I currently take 100mg at nightime to sleep. Recently had back surgery and noticed if I stop the Trazodone, I feel great ( more energy, joints do not ache, back feels great ) but the side effects are terrible. Nervousness, feelings of everything closing in around me, aching joints, instability, sense of no balance. Been taking this for quite awhile 5 + years, but recently noticed these side effects in the last 6 mos. I need to get off this thing.
Trazodone - how do wean yourself off this drug?
Question posted by ken k on 15 Sep 2017
Last updated on 29 November 2023 by jbarth53
5 Answers
jbarth53
29 Nov 2023
I’ve been taking 50 mg of trazodone once a day for almost 3 years. I’ve cut the pill in half and now taking 25 mg. I was going to take that 25 mg for four weeks.
Then I was going to stop it.( per my Doctors advice)
I haven’t noticed any side effects yet?
currypeg
14 Jan 2019
I’d like to know as well. I’m on this medicine, same dosage, but when I don’t take it, side effects are horrible.
WildcatVet
15 Jan 2019
Hello! What you feel when you don't take it are discontinuation symptoms (or as some people say, "withdrawals").
You need to do a slow taper over a few weeks under the supervision of your prescribing doctor.
Best regards, Wild Cat
smileyhappy
15 Sep 2017
I used to be on it for sleep! I was on 100mgs. My doctor told me to cut 25mgs off my dosage for a week until I was off. It worked fine.
teddblackk
18 March 2018
I you were on it for a short time then maybe 25percent cuts could be safe,
buy I would never cut more than 10 percent per week, since rapid tapers
can cause neurological injury. Many doctors don't know the risk due to
concealed negative studies.
jima1951
2 May 2018
Teddblack - I have been taking 50 mg of trazodone for over 15 years. I recently started weaning off and cut my dose by 12.5 mg. I'm having incredibly vivid dreams, wake up during the night, have body aches all day, mental confusion and dizziness. You mentioned decreasing by 10%. I'm wondering whether I'm decreasing too fast given that I have taken this med for so long. Any thoughts on how to break the pill into smaller portions?
teddblackk
7 May 2018
How long you were on it is important. Days, months, or years ?
Cutting 25 percent can ruin everything.
jima1951
7 May 2018
I have been taking 50 mg for sleep for 15 years. Cutting the dose by 12.5 resulted in very difficult withdrawal symptoms. I have gone back to 50 mg and the withdrawal symptoms ended. I'm wondering how to do a 10% decrease - I can't break a tablet into 10 equal pieces. Any advice?
Nursekim123
9 Dec 2018
I'm currently on 100mgs and have been experiencing some not to pleasant side effects. My dosage increased in the last 6 months and I want to get off of this medication. I've been on this medication at a much lower dosage for over 5 years. Any suggestions?
smileyhappy
10 Dec 2018
I went down 25mgs each time to wean I was really fine!
Chequie
9 Aug 2021
Hi you said you were in trazodone for a year so how you taper off your meds. I'm in 50mg and my doc told me to taper off 45mg for 7days 35mg for 7days and so on until i reach 5mg for 7days and stop. How did you do yours?
Chequie
9 Aug 2021
Tell your doctor that you want to wean off trazodone slowly. You have to find a COMPOUNDING PHARMACY that would help you to cut your trazodone in a small dosage. You have to ask a TAPER PRESCRIPTION to your doctor. Also search POINT OF RETURN by Alessandra Rain they help people to wean off antidepressant and more. Hope this help but this is what im doing right now!
Chequie
9 Aug 2021
Tell your doctor that you want to wean off trazodone slowly. You have to find a COMPOUNDING PHARMACY that would help you to cut your trazodone in a small dosage. You have to ask a TAPER PRESCRIPTION to your doctor. Also search POINT OF RETURN by Alessandra Rain they help people to wean off antidepressant and more. Hope this help but this is what im doing right now!
Chequie
9 Aug 2021
Tell your doctor that you want to wean off trazodone slowly. You have to find a COMPOUNDING PHARMACY that would help you to cut your trazodone in a small dosage. You have to ask a TAPER PRESCRIPTION to your doctor. Also search POINT OF RETURN by Alessandra Rain they help people to wean off antidepressant and more. Hope this help but this is what im doing right now!
WildcatVet
15 Sep 2017
Slowly, on a reducing dose schedule under a doctor's supervision.
*Trazodone may cause a discontinuation syndrome if abruptly stopped, symptoms include anxiety, agitation, and sleep disturbances. When the time comes to withdraw trazodone the dosage should be tapered off slowly under a doctor's advice.*
Sidekick55
15 Sep 2017
You can just stop it
teddblackk
18 March 2018
Never stop a drug suddenly if you have been on it for more than a week or two.
If you have been on an antidepressant for months then it can take months to
taper off to avoid neurological injury.
Related topics
anxiety, sleep disorders, trazodone, side effect, sleep, surgery, energy, sleep disorder, drug
Further information
- Trazodone uses and safety info
- Trazodone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Trazodone (detailed)
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