Take special care with trazodone

Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder

If you are depressed and/or have anxiety disorders you can sometimes have thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These may be increased when first starting antidepressants, since these medicines all take time to work, usually about two weeks but sometimes longer.

You may be more likely to think like this if you:

• have previously had thoughts about killing or harming yourself.
• are a young adult. Information from clinical trials has shown an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in adults aged less than 25 years with psychiatric conditions who were treated with an antidepressant.

If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.

You may find it helpful to tell a relative or close friend that you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder, and ask them to read this leaflet. You might ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are worried about changes in your behaviour.

Trazodone should not be used in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

If you are elderly, you may be more prone to side effects, increased caution is necessary especially when taking other medicines at the same time as trazodone or if you have some other diseases.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you:

• have or have ever had fits or seizures (epilepsy)
• have severe liver, kidney or heart problems
• are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or are breast-feeding
• have an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
• have problems passing water or need to pass water (urine) frequently
• have narrow angle glaucoma (an eye disorder)
• have schizophrenia or other type of mental disorder
• are elderly, as you may be more prone to side effects
• are taking buprenorphine (a strong pain killer). The use of buprenorphine with trazodone can lead to serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition (see “Other medicines and trazodone”).

If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking trazodone.

Other medicines and trazodone

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines.

This includes medicines you buy without a prescription, including herbal medicines.

This is because trazodone can affect the way some other medicines work. Also some medicines can affect the way trazodone work.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• MAOI (MonoAmine Oxidase Inhibitors) medicines such as tranylcypromine, phenelzine and isocarboxazid (for depression) or selegiline (for Parkinson’s disease), or have taken them in the last 2 weeks
• Other antidepressants (such as amitriptyline or fluoxetine)
• Buprenorphine/opioids. These medicines may interact with trazodone and you may experience symptoms such as involuntary, rhythmic contractions of muscles, including the muscles that control movement of the eye, agitation, hallucinations, coma, excessive sweating, tremor, exaggeration of reflexes, increased muscle tension, body temperature above 38°C. Contact your doctor when experiencing such symptoms.
• Sedatives (such as tranquilizers or sleeping pills)
• Medicines used to treat epilepsy such as carbamazepine and phenytoin
• Medicines used to treat high blood pressure, for example, clonidine
• Digoxin (used to treat heart problems)
• Medicines used to treat fungal infections such as ketoconozole and itraconazole
• Some medicines used to treat HIV such as ritonavir and indinavir
• Erythromycin, an antibiotic used to treat infections
• Levodopa (used to treat Parkinson’s disease)
• St. John’s Wort (a herbal remedy)
• Warfarin (used to stop your blood from clotting)

Anaesthetics

If you are going to have an anaesthetic (for an operation), tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking trazodone.

Taking trazodone with food and drink

You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking trazodone.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant, might become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant.

Trazodone should only be taken during pregnancy if your doctor tells you that treatment with trazodone is essential for you and tells you to take this medicine.

Taking trazodone in the late stages of pregnancy may lead to your baby experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they are born.

If you are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.

Driving and using machines

Trazodone may make you feel sleepy or dizzy.

If this happens do not drive or use any tools or machines.

Trazodone Capsules contain lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this this medicine.