Can you stop taking trazodone cold turkey without side effects?
Question posted by Donehead on 6 June 2011
Last updated on 13 September 2023 by WildcatVet
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7 Answers
From the literature here on Drugs.com and the Patient Information sheet that comes with your prescription:
"You should not stop using this medicine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant symptoms (such as dizziness, vomiting, agitation, sweating, confusion, numbness, tingling, or electric shock feelings). Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine."
I have been on grazodone for about 3 years. I withdrew with no trouble from Ambien, But, trazodone will not allow me . Whenever I cut even 1/8th down I don't sleep at all. My doctor also told me "If you have ben on it for a while you won't sleep at all. I take 50 mg per night.
Most likely not. But it depends on how much and how long you were on it. For me symptoms were light and it may be for you or others. I am trhee weeks free of it wish others could be lucky.
Tizanadine is a high dose muscle relaxer used to treat more than one symptom. To stop taking this medication without supervised vision can be harmful to your heath. It has been known to cause siezures, nausea and vomiting and withdrawal symptoms. Your physician should slowly decrease your dosage until the desired effect is reached or able to completely discontinue this medication all together and watch for possible side effects.
I don't imagine that it is recommended, but I was on it to help me sleep at 100mg. After a while it stopped helping so I stopped it. I had no side effects, but that doesn't speak for everyone...
Hey Donehead,
The prescribing literature points out the following for trazodone:
Patients should be monitored for withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing treatment with trazodone hydrochloride. The dose should be gradually reduced whenever possible.
So it is best to reduce your dosage slowly over time. Your doctor is the best to advise you of the best taper plan.
Best wishes,
Laurie
Please keep in mind that each of us reacts differently-for me after taking it 5 plus years, my dosage ranged from 50 to 150 up to 300 mg nightly before sleep. Worked great but I was still having nightmares from PTSD which wake me up, no matter what dosage my Pdoc gave me.
Doing an abrupt stop gave me a few days of insomnia, and slight zaps while resting. I went back to a gradual step down, now back at my starting dose.
It takes the mind a while to re adapt to what it once was before starting. Guess that's the reason they're called drugs huh?
Onto the next trial, good luck with yours.
What do you mean by "zaps?" It sounds concerning.
For 98% of people no, you will have side effects, if you don't want side effects i would tapper off the drug, but if you want to chance it that is your choice, if you want to tapper that would be better for you. If you want to tapper write back how much a day you take and how long you have been taking?
thanks for your answer i appreciate it.
no problem that's what we are all here for.
I have been taking Trazadone for nearly 8 years now. I would love to quit taking it, as I am having some side effects. Can you tell me how to taper
150 ml every night been taking it for 6 months
i have been taking it for a few years.before taking it,i would b up for one day till the next.if i don't take it its hard to go to sleep.my family has told me that when i take it at night i look high n can't remember too much in the morning from that night.does anyone else experience this?
I take 50 mg/day
I have been taking Trazadone 4 or 5 years & take 300mg daily.
I have been on trazadone for around 1 month it is 50 mg and I take one tablet at bedtime.
I have been on trazadone for one month and it is 50 mg a tablet I take it at bedtime
I'm 40 taking 300mg at night for 7 years?
I was prescribed Trazodone over 20 years ago. I would like to stop. For one thing it no longer works and my NP told me to double the dose. I do not find that satisfactory and I also find it nearly IMPOSSIBLE to lose weight. (Years ago on antidepressants, I gained weight and no matter how I worked, I could not lose. What would you advise for tapering off and then stopping completely?
Related topics
Further information
- Trazodone uses and safety info
- Trazodone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Trazodone (detailed)
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