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.
I have taken Trazodone for over 20 years. I took it @ 100mg for at least 10 of them then tapered down to 50mg for the last 10. I tried quitting several times with no success but after a year+ without alcohol I’ve managed to stop using it for over a week now. Withdrawal is definitely mufti-faceted with fatigue and sleeplessness and headache (which I never get otherwise) being the most prominent ones for me.
I realize many might think my remedy worse than the dependency, but medical marijuana (just two or three puffs at bedtime only) has worked wonders for sleep and appetite. I will deal with the much less severe discontinuation symptoms of MM once I can sleep well enough without it. Trazodone isn’t the safe sleep aid many doctors believe…
I have been on Trazodone since June of 2015. We started at 25mg. and then increased to 75mg. I was feeling a little depressed and having a hard time sleeping but nothing can compare to being on Trazodone and how it made me feel. I tried to go off cold-turkey and ended up in the ER with a tacky heart, anxiety, etc. in November. The ER doctor put me back on 50mg until I could see my doctor back home.
Then on December 17th, 2015 I started feeling really ill at work and ended up in the ER again thinking it was my heart but they said it was the Trazodone. I have been off of work for a week now and maybe another week so my doctor can take me off of it but the withdrawals are horrible and I hate how I feel. I guess we need to ask more questions about the medications we are prescribed and research more!!
I have on trazodone for three months started with 100mg and went up to 150mg I used to treat insomnia and managed to sleep very well. Recently I felt that it’s not anymore helping me to sleep the way I use to do decided to withdraw from it and reduced the dosage to 100 mg as I did not want to go cold turkey. I am feeling very anxious, dizzy, unbalanced, with strange dreams… I am in trouble. Can anyone advise whether I should go back to 150 or keep on reducing as time goes? Please help.
I am tapering both Ativan and Trazodone. Currently 1 mg Ativan down from 2 mg 4 months ago. 75 mg Tazodone from 100 mg one month ago. Have been on both for about a year and was as high as 3 mg Ativan and 200 mg Trazodone. It is hard to come off these drugs for sure and I encourage anyone to taper slowly. Do not go cold turkey! I have experienced all the symptoms – chest pain, sweats, anxiety, sleep issues but it does get better if you hang in and taper slowly.
It is easy to get discouraged and some of the reports on this blog are very frightening. I wish I had never started but insomnia was horrible too. A sleep psychologist has helped me a lot with that. I am determined to get off these terrible drugs. Good luck to all.
I know this site is old, but I’m being tapered off of trazodone. I have been taking it for three years. I was taking 300 mg and now my psychiatrist is gradually tapering me down to 250 mg. It will take a year. Even if I’m tapering off of this I am feeling muscle tension and anxiety. It scares me. I excercise, eat right, but I’m not so sure about the sleep part. Will I still be undergoing withdrawals? Not enough to go to the emergency room. Thank you.
I have been taking Trazodone for about 3 yrs. I have Fibromyalgia, it was prescribed for sleep. It makes me sweat in my head real bad that I can squeeze water from my head. I forgot to take it last night and could not sleep, I tossed and turned all night. My body was shaking and still shaking. I feel like an addict feels going through withdrawals. I can’t blame no-one but myself for not reading about it first. And it definetly messes with your sex drive. So now I am going to wing myself off of this monster pill. I wish myself good luck with this venture.
My Husband was put on this for insomnia 100mg per night. After a few weeks I noticed he was “angry” at me and very unsocial. Everything was fine and we had a thousand plans coming up. Thanksgiving was the usual with both sides of the family over. He helped me set up and take down. Friday am we went shopping to look at new vacuum cleaners and he just flipped out and started saying insane things.
And then ended with “we are over”!! 17 years! No talking to him. I looked up the drug and found out he had common side effects. I called the Dr. and they told me that Trazodone is only for insomnia and not an anti-depressant. I asked them where they got that information from??. They consulted with him and decided he needed to stop taking it. I asked about tapering off and they told me that 100mg was “nothing” and he would be fine.
Well all in all it has escalated even further. He alienated his daughters against me. He changed all his 401 K and other funds he had to leaving nothing to me. Christmas is coming and I am saddened. I come home to someone who is silent. I go into the bedroom and do not come out. He totally avoids me. I have not been able to eat. 19 days and counting. My life as I knew it is over it seems.
We had just put in a new deck and gotten a hot tub in the past few months. We built our home and did most everything ourselves as we figured this was our forever home. I just want my life back but I cannot reason with him. He is delusional saying I have ruined his life by not letting him buy what he wants?? What a new Harley and F-250 was not enough? He gets anything he wants. Please help me. I am in a bad way and wonder if there is a good end in site?
Julie, I just read your comments and wondered how your hubby is after all these months?
Hi Doctor, I see that you have taken Trazadone for 7 years; I have been on it for almost a year with lithium and hydrozine at night, and lamictal during the day. I have been diagnosed as bi-polar for over 25 years and find that what most helps me is just being with and helping others. When disengaged, as now being unemployed and living alone, I isolate and stay status quo on these drugs which have changed so often over the years that I am of the strong belief that we are still in the research mode and basically at the disposal of the pharmaceutical network.
That said, soon I will no longer have my coverage with Affordable Healthcare insurance and am considering limiting the prescribed drugs I take. I know the risks; I know the possible symptoms of withdrawal and at this stage of the illness, seem to just accept my life illness of 64 years. We do not all have to be happy members of the planet.
All that said, before I consult my doctor on my thoughts, I would like to have your second opinion on trazadone. It makes me sleep (I kid you not) 10-12 hours. I halved my 50mg to 25mg to no avail. I do not want dependency…ironically this over sleeping is welcome to escape depression (what an absurd dichotomy). Any thoughts would help. Thanks a million.
I have been taking a very low dosage of Trittico (Trazadone) together with lexapro (only 10gm) for a year due to depression and difficulities in staying asleep. Last week, my doc advised me to quit Trittico (and I am not sure if this counts as “cold turkey” as my usual dosage is already very low.) Once I stopped taking Trittico, I stay awake and feel anxious during the night.
Last night I woke up after 1 & 1/2 hrs sleep and could only fall asleep after taking trittico again. Am glad that I found this site. Having seen all the comments, I do hope that my sleep problem is just one of the withdrawal effect and will be over very soon.
I have been taking Trazodone 100mg for sleep, anxiety and depression for about a year. The last 6 weeks I have been experiencing chronic muscle/joint pain in my shoulders, back, knees, ankles, and I have had shooting nerve pain in my legs as well. My MD ran a battery of blood tests; Rhuematoid Arthritis, Lupus, Lyme’s, Thyroid, Diabetes, Leukemia. All came back negative.
My depression and anxiety have been better and I sleep great, but my physical pain is getting to be severe. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it the Trazadone? If so, how did you wean yourself off and what medication (if any) have you taken in lieu of Trazodone? Please help! Thank you!
I have been taking Trazodone (100mg) with Escitalopram (20mg) to treat a severe depressive episode. I have been prescribed many different brands of antidepressant to get one to work. This was the combination I ended up with, once I was “stable” and have taken this combination for several years. My latest psychiatrist suggested that I come off the Trazadone as “it was only for sleep” and, if my mood went off, it would be difficult to treat me if I was on two antidepressants.
I reduced the dose to 50mg (from 100mg) and took that for a few weeks. When I tried to reduce further with 0mg, I was awake, not for the whole night, but awake. I then, on advice from a pharmacist, split the 50mg capsule mixed in some caster sugar and took half of it nightly. That was ok. So I then reduced to one third, one quarter and then one fifth. Each time, I maintained the new dose for a month.
It was a bit of a plaster, especially on a long weekend away, when I could have been accused of being more than a druggie than I am, with my wrapped up bits of foil containing the daily dose. The nice lady at the Lithium clinic asked how I managed to be on 10mg of Trazadone. I believe one can get liquid Trazadone which can be measured accurately to reduce the dose. I took the last fifth dose on 27th November 2015.
I tried to check if I could sleep without it and I did, not the best night’s sleep, but cause for celebration!! My GP seemed not to know about the trials of getting off Trazadone, but did advise me on caffeine, none after mid-afternoon, no water less than an hour before bed, no TV before bed, no screens either, I have tried with these tactics, still NO TRAZADONE ☺ my sleep remains not bad. I think it may even be improving.
Like Marcy, I have had a lot of leg, calf, joint pain and stiffness after being away two months ago, when a lot of walking was involved. This usually goes away but not this time. Trazadone withdrawal? Or arthritis? There is not a lot of mention of pain in the literature, but with this stuff anything seems possible. Blessings everyone.
I’ve been taking trazadone for about 15 years. My dose is 400mg. I really want to quit and am considering medical marijuana for sleep and anxiety. After reading the info and the remarks, I’m scared to death to try to stop! I’m in my late 60’s and have been very frustrated with the side effects from this drug for a long time. I am mostly fearful of the depression since this is another issue I live with.
Thank goodness I found this site. I thought I was having a heart attack. I have been on Trazadone for about 2 years 100mg per night. I ran out, and cannot get it filled yet. OMG…I feel like my insides are going to shake out of my body. Severe headache, and last night heart palpitations so bad, I thought my chest would explode. I will not refill this again. My dr gave this to me to take with Ambien because I have severe insomnia. I think I would rather go without sleep. It’s been 2 days so far, and I hope this is over with very soon!!!
I have recently stopped taking trazodone after 2 years of use. It was a bit involuntary as my refill ran out & I was looking at a month’s wait to get in with a psychiatrist, so I decided to go ahead and get myself off of it like I planned at the end of this year anyway. I am definitely experiencing all these symptoms, but I practice yoga, and eat relatively healthy.
I am just taking it hour by hour and remaining as hopeful as I can. I have no trouble falling asleep because of the exhaustion, but staying asleep is an issue. My fitbit helps me keep track of how restless I am, and I am currently trying a USDA organic herbal supplement to help me stay asleep.
I have been taking Trazodone for 15 years for insomnia and decided to stop because firstly, it was not that effective anymore for insomnia and secondly, I don’t feel that it can possibly be healthy to take a drug for so long. Also, I was experiencing hair loss and had read that Trazodone could be a cause. Nothing like vanity to get you off a drug you’ve become dependent on!
Over a year, I cut down from 100mg to 25mg with no noticeable issues, but I just could not get past that 25mg mark without significant symptoms of withdrawal. Finally I summoned the courage to go to 12.5mg with the help of an herbal sleep supplement containing Hops flower, L-Theanine, Valerian and Passion flower. I stayed on 12.5mg for several months and just 2 weeks ago went to zero. It’s been rough. Insomnia, anger, crying, sweating.
I understand it can take a full year to recover so I plan to use herbal supplements and even Benadryl for the tough nights. You really have to watch out for doctors and even be willing to change to a new one if they don’t help you. My doctor told me to just stay on it for life and gave me a prescription for Xanax on top of the Trazodone! Xanax is very addictive so I did not use it and am trying a new doctor who is interested in more than just throwing more meds at the situation.
I had a few of the shadow movement episodes, blessedly no head zaps like I had years earlier when discontinuing Wellbutrin, but the insomnia can be terrible. I am starting to dread nighttime just like I did 15 years ago, which drove me to start the Trazodone in the first place. I don’t have any bitterness toward the drug as it did probably save me from suicide due to insomnia and it has helped me get through some bad times.
I think that now that I am willing to go without it I will have to make constructive changes in my life and eliminate as many anxiety triggers as I can and maybe try some yoga and meditation. Also, eliminating carbs and sugar helps people tremendously. Good luck to everyone in this journey!
I started taking Trazodone 4 years ago for depression and to help me sleep. I was taking 300 mg and it did what it was supposed to do, I thought. A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with narcolepsy. I have been on all kinds of medications, but nothing is working. As a last attempt to get my life back I will be starting a drug that does not mix well with Trazodone.
My neurologist is taking me down 50 mgs every 2 weeks. This past Saturday night I am down to 150 mg. I am having many of the same withdrawal symptoms mentioned already, but a couple I didn’t see anyone else have. They may sound trivial, but trust me, they’re not. I find myself clenching my jaw and licking (kind of smacking) my lips.
Please someone tell me they had this too. I feel like I am about to crawl out of my skin, sometimes I just have to get up and move around.
Cheryl, Yes I had both side effects on 25 to 100mg as needed for sleep or daytime panic. The jaw clenching I’m told is bruxism, which destroys your teeth over time. Had no clue why I was doing this and it has not stopped — yet — but it will by God.
Researched trazodone and saw bruxism or jaw clenching can “be treated” by trazodone. Really? That’s bull at least for me. Three nights ago I awoke with two broken back molars; those will cost a fortune to fix. I have other teeth of concern and have had constant jaw pain since about the time I started this I guess.
I’ve always taken great care of my teeth but now I am embarrassed to see my long-time dentist. See your dentist and get a mouth guard and talk to a doctor about this symptom and getting off traz. If I never sleep again, at least I can stay awake all night cursing the blow-hard who sold me on this “sleep med.” Bwahahah!
My bad no doubt, it’s on all of us to research not only our meds but med interactions — not to mention the fools who prescribe them. Best, Lady of the Night
Yes Cheryl the lip smacking and teeth grinding are common side effects of some antidepressants and some antipsychotics. I have it to with the trazodone and am trying to get off of it. My jaw hurts soooo bad since increased the dosage from the pressure on my teeth and it’s very bad for your teeth. Also with some people it doesn’t completely go away even after being off it completely and for awhile.
It is a terrible and embarrassing side effect to have. Now I always look under possible side effects of ant of these type meds and if it says this is a possible side effect I just do not take it. I was on three meds together that do this and it hasn’t completely gone away.
I have taken Trazodone for about 20 yrs. I stopped it because I was getting horrible side effects. Muscle cramping & inability to sit still, etc. so I have to stay awake till 2am till they subside. It happened again last night but I have been off Trazodone for 4 nights? How is this possible? I can’t take it anymore! Thank you.
I was recently forced to stop Trazadone cold turkey after taking a high dose for many years. Any help with withdrawal symptoms? (Feeling faint, like I am outside of my own body, sweats, hot/cold, hyper sensitive to what is going on around me, confusion, shaky, etc.). Getting more is not an option, so trying to wean off instead won’t work.
I started at .25mg ,worked great for the first 10 days. Called the Dr. she told me to up it to .50mg, worked great the first night, not so much the second. Called Dr. back said to up it to .75mg. I took the .75mg did okay. I started to question this drug after all of the ups and downs. One day is too soon to adapt, so I began to think maybe you just have bad nights with it.
For the heck of it, I decided to cut back the .75 to 63.5. Did great, slept fine no withdrawals. Did this for two nights. Last night I decided to cut back to .50mg, slept excellent 7-8 hours of sleep. Still no withdrawals. I am going on night 4. Now i know it’s a bit early to determine any withdrawals, but so far so good. I am going to cut back to .25mg next week.
I feel for all who have posted comments and how hard to get off Trazodone. I did it “cold turkey”, it was very horrible…it has been 6 weeks, and finally feeling better. I don’t recommend doing it the way I did. Any comments?
I currently have taken trazodone for…maybe 2 years? I am 17 years of age and if you are considering trazodone: PLEASE PLEASE do not use it unless you have no other choice. I am only on 50 MG for sleep and OCD, and missing even one small dose sends me into the hospital with digestive havoc and a heart that feels ready to fly away. PLEASE don’t take trazodone unless you really, really have no options! You’ll very quickly begin to need it to stay functional at all.
I have been on Trazodone for several years, ending up at 100mg nightly. I ran out of my script and haven’t been able to get to the pharmacy for my refill. I’m on day 3 without it, will be night 4 tonight. I’ve had some withdrawals, sweating a major one-also been feeling like I’m not myself. Like I’m dreaming but it’s my real life. A little dizziness, but not that bad. I’ve slept fine, so far. I might just tough it out another night or so and see how I’m feeling then. Trazodone is not the only anti depressant/anti anxiety medicine I take so maybe that’s why I’m not having very severe withdrawal symptoms?
I have been taking Traz for years, and for me it a wonder drug! Not only do I sleep, but my anxiety is gone, gone gone! of course there are withdrawals if you stop taking it, just like if you stop coffee or sugar. I recently had to stop taking it because I had to take Azithromycin (can cause heart arrhythmia if taken together) and am going through some sweats, but don’t know if it’s my bronchitis or withdrawal. Any way, will return to my Traz as soon as possible. I know the benefits for me, and it has been awesome!
I moved to a new apartment 2 weeks ago, and haven’t been able to find my bottle of trazodone. Going through terrible withdrawals. I’ve been taking 300 mg at night for a long time. I haven’t had any for the last three nights. I’m feeling very edgy & antsy, am sweaty, among other things. I’ve been doubling up on another medication at night in order to sleep. It worked the 1st two nights, but was awake for most of last night. I’m not able to get a refill for 2 more days. Don’t know what I’m going to do until then. So, I hope no one goes cold turkey off this medicine. If you’re thinking about it, DON’T DO IT.
Was prescribed 50mg/day for insomnia (along with Zoloft for depression). Took first dose Friday night, took dose Saturday night and Sunday night. Had such terrible abdominal and back pain along with unexpected menstrual bleeding that I decided this was not the drug for me. Took 3/4 dose Monday night and 1/2 dose Tuesday night. It is now Wednesday and I’m having withdrawal: shaking, headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Only 5 days on this stuff at a low dose! Never again. I’ve been dealing with insomnia for 15 years. I can deal with it another 15.
I have been on it for a year. Low dose. But quit 15 days ago. I take Tryptophan at night to sleep, and Tyrosine in the morning 500mg. And it has helped me to wake up and feel fresh and sleep well. I also take rhodiola in the early afternoon to give myself a lift in mood. Best thing I did was quit trazadone. I was very tired the first 10 days and especially the first week. I slept most of the week. I had a mild headache in the morning once but that was when I did not take tryptophan to sleep.
This will help to ease the transition but best to cut down bit by bit and be ready for feelings of hopelessness, numbness, and not really caring when cutting off trazadone cold turkey and realize it’s just the transition. I bought most of my supplements from iHerb. I buy from the NOW brand. If you take the time to read all the feedbacks you will find out how to help yourself as many people there also struggle with depression, insomnia and anxiety. Best thing I did was get off the chemicals. Oh yes a little paranoia and irritability in the first week especially, but mostly just tiredness and lethargy. Hope this helps. Good luck and blessings everyone.
I have attempted to get off trazadone at least 4 times without success, experiencing many of the withdrawal effects listed in this article. I noticed that the worst side effect was inability to sleep longer than an hour and a half which had terrible physical consequences. This time, I am using marijuana (legally), eating a small cookie with very strong Indica strain pot in them. I am having some withdrawal, but because I can actually sleep 6 hours without interruption, I am able to handle the emotionality etc. I am completely off the trazadone now and hope to one day not have to take the marijuana either (taken at bedside as I go to sleep).
Have been on 200mg Traz for about 14 years for depression/anxiety but mostly for insomnia. It’s been helpful in giving me full nights of sleep. Learned early on that if I wake up with super anxiety & brain zaps at 3am, that I’ve forgotten my dose & quickly take the missed dose & feel better within an hour. But just had night & full day without it by mistake & had constant anxiety, mind & body zapping, depersonalization, shakiness & crying. Am back on it & want to reduce eventually but can’t deal with the ramifications right now so will stay on it but always keep an emergency supply in my purse. It’s like a friend I can’t quite trust.
What is shocking is that nowhere in the patient advice leaflet or in the doctor’s formulary does it warn of these effects or any withdrawal effects of Trazodone. Moreover my Consultant has told me it encourages development of and masks early Alzheimer’s. I was told to quit my 300mg a night by 100mg a week! Yellow card this everyone in the UK. Get it reported, yellow card is the only way. Ask your GP or pharmacist, the card with your side effects goes to the regulator and the manufacturer.
My doctor prescribed these to me several years ago @ 75mg for insomnia. I was taking other sleeping pills also that were prescribed by the same Dr. which I stopped and went through severe withdrawal. I’m not sure why he had me on so many different sleep meds at the same time but thanks to a drug test at work, he started weaning me immediately. I decided to get off this last medication that I was taking as well-cold turkey on 4/20/15.
I’ve had many of the withdrawal symptoms described above – I was only getting 4-6 hours sleep with the 75mg and now only getting 1 1/2 hours of sleep. I’m itching on arms and legs and upper middle of back and often on my face too. I wake up after only 1 1/2 hours of sleep – severely nauseous and I’m already 21 days off the 75mg. It was helpful seeing this article and finding that withdrawal can cause so many symptoms. I was starting to think I had some type of autoimmune disorder.
I’m not sure why all the comments on here warning people about the drug when most people reading these posts are trying or already coming off the drug. I’m praying I don’t have much longer to go on my withdrawal period. I’m definitely not ever going to take this medication again. Thanks everyone for sharing their experience and thanks so much for this article!!
I have been taking trazodone 200 MG at night for depression, sleeplessness, and anxiety for over a year. I recently ran out of my script on Saturday come Monday I was horribly sick. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong till it dawned on me maybe I was withdrawing from Trazodone I came across this site and contacted my Dr. I do not recommend this medication for anyone. had I known this in the beginning I would have not began taking it.
Starting Sunday I started feeling tired, headache, and night sweats. Come Monday I has a full blown migraine that was untreatable with OTC meds, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweats, dizzy, so tired I could not get out of bed, I also felt like I was floating with clouded mind couldn’t think straight. It was the most uncomfortable feeling I’ve ever felt in my life! I called my doctor Tuesday morning and he immediately sent a refill to my pharmacy I then came home took 100mg slept 4 hours woke up better. Still had diarrhea, nausea, very tired, light headache.
Slept Tuesday night took 200 MG and now it’s Wednesday morning feeling much better. I will be talking to my Dr about this medication at my next appointment and why I wasn’t advised of these horrible side effects! I will do my own research before starting any new medication from now on! If you are fairly new to this medication I beg you to please get off of it while you can, I don’t wish these withdrawal symptoms on my worst enemy, being on Lortab for 3 years withdrawal from those were nothing compared to what I have went through with Trazodone! BEWARE!
I was hoping for some positive encouragement but why does no one ever post anything encouraging!!! I’ve been on trazadone for 15 year. Upped my dose to 300 when we had 4 bereavements in one year. Four years later I want to return to a lower dose. Am tapering according to my doctors instructions, I feel a bit jittery but I’m hoping this will pass. I’m determined to reduce my dose so I feel a bit more with it during the day and be able to wake up earlier. Good luck everyone, let’s try and be positive.
Positive? I took this drug at 500mgs for 12 years. Coming off of it has been nothing but pure hell for me. It worked for me when I needed it, but its kicking my butt now.
I’ve been off trazodone, for all most two months, and I’m about to go crazy not being able to sleep. Now I’m so stressed out, I don’t know what to do. I was taking trazodone for over five years. I pray to God that I can get some sleep soon.
I have quit taking trazadone. I have been on it a year this time. I am at 50mg. I am on day 4 and so far no side effects. If I get anxiety in the middle of the night or can’t sleep I am using Medical cannabis for my symptoms. it seems to help.
I was on trazodone for 15 yrs (100 mg) for sleep and was willing to accept feeling sluggish during the day in order to sleep at night. After so many years of being on it I actually wondered if it was more of a placebo than anything else. Was it just in my head that I had to take it in order to relax and fall asleep? So, I weaned myself off. The first week that I was completely trazodone free my sleep was a bit more interrupted, but nothing I couldn’t tolerate.
The big bonus? Just knowing I didn’t have to take it anymore. It’s very freeing. I still feel like celebrating. As far as other physical symptoms? I honestly didn’t have any. Not to say that everyone will be like me, but for me most of it was in my head. Believing that I needed it, believing that I would have terrible withdrawal if I didn’t take it. Changing those beliefs opened the door to actually doing it without much struggle. Good luck to all.
I have been on trazodone for 20 years. I started taking it because of insomnia. I have been on it for so long it doesn’t work any longer. My dose has been 200 mgs at bed time. I tried to stop taking it cold turkey. Within two missed doses I began having severe headaches. My scalp started to insanely itch all of the time. Then my hair started to fall out. It was frightful. I was scarred and started to fall apart. Then I realized all this was happening because I stopped taking Trazodone cold Turkey. I have now started to take 150 mg tablets with no side effects. I will stay on this dose for a couple of weeks before I drop down to 100 mgs and then to 50mg and so on.
I was prescribed Trazodone (75 mg at night for sleep) and found that two 25 mg was enough. The thing I experienced was weird dreams. I decided that it wasn’t worth it and quit. I didn’t notice withdrawal, but I’m sure I had some depression and still had sleep issues. I now just stay up as late as possible and go to sleep when I body relaxes naturally. Thank God I didn’t experience the terrible withdrawal.
I took this medication for 30 days and cut cold turkey because I didn’t notice any improvement other than sleep. It has been a living nightmare 2 weeks now with 3 migraines in the middle of the night to the point I’m crying in pain, and taking imitrex non-stop to have any relief. During the day I’m fine but once night hits, it’s a total different story. I regret ever putting this drug in my body. NIGHTMARE!
I took 200 mg of trazodone for three years for migraines. I went from nearly disabled with a migraine every day (in danger of losing my job) to only a mild headache once a month. To me it’s been a miracle. I had no life until I went on it. All I did was try to control my migraines. Last week I made the big mistake of going cold turkey because I want to get pregnant soon and have a safer alternative treatment coming up. The migraines came back after three days and I couldn’t function. So, I’m going back on it and letting my psych tell me how to taper. I’m willing to delay a baby by a few months in order to be a healthy, migraine-controlled mother. Here’s hoping!
I have been on Trazodone for quite a few years and have been trying to withdraw. Today the symptoms were so severe that I threw in the towel. Your note prompted me to write. After all the withdrawal, what actual symptoms will I be left with. I am not certain that the withdrawal is worth it. Again the key is what does a Trazodone free free Lynette look like? At this point it’s not worth the trade off.
I have been on trazodone for 9yrs for sleep and didn’t realize it was an antidepressant. I thought it was only a sleeping aid. However, when it finally dawned on me what trazodone was I started weaning off from 200mg to 25mg every 5 weeks since Sept/14. I’m now down to 25mg and Feb 20/15 I’ll go down to 12.5mg until I’m completely off by Mar 27/15.
I’ve been experiencing withdrawals i.e. shortness of breath, heart palpitations, feelings of sadness, non-suicidal negative thoughts, unexplained pain in different areas of my body that comes and goes, fear, anxiety, etc. After reading comments on this site I can relate and feel more relaxed that it’s only withdrawals from trazodone and will pass. I’ve been controlled by this drug because I have arthritis and couldn’t sleep because of pain. Since I’ve been doing exercises, eating healthy and feeling great, I want to be drug free so decided I really can sleep without taking pills.
I will try and decrease the other medication of Tylenol 3’s as soon as I’m off trazodone. I’m 76 and fortunate that’s all the medication I take right now anyway. To all who are suffering the consequences of decreasing or getting completely off of trazodone (or any other addictive medication), I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavors.
Was on trazodone 50mg for 3 days… and have stopped cold turkey now for 3 days… I am experiencing double vision at a distance and I never know when it is going to occur. It has happened while driving, so I had to close one eye… not safe. I drink a lot of water and urinate a lot and am trying to detox. I hope this subsides soon. I will never take it again – would rather get little sleep than to go through this again.
I’ve been taking this for a little more than 10 years, and its been a Godsend. I don’t sleep for days, then crash at inopportune times. My life changed so beautifully once I started taking it. Now, I feel trapped, imprisoned. I’m one of the few that have to take it on a completely empty stomach, not easy for someone with hypoglycemia. Also I’ve noticed it’s numbing me – and in being in a new relationship, I’m not happy with that at all! On the other hand, I have no pain tolerance without it.
My detox is so different from others here. I tremble and shudder, a nervous disaster. Light is excruciating, as are noises. I’ve gone from 200 mg, to 150, 100, and will be taking 50 soon. I dread it, sweats are no fun in January. (A alternative I’m consuming lavender tea-strong. I warn you its awful, but it works).
I have been on this drug for 30 days. When it was prescribed I was told it was “just a pill to help me sleep”. That is one of many things it didn’t do! I was put on 25mg then raised to 50. When I woke up the morning after the 50mg dose I shook all day long so I was told to go back to 25mg. Now I’m trying to get off this completely. Have cut the 25mg in half. I was at the doctors and became VERY angry for no reason. It dawned on me it might be a withdrawal system so I went looking.
Guess what I found? This website. Please don’t take this wrong but it’s a relief to see I’m not alone. Some of the other symptoms I have had with this drug are bad leg cramps. So much so that at night before bed I take Pain meds and rub them down with Icy Hot. Having heart palpitations and shaking. Hoping in a week or so to be off completely but will see. This stuff is awful stay away. Good luck to all trying to get off this.
I took this drug for 6 days. I went from 50mg to 100mg after three days. I’m now experiencing major sudden drops in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension), nausea, terrible headache that won’t subside, dizziness sitting and/or standing, sweating profusely, vivid dreams etc. I hate this medication. It was prescribed to me for sleep. I am also taking celexa. What a scary 4 days I have experience. As of last night night I’m no longer taking this medication. Do your research, it’s not worth feeling like you’re going to die.
Hi, I am visiting my parents and found out 2 days ago that my Dad was prescribed Trazodone by his doctor to help him sleep. He was on it for 22 days and he decided to quit taking it on Nov. 26, he was sleeping so hard that his loud snoring was keeping my mom up. He is 79 and didn’t remember the doctors warning to consult with him if he ever decided to stop taking the drug, there was never any mention of the terrible side effects!
He started feeling bad 4 days later, or maybe just toughed it out with family in town. He has had some mild symptoms compared to what he could have experienced had he been on a higher dosage, 50mg, and just the 22 days he was on it. I can’t believe doctors actually prescribe such addictive drugs! I am trying to help and he doesn’t want to taper off since he has already reached day 6 of his withdrawal.
He didn’t want to go back on it but now I worry that he will have more severe symptoms due to his age or have them for a longer period of time. If he tapers off the drug will he still have bad withdrawal symptoms or is it best to just help him through the withdrawals he is experiencing now- weakness, headaches, disorientation, insomnia, anxiety. Please help! I am weary of going back to the doctor as she wants him to get back on the medicine and then do a gradual tapering for another month.
Been taking trazodone 150 for the last 2 years for anxiety/panic disorder. I wanted to stop taking so DR recommended I drop down to 100mg. I did that and didn’t even notice. Couldn’t get my prescription a couple of weeks ago and was away for the weekend so went Fri/Sat/Sun with no meds. When I returned to work on the Monday I was OK but feeling on edge/anxious. this passed and the first week to ten days were (what I thought was) fine. Just over 2 weeks now and it hit me like I never imagined.
Don’t feel like myself, negative thoughts anxiety at top level, headaches (which I never get). I feel very low, although I am trying very hard. I do have some 150mg pills in the house although I am trying very hard not to go back on them. Thought I’d comment here and see if anybody has an idea how long this could last? I maybe should have made the effort to go to 50mg instead of cold turkey.
Go down slowly, don’t quit cold turkey. I went down from 100 to 50 and I went off for 3 days now. Was fine until today, think I will take 25 mg for a month. I feel like crying, anxious, tightening of chest. I hate this, I hope going down to 25 mg helps.
I feel for both of you, I too get anxiety, chest pain, tired and a long list of other symptoms, been a month tapering trazodone from 200 to 125. Sleeping better but my brain function is my main concern. Feel like I’m losing it most days with disorientation, wobbly feeling, headaches just to name a few. It scares me some days and think do I have a tumor or is it withdrawal symptoms.
Anyone else having problems with this. Mostly I try and stay positive but it’s draining to keep hoping it’s going get better. I was also on ativan for years and did a very slow taper over a year from 2 mg/ day, been off 5 months and wonder if it’s that too…I send my best wishes to you. Blessings.
Taking trazadone 150 to 300 for 7 years for insomnia. I am a family practice doctor. If I don’t take the medicine I usually stay awake and mentally alert all night long. Comes with the territory – having been a busy MD for decades. When able, I try to ween and then come off it as I am 63 years old and would rather not take sleeping medicine. Recently, after a couple days of not taking it, I got depressed anxious nauseated and dizzy with unexplained headaches.
This had never happened exactly like this before so it caught me off guard! Also I did not like being around people. Luckily I was on a Holiday break. (And this was after carefully weaning down to 50 milligrams.) As I have not ever prescribed trazadone to my patients, I sort of was not very knowledgeable about the withdraw possibilities. Anyhow I got so confused I forgot that I was having withdrawal and considered going to the ER because I was so unsettled. Then, as I couldn’t sleep I took a hundred milligrams, the next day I was miraculously 100% normal.
So, I reached this website and realized I had been having a fairly common trazodone withdrawal. Please don’t feel bad if this has happened to you, as it can even happen to a very knowledgeable and experienced family doctor. The nature of the drug is that for some reason different people have different withdrawal symptoms and it doesn’t always happen. It is inexplicable to my medical mind. I would be happy to answer any emails… hope you are better soon.
Thank you for your very honest post here, it gives me encouragement on my WD of trazodone. I WD from years of ativan, very slow tapering and off 5 months now. It was not easy but honestly is was not terrible either. The trazodone from 200 mg for 2 years, wanted me to cut back due to extreme brain fog and disorientation – in one month I’m at 125 mg and sleeping better than on 200 mg. I’m dreaming more normal and coping not bad except for what I call my “brain thing”. It’s a hard road but having a clean life, support, and finding new coping strategies it is possible. So please don’t give up or give in to thinking it’s impossible. God bless you and your right to a good life.
Read your message. I’m currently on 200 mgs. of Trazadone and have just started tapering off 10%. I plan on doing that over the next year. I’ve had a little withdrawal from tapering but not persistent. I found a website called The Road Back. It promotes a host of natural supplements to work with tapering off psychoactive drugs and a long book on what to do.
I would like to follow that so that I don’t endure all the symptoms associated with tapering and being off the drug. I have taken Trazadone for about 8 years for insomnia. I do not have depression nor did I. I need to find an alternative to help me sleep. Wondering whether it’s the blood pressure medication that keeps me up. Prior to taking that medication, I slept fine. I welcome your thoughts.
Hi I’m also 63 yrs old and my PCP had me stop the medicine and go cold Turkey yesterday. I was on 300 for the last 25 years using it for sleep. In Dec, I decide to wean down to 250 for many reasons. In the last three month I’ve been having those symptoms but I thought I was crazy. Now that my PCP has stopped me cold, I’m scared and don’t know where to turn.
When I tried to explain that I need to be weaned off he said no. Cold Turkey it and I’ll be fine. I’m NOT fine. I don’t want to take it but I have no support systems to help me. To take or not to take it?
I was prescribed trazodone by my sleep Doctor. I usually go to sleep fine then wake up with panic anxiety and depression so severe I do not want to be here. I have been afraid to take any. Keith, are you still taking it? Is it working? Would you take it again? What do you recommend? I am 70. Go to therapy weekly. Work the twelve steps. Thanks, Joe
Hi Doug Keith, wondering how you are now doing, whether you’re off the Trazodone completely. I’ve been on it for over 12 years and want off, 200 mgs. I plan on doing a very slow taper over a long period of time to minimize w/d symptoms. Are severe w/d symptoms inevitible even with a graduated taper over a long period?
Unfortunately even with a slow taper you can experience withdrawal. I was on 150mg for 20 plus years. Withdrew with medical guidance and still after having no medication for two months now I am suffering. Irritability, insomnia, sweats, moody and now wondering if I’m depressed.
Seriously average about 2 hours of sleep at night so that could cause the moodiness. Almost ready to start again as this is miserable. For anyone with a physician that cuts you off cold turkey know this is negligence!
I’m 62 and have been on trazodone for 17 years. I want to get off but I don’t know how. I had food poisoning and unable to take it for 2 days thus far. I’m having migraine type headaches, can’t sleep, pain in my lower back, and some sweating. This experience has sent off alarms in my body. I don’t want to be a slave to this drug. I tried to quit before and after having a rough time, I went back and was back 100% like you. In the 3 years since your post, what has been your experience and I’m open to any suggestions.
Trazodone is the work of the Devil! DO NOT take this drug. I was prescribed Trazodone 150mg (1 tablet) for moderate anxiety and the fact I wasn’t sleeping because of it. Initially, I felt fine, although I felt no benefit other than I got a better nights sleep but then after 5 months my doctor increased my dose to 2 x 100mg tablets a day and within a week I started with pricking skin all over. So after another visit to my doctor she put me on a 4 day rapid reduction program to take me off Trazodone altogether and since then (7 weeks and counting) the pricking skin has eased but I still get pricking in my legs particularly in my knees (sometimes with a rash). This hopefully will disappear overtime but for someone who is physically fit and healthy but suffers with health anxiety it just fuels the fire. Psychiatrist’s/GP’s are too quick to get unsuspecting patients on antidepressants when the way forward is talking therapy. Beware! uncomfortable withdrawal side effects.
I’m in the withdrawal, still dizzy and trouble with balance stage. I took this drug for 15 years for depression from moving house. It made me sleep but now in my seventies these symptoms have hit me like an express train. Like most other people, I wish he had just listened to me and said it would fix itself!
I did not know what Trazadone was until my Dr. prescribed it at the hospital to help me sleep. I took it for 10 days (about 75 mg each day) and could not understand why, in addition to the extreme anxiety that had put me in the hospital, I was not experiencing things I had never gone through before–shaking all over, trouble walking alone, always dizzy, trapped in my body, covered in hives, etc. I asked my drs why all these symptoms and no one suggested Trazadone.
They just said I was reacting the the awful stress I had been through. Finally, my son said he thought I was reacting to Trazadone–all my symptoms fit the description. Now I am going through the withdrawal phase. So horrible! It has been 12 days since I took Trazadone and still I am very disabled. The scary thing is that my dr still won’t admit that all my misery is related to the medication. He says that I am just crazy.
But if that is true, why have a held down a very reputable job and I am respected in my church and community. This whole experience has really caused me to question my sanity and everything I thought was real about the world. Thank you for providing this forum for me to find others who are going through this same nightmare. God bless us all.
Kathleen – First of all, get a new doctor, preferably one that has some understanding of what withdrawal from some antidepressants can be like. Perhaps a psychiatrist. If it helps, I had been taking trazodone at 25mg for about 9 weeks. Since it makes me dizzy whether I take it or not, my doctor told me to just stop taking it altogether. I’m having a bit of trouble with dizziness, but have resolved to get through it. I am seeing a psychiatrist in a couple of weeks and I’m sure he’ll have a better understanding of trazodone and perhaps some ideas on what a person can do to lessen the withdrawal side-effects. Find a knowledgeable doctor and don’t give up. You’ll get through this. In my view, trazodone is a terrible drug that should not be given to anyone.
I have been taking trazodone for 20 years. I have been trying to come off of it for the past 3 months. I also take Prozac, librium and a small dose of xanax daily. Trazodone was originally prescribed for sleep. I’ve had vivid nightmares for a long time. They were getting more intense. That’s why I want to stop trazodone. I can fall asleep for around 2 hours and then have a hard time going back to and staying asleep.
I have lost 14 pounds. I also have ulcerative colitis with constipation, take iron twice a week for anemia. Now I’ve cut the trazodone to 20 mlg a night, no more constipation. Still can’t sleep more than 2 to 3 hrs a night. Please offer advice. I want to stop trazodone and never take it again. I don’t know what to do.
Some iron pills can cause constipation. Time-release iron pills are better. I suffered from constipation from the age of 6 until my mid-30’s. I also would get anemic or borderline, so my doctor would prescribe a nasty tasting black-brown liquid iron med I had to take until I was 12, then was prescribe capsule iron med.
Now looking back I think the iron med might have been part of the cause of my constipation back then. In the 1950’s-1970’s perhaps doctor’s didn’t know Iron could cause constipation. I take all natural Unprocessed Bran a couple of teaspoons to tablespoons when needed, if I start getting a bit constipated. I take it straight, chew it up & drink a glass of water.
It can also be used in yogurt, fruit smoothies, protein shakes, mixed in meat loaf, meatballs. Unprocessed bran can be found at health food stores. Is about $4 – $6 in about a 9 ounce bag. Keep refrigerated so it doesn’t go rancid. It is better than taking OTC meds which has chemicals in it for constipation.
Always remember to never stop prescription meds cold turkey. It is important to wean off slowly with your doctor’s instructions. Best wishes.
Lynne – It sounds like you should continue to do a slow tapering like your psychiatrist recommended. And maybe she can help you a little with the anxiety until you are totally withdrawn from the trazodone.
I also wanted to thank “Gloom” for this article. It has been so helpful to me withdrawing from trazodone. Thank you so much!!
I was taking Trazodone for several years at about 15omg every night. In May 2014 a psychiatrist told me that I was not depressed but that I was grieving for my lost marriage (it fell apart December 2013). With her support I started coming off all the drugs I was taking, and had got down to 50mg of Trazodone when I stopped it.
Wow. I have the shakes, terrible fits of crying, nausea, a pain in my solar plexus. I can’t sleep, I feel suicidal, and that my little business will fail, and me and my cat will be on the streets within a matter of months. I really, really hope this is going to stop sometime soon. The anxiety fills me with fear and paranoia, and any shred of self belief has left the building! Not sure how long I can go on not taking it…
I am so glad to see that someone else experienced the pain. My back ribcage hurt so bad that I thought I had a kidney infection. I took it at 25mg for 7 years for insomnia. I am on day 3 of withdrawal and I had to stop cold turkey after my doctor refused to fill my Rx. Not sure why but I am changing doctors. I think if I can cope with this I will not take it anymore. I have to say that I relied on essential oils (lavender & vetiver on my feet at bedtime) to stay asleep but mostly I lifted my anxiety up to God and asked for a miracle. I have been blessed so far.
Lynne did your symptoms subside?
I had a horrible pain in my right mid abdomen. Thought I pulled a muscle from lifting. It hurt so bad I had to bend over to walk. I thought I had the flu as I had chills, sweats and fever. I was off trazodone for 4 days.
I had taken 50mg at night for 25 years. Tapering down to 25mg now, and then to 12.5. I am taking my body and mind back from several antidepressants, and this drug is the worst. Good luck everybody.
Lynne, I was reading your comments from September 2014. I hope this finds you in good health and mood. I agree with every comment I’ve read about Trazodone. It is a godsend for some and a pure hell for others. My doctor started me on only 50mgs to help me with insomnia and PTSD. I took it for just 1 month and I decided I wasn’t taking it anymore. The withdrawals were hell however, I’m glad I stopped that drug.
I’m feeling much better after 2 weeks and I feel my life is returning to normal from the side effects and withdrawals. I am no doctor but I’d recommend everyone read up on the drug before they start it and immediately question the doctor or go for a second opinion. I really pray you and your cat are doing well.
I took Trazodone for many years (10+) to help me sleep. It worked for me, and I didn’t notice any particular side effects. This past month my doctor refused to refill the prescription. I didn’t see her, the pharmacy faxed over the refill request and she denied it. I am in the third week of withdrawal. This has been horrible.
Headache, ridiculous sweating, itching, mood swings, nausea, disorientation, and generally feeling like I am living in an alternate universe. I am seeing another doctor today to see if I can get help with this, but I will never take Trazodone again. Even through all this I feel some lifting of a grogginess that followed the kind of sleep I had with the drug. I really think our obsession with getting a drug for every problem is harming our lives.
If you are thinking about taking trazodone: DONT! It’s the devil. Horrible withdrawal, the worst I have ever experienced! I went cold turkey off 25 mg and I went through withdrawal all day today. I experienced: nausea, headaches, disorientation, and ‘foggy brain’… I felt like crap all day I had to leave work early and go to bed. I slept for 2 hours and I just woke up I feel a little better now physically, but my brain is still kinda foggy.
I weaned down over a 6 month time span from 100 mg. I had been taking it for 18 months. I tried to quit cold turkey off 100 mg but I DON’T recommend that. I am also in recovery from alcohol and drugs and let me tell you, the withdrawal from trazodone was worse than my withdrawal from heroin. So I hope that anyone that reads this and wants to quit cold turkey from a high dose re-thinks what they are doing!
I took traz for about 2 years do to panic attacks. Panic attacks were horrible to the point of my hands locking. I been off for about 3 weeks still having withdrawals. Dizzy, nauseous, headaches and tired. Mood swings ?. My poor kids are dealing with all this. I hope next week will be better. I also withdrew from Celexa.
I too took myself off of celesta/Trazadone I am going through hell. I agree heroin withdrawal was far easier then these Medes. I am fucking mad, no one told me about withdrawal. When someone is put on a new medication anyone for that matter. INFORM them of withdrawal symptoms, we are so focused on symptoms while taking the drug let’s discuss also what happens if I decide to end treatment of these medications. I AM F*CKING MAD this is my life. Pharmaceutical company’s are advertising all kinds of meds. Please do your research before going on anything…
I have used Trazodone 100mg at night for almost 20 years. So I am trying to taper off… tonight first night to cut down to 50mg. Doctor says I am totally dependent on this medication and need to taper down. She did not tell me anything about withdrawal symptoms. I hope that Melatonin could replace the Trazodone…
Melatonin has its own problems. Leaves one very dizzy and tired, while not really providing good sleep. I hope you find relief.
Topical magnesium is a great help for sleep. I also recommend B-complex supplements.
I am in the same situation. Trazodone withdrawal has been a nightmare. Worse than alcohol, benzos, and oxy. The off label prescribing of Trazodone should be stopped, and Drs are negligent when it comes to educating themselves and their patients of the consequences of taking this drug.
I can’t believe your Dr. Would be so unprofessional as to let you go cold turkey off trazodone!!! Very dangerous IMO. I was on pristiq for years and started feeling like a zombie so I weaned myself off. It was a horrible 3 months. After about another 3 months I found I wasn’t handling my depression (from chemical imbalance, also genetics) went to my doctor.
He started me on 100mg trazodone and I did well on it but seemed to plateau after about 6 months. He raised me to 150mg and I honestly feel the same. My depression is manageable but I still have no motivation and could feel better. After the pristiq issues, I refuse to go up in dosage, but know I’m unable to manage my depression on my own… now all of a sudden, after taking the 150mg of trazodone for about 5 weeks, I’m feeling nauseous about 20 minutes after taking it and I feel weird, like I’m having head, stomach and chest “tingles”…hard to explain.
Won’t be seeing my Dr for awhile. Not sure if I should go back to 100mgs… but Katherine your doctor was horrible to do that to you. I’d get a new Dr that cared about my well being.
You should only take it at night before going to bed. Only at night. I can hardly stand straight when taking it, and get so nauseous. I am trying to go off it now, but now I am so tired in the day, I can hardly get up, or work. Vision is also bad…not nice.
I was prescribed this as a replacement for ambien with my doctor calling it in for me. I take partial blame that I didn’t research it before taking it. I was looking up side effects and realized it was an anti-depressant. My dr not once mentioned that this was primarily an anti-depressant and did not understand why I was so upset about this because they commonly use this as a sleep aid. I am not depressed in any way, or at least I wasn’t until I started taking this. I can’t believe how many side effects I had from taking this for 2.5 weeks and one of them was still not being able to sleep.
I feel that my doctor should have at least mentioned that it was an anti-depressant. I would never have taken it because I’ve taken them before (10 years ago for a short period of time for situational depression) and know how I react to them and how I react when coming off of them.
I am furious about this.
I surely don’t blame you for feeling furious. I am weaning off Trazodone, now. I’m thinking of going “cold turkey” off 25mg.
I know this thread is really old but how did your “cold turkey” off of 25 mg go? I am down to 25 mg from 50 (feeling so wonky the next day still). I only took 50 mg for about a month, and it’s crazy that I moved to 25 mg and still having horrible side effects. I just wondered if I could go ahead and try being off of it completely…
Hi. Yes, Traz is essentially classified as an anti-depressant with properties to help people sleep. I took Traz for more than 25 years and recently quit. Sadly, docs told me that this drug was not addictive—but that is not at all truthful. It is habit forming and causes one to be very dependent upon it for sleep.
I have not taken Trazodone for approximately one month and am currently experiencing sweats, chills, ongoing itching and insomnia. I tapered the doses gradually because it is safer. It is not safe to go ‘cold turkey’. Personally, I am trying alternative methods for sleep until this drug is completely out of my system. I am now beginning a juice fast to (hopefully) expedite this poison from my body.
Consider plant based foods, teas, meditation and juices. I wish you well with this endeavor. Pharmaceutical companies would prefer that the human race use their products but I know better, now. Good luck. Peace.
Hi Patti, wondering how you are now doing? I’ve been on Trazodone for years and want to taper, will be doing so extremely slowly, no rush and hoping not to have significant w/d symptoms by doing this. Any recommendations or advice would be helpful!
I just went through something similar. I’m very sorry your doctor didn’t tell you. I had horrible past experiences with antidepressants years ago also and refuse to take them now as an adult. I even explained this to my doctor in my first meeting with her because after twenty minutes she was trying to prescribe me antidepressants without running tests or anything. I am not depressed, I don’t feel as if I have a chemical imbalance in my brain either.
After telling my doctor my opinion on this she still prescribed me trazodone, and I took it as I have commonly seen it used for sleep while working in health care facilities. I also can’t believe I didn’t research it more, but I really can’t believe a doctor would prescribe that to a patient who just specifically told them that they did not want to take that kind of medication.
I’m utterly pissed and currently going through withdrawal after only two weeks of taking it. I hope this doesn’t last much longer, but I am contacting my clinic tomorrow and requesting a new doctor. I needed help not more issues. Good luck with your recovery from this…
I too am going through withdrawal after being on this for more than 5 years. I can tell you now it is not easy. I hope to get completely off of it soon. I have found that drinking cold ice-water helps the nausea and sweating. Also, Camomile tea helps relax.
Doctors repeatedly prescribe medicine without fully knowing the drug. Happens everyday. I just went through severe withdraw from the drug…ended up in the ER and they had no clue either.
I stopped taking Trazodone two days ago after taking 100 mg per night for one month. My son died three days after starting the drug so at first I thought it was a godsend because I was sleeping well during the awful first three weeks of grief. Suddenly I started having muscle twitching, anxiety, vomiting and sweating. I decided to never take another one yet I got no sleep last night and I am anxious and crying non stop. I am grieving and going through withdrawal at the same time. I’m such an idiot for ever trying this drug!
Don’t blame yourself for ending up on this drug. A similar thing happened to me after a bereavement. I’ve been on it for 18 years now! It’s the doctors and psychiatric community who are to blame. I’m looking into safe ways to free myself from this trap. I’m sure it can be done.
I feel your pain, I got on this drug after my mother died horrible to sleep. Three years later I’m on it and can’t get off of it. The Dr. told me it was not addictive, the minute I cut it, I start to have sleep disorders. It should be on the list of bad drugs…
I have been taking trazodone for only a few weeks and had a very horrible experience with the drug. I took 100mg as opposed to the 50 to go to bed and the next day I experienced horrible horrible withdrawals including severe disorientation. This included having trouble walking to the restroom at work and focusing on the computer monitor. Though my symptoms have lifted up today is the 3rd day without taking the drug and I still have trouble walking straight and depth perception.
I really want this to go away! I can’t believe I took this to go to sleep without properly researching this medication. How long will I suffer these symptoms? I refuse to taper or continue use of this drug. What a nightmare. I do not have any psychological problems at all; but I did experience mild shadow hallucinations while withdrawing from this drug; shadows moving or that didn’t exist. My eyes also wanted to move left and right frequently the first day off of the drug.
Good grief! I hope you are better! Consider taking a fraction of your original dose whenever you are having withdrawals. Your nervous system was in chaos.
I was on trazodone for a year and a half. I just recently started weaning of and am currently free of the drug. I think the withdrawal is easier than the drug itself. I saw those shadow movements regularly while on trazodone, scared the crap out of me. I will never recommend it to anyone. My withdrawal symptoms included tons of vomiting. I couldn’t feel anything on it, and I finally feel like myself again. You will be fine, it is better you go off it.
I was on trazodone for three and a half years hundred fifty milligrams down to 100 milligrams down to 50 quit cold at 50 milligrams. After three days with nothing I started to experience severe withdrawal. So I decided to go back up to 50mgs. and taper off gradually I did 12 and a half milligrams taper every 2 months taper now I’m at 0 and have been for a little over a week no withdrawals able to sleep but still very depressed at times. Does anyone have any input to how long the symptoms stay in your body? Is it weeks? Months? Years after your last dose?