Trazodone (Systemic)
Brand Names : Desyrel
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For trazodone, the following
should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to trazodone. Also tell your health care professional if
you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or
dyes.
Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in pregnant women. However,
studies in animals have shown that trazodone causes birth defects and a decrease
in the number of successful pregnancies when given in doses many times larger
than human doses.
Breast-feeding - Trazodone passes into breast milk.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult
patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of trazodone
in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults - Drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, vision problems,
dryness of mouth, and constipation may be more likely to occur in the elderly,
who are usually more sensitive to the effects of trazodone.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
trazodone, it is especially important that your health care professional know
if you are taking any of the following:
-
Antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine) - Taking these
medicines with trazodone may result in low blood pressure (hypotension); the
amount of medicine you need to take may change
-
Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness)
or
-
Tricyclic antidepressants (medicine for depression) - Taking
these medicines with trazodone may add to the CNS depressant effects
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of trazodone. Make sure you tell your doctor if
you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Alcohol abuse (or history of) - Drinking alcohol with trazodone
will increase the central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects
-
Heart disease - Trazodone may make the condition worse
-
Kidney disease or
-
Liver disease - Higher blood levels of trazodone may occur, increasing
the chance of side effects
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