When one suffers from mental health conditions, they often get prescribed drugs that can help manage them, such as antidepressants. Despite this, these drugs can also be addictive in the same way that harmful drugs can. Of course, they can also exhibit withdrawal signs when they learn to rely on these drugs. A perfect example of this is Trazodone.
Trazodone withdrawal is relatively dangerous, given how it can trigger severe symptoms. This is because the drug is highly addictive, as are all antidepressants, and it’s also considered one of the most potent antidepressants available. In such instances, it can be used to help control one’s thoughts, which can be a big problem for those who use it for extended periods in some scenarios.
Signs and Symptoms of Trazodone Withdrawal
When you decide to go off Trazodone, you might experience the following withdrawal symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
These signs and symptoms can last from hours to a few weeks. For some, the symptoms can last for months until they can stabilize. Because of this, many people who use this drug for extended periods can start to experience more severe symptoms. In some cases, the symptoms can be life-threatening.
The Half-Life of Trazodone
A drug’s half-life refers to the number of hours it takes for the drug to leave your system altogether. One of the primary reasons that Trazodone often transforms into a dangerous drug is that it has a longer half-life than most other antidepressants, having a half-life of 45 hours after a dose. Despite this, it’s worth noting that withdrawal still varies among people.
Managing Trazodone Withdrawal
If you decide to go off Trazodone, you must ensure you properly manage the withdrawal. This is because at the time you start to withdraw from this drug, it will cause your serotonin levels to decline. It will also raise your glutamate levels, which is unsuitable for your brain.
Therefore, you should go through the withdrawal process in the presence of a medical professional. In this case, you can use medical detox centers. These medical centers have the necessary medical equipment to safely help you go through the Trazodone withdrawal process.
Medical detox centers can help you manage your withdrawal symptoms. They allow you to monitor your vital signs and support you through the process. Moreover, these centers will offer other therapies to help you with your withdrawal symptoms.
Getting Treatment
Before you start to get rid of Trazodone, you first want to get in touch with your doctor. Your doctor will most likely help you figure out a perfect treatment for your condition.
Sometimes, your physician may want to go for medical detox, meaning that you will go through medical detox before going through a medically supervised detox.
In most cases, medical detox centers use a detox process called the ‘cold turkey’ method. The method involves giving the patient medication that will make them feel uncomfortable but will not endanger their life. When they are given enough time to get over the discomfort, they are given other medications to help them deal with the symptoms. This will continue until the symptoms start to fade.
After the detox process, the patient is given medication to help them manage withdrawal symptoms. In most cases, this will include antidepressant medications.
More about Trazodone
Trazodone is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of drugs known as triazolopyridines. This drug is unique in that it’s considered a serotonin antagonist. The drug effectively controls mood swings, insomnia, and even pain.
Trazodone is a drug that’s been on the market for over 30 years. The drug is sold in different forms, such as tablets, oral solutions, and injections. Unfortunately, it’s also been used for treating anxiety, panic disorder, and in some cases, for treating people with fibromyalgia.
The primary function of Trazodone is to boost serotonin levels, which is vital in controlling a person’s mood. It works by inhibiting the serotonin receptors, thus reducing the negative thoughts that trigger panic attacks. In most cases, the drug is often combined with other antidepressants and other anti-anxiety medications.
Trazodone is a highly addictive drug, which means that when a person stops taking it, it can trigger withdrawal symptoms. Those addicted to this drug for an extended period may also suffer severe withdrawal symptoms. Some of these symptoms are often described as status epilepticus.
The Risk of Trazodone Addiction
Trazodone is among the most addictive drugs you can find on the market. This is because of its high potency, which is why it’s not prescribed to people who suffer from severe mental disorders. In most cases, this drug is prescribed for those who suffer from moderate anxiety, panic disorders, and sudden mood swings. A person can develop Trazodone addiction when the drug is used for prolonged periods.
Taking this drug also poses some risks to pregnant women and those who suffer from heart problems. For this reason, it’s essential for those who suffer from these conditions to avoid taking this drug.
Beyond that, Trazodone can also act as a sedative, which can cause sleepiness, dizziness, and blurred vision. Those who take this drug frequently will tend to tolerate it, which is why they’re likely to take a higher dose than necessary. Over time, when one develops tolerance to this drug, they’re likely to suffer from severe withdrawal symptoms.
How Trazodone Is Used for Anxiety
Trazodone is highly effective in treating anxiety, especially mild to moderate anxiety. This means that when a person uses this drug for a prolonged time, they can start suffering from mental health conditions such as insomnia.
There are cases when a person taking Trazodone develops problems with their sleeping patterns, and at some point, their performance at work starts to suffer.
Trazodone for Insomnia
Trazodone is a drug that can be used for people who have insomnia. As you can see, these two uses are highly related, but to use this drug for insomnia, you will need to take at least 50-100 mg daily.
As you can see, it’s highly effective in helping a person who has insomnia to sleep. However, the drug is also highly addictive, and its withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening.
Side Effects of Trazodone
You need to be aware of some side effects when you decide to take Trazodone. Some of the side effects include:
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Constipation
- Unwanted weight gain
- High blood pressure
- Loss of appetite
- Vision problems
Because of these side effects, taking this drug as directed is always essential. However, if you want to stop taking it because you’ve developed a tolerance and need to go through withdrawal, you will need to do so strictly.
Other Things to Remember
Let’s say you decide to stop taking Trazodone, and it’s time to withdraw. You need to follow these steps:
- Make sure to taper off slowly. This will help minimize the severity of the symptoms you will experience. You should speak to your doctor about this.
- Get enough sleep every day.
- Eat a healthy diet. You will not feel like eating, but this is important for your health because it can make a significant difference.
- Exercise regularly to help you feel better.
- Medicate yourself. Make sure to take anxiety medications like Xanax and Valium. These will help reduce the severity of the symptoms you will experience.
- Get support from family members and friends. A therapist can also help.
Conclusion
To sum it up, Trazodone withdrawal is possible, but it’s something that can cause severe withdrawal symptoms in some people. You must understand the risks of taking Trazodone and the symptoms you will experience to go through the withdrawal process as safely as possible.
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