your sleep not interrupted at all while you were reducing the dosage? This sounds amazing!

    • It is never a good idea to take prescription drugs every other day. It is better to cut pills in half, take one-half a day for a few weeks, then cut half pills into one-fourth.

      Reply
  26. Knowing many of you have already tried these, I will still post ideas that work for me to get to sleep. Hope something might help someone.

    -go down the alphabet listing something – fruits & vegetables; trees & flowers; boys/girls names, etc.
    -breathe in 4 seconds, breathe out 6 seconds
    -recite lyrics from a favorite song
    -count backwards from 100 by 3s

    Maybe someone else has an idea that worked for them. Detoxing from trazodone is hard.

    Reply
    • I’m addicted, I was at 200mg’s and have cut down to 50mg’s over the past year. Last night was my first night off the drug…fingers crossed. So far only a minor headache. What I use to do is a little self hypnosis and I did last night which worked…

      I’m getting darker, my mental room is blackening, I’m clearing my thoughts, my room is getting darker, I feel heavier and heavier the room is getting darker and darker…etc until I fall asleep. It has been hard getting off I heard that the drug stays in your system for up to three days and withdrawals can be a month for every year on it.

      I’ve been on it for six years… Symptoms on the drug have been hazy vision, lethargy, muscle aches, headaches, and apparently it affects menopause symptoms by making those night time hot flashes worse.

      Reply
  27. March 7th 2017. I went to the Dr. looking for help with panic disorder, was prescribed Trazodone 25mg for the first 8 nights, and then to 50mg for the duration. The first 8 nights were not too bad, but after increasing to 50mg, I felt very flu-like, headaches, unsteady on my feet – so tapered back to 25mg after 14 nights on 50 mg.

    I decided that this drug was not for me so I stopped taking it… After being off of this for 3 nights now, I am having headaches, am still unsteady on my feet, and actually feel like sh-t. I found this website thank heavens, because even being on this drug for only a month, I realize I am suffering withdrawal. Thanks everyone for the comments. At least I know why I feel this way, and know that I am over the worst.

    Reply
  28. I’m 64. And dealing with death of wife over 3 years ago. Got involved with another woman and stressed out (ended relationship). I never felt comfortable. I got to the point I couldn’t sleep. Was given 50 mg of trazodone and hated every day on this stuff. Depression set in because I couldn’t sleep. I made sure all my issues weren’t emotional. I got a clean bill of health and started therapy.

    Because of this approach I have stopped taking this medicine – I could never sleep more than 6 hours. I reduced to 25 mg, then to 20 mg, and then stopped. I struggle with sleep, insomnia but have started exercise and started to get active outside of work.

    Life is challenging enough so I had to stop the trazodone because of side effects. I felt depressed and anxious on this medicine. My experience with trazodone has not been beneficial to my health improving. Focusing on my faith has brought some joy to my spirit.

    Reply
  29. Hi there, 32 years old. Since 2014, I have been on 400mg of Trazodone and 15mg of Zopiclone, both prescribed for severe insomnia. Within 10 minutes of taking my pills, I turn into a zombie and have no memory of what I’ve done or how I’ve gotten to bed. It certainly helps me fall asleep and stay asleep.

    If I don’t take my meds, I do not sleep. I am fully awake, all night and stay up into the morning. Because of my dosage, I am extremely groggy and sluggish in the morning. It takes me a very long time to get going and I typically feel that way for the whole day. I have no energy.

    Last week (so, the last 4 nights), I lost my Trazodone in a move. I’ve continued to take my 15mg of zopiclone, which surprisingly, has helped with my sleep. Tonight will be day 5 of no Trazodone. I am DEFINITELY experiencing withdrawal.

    I have the chills, I’m very sweaty and super shaky, chest pain, headaches, extreme fatigue… I honestly feel like I have a really bad flu, except I’m not vomiting. I could stay in bed all day, no joke. While I am aware that quitting “cold turkey” is not good for you, I know that these feelings are temporary.

    I’m willing to push through this, in order to get off these medications. My family, friends and doctor are all aware of what I’m doing so they understand why I may be avoiding/sleeping/moody and they fully support me. I know that this too, shall pass.

    It’s like quitting smoking… weaning off isn’t a method that works for everyone. I feel terrible and can’t wait for the night time to come, so I can sleep and not have to “face” the day, but I think getting off of these pills will bring back my energy, my love for exercise, and my “happiness”, that I really haven’t had since 2014.

    Reply
    • I see that your post was a year ago, but I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind giving an update. I’m about to try to get off of 175 mg of Trazodone, and like you, cold turkey has worked better for me than weaning off things in the past, so I would like to do this cold turkey as well, if possible. If you see this, a reply would be much appreciated. Thank you!

      Reply
  30. I have been on it for almost 9 years. First 200, then 150, then 100, and on 50mg for two years. I cannot sleep since I gone of it. Dizzy, feel spaced out. So tired, fatigue… don’t want to do anything. I really want to feel better, and have energy to go to the gym. Going onto my third week. Praying myself through this.

    Reply
  31. I am now off Trazodone going on 3 days & I too can feel the withdrawal symptoms. For me first there was the sick to my stomach feeling, followed by bouts of nausea, then vomiting, shakes, a general feeling of “feeling off balance ” with myself & terrible sweating then not sleeping the night through.

    I have a new Dr & she is very happy (not a fan of that drug) & being I am also on another anxiety med will start to feel much better she says. No more up & down with waves of anxiety she also said. Thank-you for the informative advice. Article was extremely helpful to me in understanding what I could expect & did…

    Reply
  32. I was recently prescribed 50 mg to take at bedtime to help me sleep due to anxiety. The first night I took a whole pill and the next day I felt like a zombie and could barely pick up my feet to walk, so for the next 5 weeks I took 25 mg at bedtime. Doctor prescribed a different med and said I could stop taking the trazodone, but paranoid me decided to first cut back to 12.5 mg per night for a few nights before quitting entirely, and I’m glad I did because the withdrawal was bad for the first few nights after cutting back and now again that I’ve stopped taking it at all.

    Terrible night sweats, nausea, dizziness, gastrointestinal distress. I’m grateful I’m going off it now after a relatively small dose and short time on it because I can’t imagine how much worse it would be. (Initially I thought I’d picked up some kind of stomach bug because it was hard to believe I’d have such significant withdrawal after less than two months on the drug, but after last night, the first night with no trazodone at all, and the same exact thing I experienced when I cut my dose in half, it’s clear it’s withdrawal.)

    Reply
  33. I took Trazodone from 1998 to 2016. Starting with 50mg, then later 100mg & then in 2009 at 150mg. Due to extreme fatigue I’ve been experiencing the past year, my doctor had me wean off of Trazodone to see if that may be the cause of my fatigue. Took me 2 months to wean off.

    I experienced no side effects. I began to have difficulty getting to sleep, so my doctor said I could go back on Trazodone. My experience & information from doctors & medical articles, it is never a good idea to quit cold turkey from any prescription drugs.

    Carolyn, it might be a good idea to see your doctor, so he can decide what is best for you. He might have you go back on Trazodone for awhile & then follow your doctor’s instructions on how to safely wean off Trazodone. Best wishes & good luck!

    Reply
  34. I had been taking 150 mg of Trazodone for 10 years and stopped cold turkey on January 1, 2017. I’m not even sure why I did this; I just did! First of all, I do NOT recommend this! I’ve been so sick and even ended up in the ER for a couple days. My main concern in my Blood Pressure! I can’t seem to get it stabilized!

    So far, the doctors have not prescribed anything for that. I’m also becoming quite nervous about this. Has anyone else experienced problems with blood pressure as you’ve withdrawn from Trazodone? If so, how long did it take to get things back to normal? Would appreciate any experience you might have to offer! Thanks so much.

    Reply
    • One of trazodone’s side effects is low blood pressure… when I was on it I never had anything above 120/70 even after exercising. I would suggest getting a BP cuff to watch, and if it gets dangerous, go see a doc for BP meds.

      Reply
  35. I have been having chills and muscle spasms and all these anxiety feelings not realizing it was me after stopping my 100 mg Trazodone medicine. I have been on it over 10 years now. My doctor decided I could stop taking it cold turkey and didn’t warn me of all these symptoms. It’s only been about 5 days and it’s been rough. I’ve had nausea, head aches, sweating like crazy, nervousness to name a few. I’m so glad I stumbled across this article because now I feel like I’m not going crazy. Thanks for all the helpful comments saying I will feel better in time.

    Reply
  36. I had been taking 300 mg for about 3 years. Just quit cold turkey 2 weeks ago. I am very pleased I found this site because I have every one of the symptoms listed here. The chest pains were the scariet because I have heart disease in my family. I was expecting a heart attack. Well I am sticking through it all and good to know I will come out the other side and be me again.

    Reply
  37. So glad I found this website. I was prescribed Trazodone 12 or so years ago to help me get to sleep & stay asleep while going thru menopause. I’ve had no problems with it all these years, but now that I’m retired, I want to know if I’ve been experiencing life fully. I quit cold turkey 2 days ago, didn’t bother to check the side effects. I expected to have trouble sleeping, but now I realize that’s where the itching & leg cramps are coming from. Thanks to your help, I will wean myself off gradually.

    Reply
    • Just a follow up to my original post. My doctor is weaning me this way (I was on 100 mg a day): 50 mg a day for 1 month; then 50 mg every other day for 1 month; then 50 mg every 3rd day for 1 month, then stop. I’m feeling good so far on 50 a day. I recommend earplugs during the night, as every little noise was waking me.

      Reply
  38. Went off Trazodone about 6 days ago and I’m experiencing some anxiety and sleeplessness. Don’t want to say I’m experiencing insomnia as it’s more like interrupted sleep but the anxiety associated I would consider moderate. I was put on this medicine for insomnia and I’ve been on the med for about 3 months at varying doses from 300mg down to 50mg and then I discontinued the med altogether for no other reason than I wanted to be free of the side effects, i.e., shaky hands, dizziness, etc.

    This of course is after I no longer suffered from insomnia and have been sleeping much better. As far as describing the side effects, I travel for a living and I can tell you that around day 3 or 4 I had a terrible time staying awake at the wheel, I just fought very hard keeping my eyes open so please be aware that this may happen. The most annoying withdrawal symptom for me is the anxiety but just knowing its temporary makes it more bearable.

    I was told there were no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever by a doctors office and after taking this med for 3 months I was told to just quit but that is a mistake. Yes, the drug may be out of your system in 72 hours but your body needs time to adjust to life without the medicine, it takes time. Tapering (at a slower pace than I did) will help reduce the symptoms greatly so please be patient.

    I wasn’t patient and I insisted to my loving wife that I wanted free from the chemicals so I am dealing with the withdrawals but they are already less after day 6 days so hang in there. My wife also just reminded me that my fuse has been very short during this time as well so I recommend apologizing to those you love as you go through this process, my busy 13 year old son gets apologies from me very regularly.

    I’m here to tell each of you that your normal rational thoughts will start to return as your body adjusts to being without the medicine so don’t think you’re losing your mind, that’s not so!! Try to remember, this med alters brain chemistry to put you back in balance. When you stop taking it your brain starves for the chemical so there’s a period of adjusting back to not having the chemical, it will subside and yes, you will return to your old self just hang in there!!!

    Reply
  39. I took trazodone for 10 years at 100 mg. Then about six month ago went down to half a pill 50 Mg. I have a new girlfriend and was experiencing erectile dysfunction due to the trazodone and decided to quit cold turkey. I thought I was tough but OMG this WD kicks your butt. Slept 0-1 hour a night first 4 nights.

    Tried herbal stuff and benadryl to no avail. In desperation, bought a bottle of Russian vodka drank half of it and got 5 hours sleep. Called the doctor for something and he prescribed a muscle relaxer. Didn’t work at all. Had to have a few drinks again to sleep.

    I’m trying jogging 5 miles and continue to have a few vodkas before bed. I may have to go back to 25 Mg a night. I really don’t want to have 4 to 6 drinks every night. I’ll post again in a couple of months. Good luck everyone. Remember not to get angry and lash out at people because it is the Trazodone.

    Reply
    • After going back to 25 mg for 2.5 months I’m going to 1/4 a pill or 12.5 mg. As many have said, cold turkey is a disaster. You have to wean yourself off slowly. Hopefully I can stop after 2 months at 1/4 of the smallest dose you can get at the drugstore (50 mg).

      Reply
  40. I last commented on August 28 and first commented on December 30, 2015. I have been weaning down from 3 mg Ativan and 200 mg Trazodone for well over a year. As of today, I am one week free of both. Hallelujah! I still have some minor symptoms like face and leg tingling but the bads are gone and last few nights of sleep have been good.

    I will continue to pray for those on this forum and anyone else that got locked into these horrible drugs. It has been a 4 year nightmare for me. My recommendations after this experience are:

    -Do not start these drugs if you can possibly avoid it even if you have to defy your doctor. See a sleep pyschologist if you can. Mine helped me far more than the drugs.

    -Do not go cold turkey. Slow weaning may seem like a long and difficult process but it will work.

    I will do a final post in about 3 months. Bob

    Reply
  41. I started tapering by decreasing dosage at 50mg per week. I was taking the drug daily at 300mg. Now I feel worried that I will have serious problems because I am not tapering slowly enough. I should have asked my psychiatrist but I was sick of sleeping so much and took it into my own hands. The withdrawal so far has caused continuous headaches and increased anxiety. Please make sure you taper according to your physician’s instructions.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.