Dr. Sidawi is an Orlando based, UF trained physician who is happy to be serving the community he grew up in by offering a combination of psychiatric medication management and psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Trazadone is an antidepressant primarily used to treat insomnia, though it’s also commonly prescribed to manage mood symptoms. It belongs to a class of medications known as serotonin antagonists and reuptake inhibiters (SARIs). Trazadone is generally not considered first-line treatment but is commonly prescribed when other antidepressants are ineffective or poorly tolerated, or when a patient has difficulty sleeping, due to its sedative properties.
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Trazodone is used as a second-line option in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), especially those with trouble sleeping. Trazodone is often prescribed when a patient experiences depression in combination with insomnia because of its sedative effect. Off-label, trazodone can be prescribed to individuals with dementia, particularly for managing symptoms of agitation, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
Trazodone’s primary benefits in treating MDD include improving overall mood and alleviating feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness. One of trazodone’s most significant benefits is its ability to help with sleep disturbances. Due to its sedative effects, trazadone helps enhance sleep quality and duration. While it does not directly increase energy, improving sleep quality can help reduce fatigue, making daytime functioning easier. Another benefit of trazodone is its ability to help mitigate symptoms commonly experienced by individuals with dementia, including mood changes, behavioral disturbances, and sleep issues.
The most common side effects experienced on trazodone are gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and xerostomia (dry mouth) as well as dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, nervousness, and blurred vision. Many complain of grogginess the day after taking it. Some side effects may resolve as you get adjusted to the medication.
Trazodone helps increase serotonin levels in the brain by preventing it from being reabsorbed too quickly. It also reduces the sensitivity of certain receptors involved in mood and stress. Trazodone also blocks specific receptors related to histamine, which can affect sleep and cause drowsiness, and alpha1-adrenergic receptors, which are involved in blood pressure and relaxation of muscles. This combination of actions helps improve mood and promote sleep.
Common dosing for trazodone is 25mg to 300mg, but doses of 400mg to 600mg may be considered if the patient is noticing signs of tolerability. Trazodone is most commonly taken once daily around bedtime. Dosing depends on the patient’s specific situation and should always be discussed with their physician.
In the United States, the most commonly recognized name for trazodone is its generic name.
Dr. Sidawi is happy to be a part of your journey towards mental health, or at least point you in the right direction. Please either fill out the contact form below, call or email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We are now scheduling adults age 18 and up residing in Florida for initial appointments. Unfortunately, due to laws around cash pay we cannot see patients who have Medicare or Medicaid.
Email: Info@AnalyzePsych.com
Phone: 407-900-9656
Dr. Sidawi is happy to be a part of your journey towards mental health, or at least point you in the right direction. Please either fill out the contact form below, call or email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We are now scheduling adults age 18 to 64 residing in Florida for initial appointments. Unfortunately, due to laws around cash pay we cannot see patients who have Medicare or Medicaid.
Email: Info@AnalyzePsych.com
Phone: 407-900-9656
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