Drug
Trazodone
Pronounced
"TRAZZ-oh-doan"
Drug Interactions
See also How to Use section.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
A product that may interact with this drug is: digoxin.
Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, metaxalone, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before and after treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication.
Other medications can affect the removal of trazodone from your body, which may affect how trazodone works. Examples include azole antifungals (such as itraconazole, ketoconazole), HIV protease inhibitors (such as indinavir), macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), ritonavir, drugs used to treat seizures (such as phenytoin), among others.
The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin. Examples include street drugs such as MDMA/"ecstasy," St. John's wort, certain antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine), among others. The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of these drugs.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products that cause drowsiness including alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, and opioid pain relievers (such as codeine).
Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
Negative Interactions
3- Potential Negative Interaction
Trazodone
Digitalis
Digitalis (Digitalis lanata, Digitalis purpurea) refers to a family of plants commonly called foxglove that contain digitalis glycosides, chemicals with actions and toxicities similar to the prescription drug digoxin.
Trazodone was associated with increased serum digoxin levels in one case report. No interactions between trazodone and digitalis have been reported. Until more is known, trazodone and digitalis-containing products should be used only under the direct supervision of a doctor trained in their use.
DigitalisTrazodone- Rauch PK, Jenike MA. Digoxin toxicity possibly precipitated by trazodone. Psychosomatics 1984;25:334-5.
- Potential Negative Interaction
Trazodone
Ginkgo
There is one case report of an elderly patient with Alzheimer’s disease going into a coma while concurrently using trazodone and ginkgo. Until more is known, ginkgo should not be combined with trazodone except under supervision of a doctor.
GinkgoTrazodone- Galluzzi S, Zanetti O, Binetti G, et al. Coma in a patient with Alzheimer's disease taking low dose trazodone and Ginkgo biloba. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2000;68:679-80.
- Potential Negative Interaction
Trazodone
St. John’s Wort
One report described a case of serotonin syndrome in a patient who took St. John’s wort and trazodone. The patient reportedly experienced mental confusion, muscle twitching, sweating, flushing, and ataxia. Until more is known, St. John’s wort should not be combined with trazodone except under expert clinical supervision.
St. John’s WortTrazodone- Demott K. St. John's wort tied to serotonin syndrome. Clinical Psychiatry News 1998;26:28.