Trazodone is an antidepressant medication that is generally used to treat mental disorders where depression is a primary feature. It belongs to a class of drugs known as serotonin modulators, which work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. This can help improve mood and treat depression, including feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities.
Trazodone can also be used to treat anxiety and insomnia and may be used as a supplement to other medications for these conditions. Despite these benefits, you should not suddenly stop taking trazodone. Doing so can cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
In this post, we will discuss what trazodone withdrawal symptoms are and what causes them, the timeline of these withdrawal symptoms, and what you can do to alleviate withdrawal discomfort.
What Are Withdrawal Symptoms and What Causes Them?
When an individual takes a drug repeatedly over a period of time, their body can develop a physical dependence on the drug, which means that it adapts to the presence of the drug and comes to rely on it to function normally.
People experience withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly stop taking drugs because their bodies have become accustomed to the presence of the drug, and need time to adjust to its absence.
When the drug is suddenly removed, the body goes into a state of imbalance. The state of imbalance, also known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS), can result in a variety of psychological and physical symptoms. Whether you experience severe symptoms of withdrawal depends on the drug, your level of trazodone addiction or dependence, and the duration of use.
Trazodone Withdrawal Symptoms
When a person undergoes trazodone detox or withdrawal, discomfort is almost inevitable. Symptoms of trazodone withdrawal include, but are not limited to:
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Headache
- Irritability
- Depressed moods
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
Trazodone is an important medication in treating mental health disorders such as major depressive disorder. That said, stopping trazodone suddenly can worsen a person’s depression symptoms. In severe cases, this can result strong feelings of suicidal ideation. It is therefore essential for trazodone users to consult a medical professional when trying to cease trazodone use.
How Long Does Trazodone Withdrawal Last?
Everyone’s trazodone withdrawal timeline is different. The withdrawal period for some can be a few days, and for others, it could be weeks. Beyond that, the timeline will vary depending on:
- How long a person has been taking trazodone
- Dosage amount prior to starting withdrawal
- Individual characteristics
How to Make Trazodone Withdrawal Less Difficult
While quitting trazodone cold turkey is the quickest way of stopping use, it leads to much more severe withdrawal symptoms. And for the reasons outlined above, it can be dangerous. As a result, tapering is recommended as a safer, more comfortable alternative.
Tapering off trazodone, or other antidepressant medications involves, incrementally reducing the dosage over a period of time, rather than stopping it suddenly. This is typically done under the guidance and supervision of a doctor who understands the biology of addiction. They will help determine the appropriate tapering schedule based on your individual needs.
The goal of tapering is to minimize the risk of withdrawal symptoms and allow the body to adjust to the changes in medication. The tapering schedule may involve reducing the dose gradually over the course of several weeks or months, depending on your individual response.
Seek Professional Medical Advice to Learn More About Your Treatment Options
Withdrawing from drugs like trazodone, which is used to treat the major depressive disorder and other mental health issues, can be uncomfortable, and in severe cases, dangerous. Doing so can result in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and more. That is why it is important to consult a doctor or medical professional before attempting to stop using trazodone or making sudden changes to your dosage.
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