Trazodone and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Fel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2020

For Insomnia "I started trazodone at 150mg for insomnia on April 22. The side effects I experienced were dry mouth, mild headache, dizziness, nervousness, and shakiness. I told my primary doctor about it, so he lowered my dose to 100mg after three weeks. I’ve been on the new dose since May 15, and I still feel the same side effects. I actually feel my anxiety getting worse as I wake up in a panic, and I can feel my heart beating fast. I love that I’m able to sleep, but I hate the side effects. I really don’t want to take it anymore, but I’m scared of stopping it. Anyone else experiencing this? Please help."

• Bni...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 6, 2019

For Anxiety "I decided to share my experience because maybe someone somewhere is going through this. I was prescribed trazodone 50mg for anxiety and depression, eventually my doses went up to 100mg and 150mg a day. The drug would sedate me, put me to sleep. When I woke up, my anxiety was 10 times worse. I was scared, my depression increased. Daily life activities stopped for months, I became scared of living or taking care of my child. I had extremely bad brain fog, dry mouth, sleep terrors, nightmares that would last hours, heart palpitations, but the worst feeling of all was the increased anxiety, the feeling that I had some underlying medical condition that the doctor couldn't find, dizziness, shortness of breath, and suicidal thoughts, feeling like I would never get better. All along it was the trazodone."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2014

For Insomnia "Stopping Trazodone ASAP and here's why. Worked for me for about 4 or 5 months but when I needed a higher dosage of it (100-150 mg), the REALLY BAD SIDE EFFECTS began. I'm talking the worst hand TREMORS ever, to the point where I have trouble holding a pen and writing. I am writing this on my phone and can barely hold it steady. The mental/cognitive effects are worse, I mean seriously I thought I had a brain tumor or something along those lines!!! Extreme CONFUSION, SEVERE SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS, I'm dizzy pretty much all the time and the lack of coordination is so bad that my driving suffered. The effects were never at night after I took it, always the next day. If you feel like you're losing it, you aren't. Just stop taking Trazodone."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2014

For Insomnia "Stopping Trazodone ASAP and here's why. Worked for me for about 4 or 5 months but when I needed a higher dosage of it (100-150 mg), the REALLY BAD SIDE EFFECTS began. I'm talking the worst hand TREMORS ever, to the point where I have trouble holding a pen and writing. I am writing this on my phone and can barely hold it steady. The mental/cognitive effects are worse, I mean seriously I thought I had a brain tumor or something along those lines!!! Extreme CONFUSION, SEVERE SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS, I'm dizzy pretty much all the time and the lack of coordination is so bad that my driving suffered. The effects were never at night after I took it, always the next day. If you feel like you're losing it, you aren't. Just stop taking Trazodone."

• Tfc...
• October 14, 2016

For Sedation "Committed myself to an inpatient detox for my alcoholism. I was given 50mg of trazodone each night, and within 15-20 mins, I was sleeping very well. Then they upped the dose to 100mg. That was too much for me. Woke up dizzy in the middle of the night but returned to bed, and when I awoke, I felt just fine. When you take this for the first time, make sure you're on your way to bed. I'm 6'3' and 180lbs. This works for me instead of using different OTC drugs. Hope this helps somebody."

• sle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2016

For Anxiety "I used to feel vaguely anxious all the time and acutely anxious some of the time - and have trouble sleeping. Now, I feel some anxiety (which is natural if you are 65, single, childless, and have little money!) - but I don't worry and obsess and make Plan A, B, C, D, and E the way I once did. I even feel confident that things will work out! And I sleep through the night...I rarely have trouble falling asleep, so what I usually do is go to sleep, and when I wake up in the night and can't get back to sleep, take it then. This works like a charm for me. The only side effects seem to be occasional dizziness...Trazodone is WAY better than Elavil (HORRIBLE drug) and Lorazepam which kept me spaced out and unable to remember anything."

• Big...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 29, 2015

For Insomnia "I have been taking 50 mg of Trazodone for several years for insomnia. I originally took Ambien, which I liked very much, but the insurance I had then stopped paying for it, so I changed. I travel quite a bit and don't sleep in my own bed frequently, which is the reason I needed a sleep aid. Trazodone has been just excellent. I pop one pill at bedtime and get a good 7-8 hours sleep with no side effects at all. I'm not depressed and didn't take it for depression, only for sleep. It must be a generic or at least a very cheap drug, because it has never cost me much. I have no side effects, although since I'm 72 years old, I do get up slowly, bend over slowly, etc. or I will get dizzy. However, this is not Trazodone's fault, it's me!"

• Dan...
• December 21, 2013

For Insomnia "I've started having anxiety attacks about half a year ago, and have been depressed since high school, which had kept me up most nights, worrying about my heart rate. 25mg of trazodone makes me very sleepy and puts an end to racing thoughts, and has also made my uncomfortable dreams subside. I do experience some dizziness and heavy eyelids, but other than that this medicine helps a lot. Went from sleeping around 4 hours to more than 8 again. Although I cannot imagine anyone taking 300 mg of this and being okay the next day."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 8, 2020

For Anxiety "I have been taking Trazodone for chronic insomnia and anxiety now for over 3 years. It helps me fall asleep and lets me sleep quite well for about 7 hours. The only side effects I have noticed are mild headaches and slight dizziness after first taking it."

• ano...
• October 29, 2013

For Insomnia "Started taking trazodone as an aid to sleep since I was upping my alprazolam to try and fall asleep and didn't want to keep upping it (I take 1.5 mg/day). Have had trouble falling and staying asleep since I was young. Also take 40 mg citalopram for depression. Trazodone works great for me at 25 mg, taken ~30 minutes or so before sleeping, along with 0.5-1 mg alprazolam. Does have a dizzying effect, so I never take it unless I know I'm going to bed. Anything over 25 mg for me causes a hangover the next day (fogginess, tiredness), but I am petite. But it works wonders to calm a racing mind and get me to sleep and wake up feeling refreshed on 25 mg. Haven't experienced other side effects while taking mostly every day for ~ 2 years."

• Kev...
• December 3, 2015

For Anxiety "I have had bouts of severe and at times crippling anxiety for over 20 years. Though I mastered recognition of severe anxiety and can skip the ER, realizing I cannot die from a panic attack, the effects would still bring me physically to my knees. I failed to respect the source of anxiety: depression. However, the SSRIs out today like Zoloft, etc., are bad on your brain and totally destroy your libido. You eventually are robbed of sleep and the problems spiral: blood pressure, obesity, apnea. Trazodone solves both problems for me, mental depression, physical insomnia. Side effects for me are muscle spasms/weakness, balance problems, dry eyes, left side throbbing headache, and some mania. Hopeful for the future."

• ben...
• March 1, 2018

For Depression "I was prescribed Trazodone for insomnia. I started by splitting a 50mg in two about a half hour before bed. I managed to get 'good' sleep for about 3-4 hours before waking up in the middle of the night, so on the 3rd night I took a full tablet and slept like a champ. Within 7 days, I was not only sleeping better but feeling better than I had in years. I went back to my PCP and requested to be kept on Trazodone (I do still take Lamotrigine as well). I'm at 3 weeks (full effectiveness) and could not be happier. My anxiety, depression, paranoia, and exhaustion have all but vanished. Here are some of the side effects I experienced during the first two weeks of being on Trazodone: dizziness, confusion, and mild nausea. All of these have passed. I exercise daily and eat right. No coffee, no tea, and a limited amount of sugar. No pot. Going to bed at the same time every night is also a plus."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2020

For Headache "I don’t recommend trazodone at ALL for headaches. It did make me sleepy, but it also made me feel a bit dizzy and nauseous, which gave me major anxiety. The next day, I woke up with a pounding headache, and I couldn’t move my head. It was terrible. It lasted 2 days. I wasn’t sure if it was the medication at first or not, so I waited about a week to try it again, and the same thing happened. I’m aware everyone is different when it comes to the tolerance of medication, but I hope this was helpful."

• Mad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 25, 2024

For Insomnia "I've been on a 50 mg dose of trazodone as needed for about 4 years now, and it's been a blessing and a curse. Does it put me to sleep? Absolutely. I take one of these bad boys and I'm out like a light within an hour. But do I stay asleep? Not really. Suppose I take it at 9, intending to wake up at 6 - I'll be dead asleep by 10, but then awake at 1, and awake again at 4. Once my alarm goes off at 6 and I'm up for good, I'm so groggy (and a little dizzy and headachy) that I can barely sit up straight. Granted, I'm also waking up throughout the night when I'm not taking it, and at least the medication causes me to fall back asleep faster. But is it really worth the trazodone hangover? Is it worth actually getting a little more sleep, but still feeling like you pulled 17 all-nighters in a row? Probably not."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2018

For Depression "The first night I used trazodone, it made me unbearably dizzy, lightheaded, and nauseous. I actually ended up passing out in my kitchen. Every time I would sit up from a lying down position, I felt like I was going to pass out, and honestly, the whole experience really scared me. I let the fear take over for quite a while, and the medication sat in my bedside table untouched for about four months, maybe longer. Until I reached a point where I felt like I had no choice but to give it another try. I have struggled with severe insomnia, depression, and anxiety for as long as I can remember. I have refused to take medication out of fear of addiction and the lengthy list of side effects associated with most of them. I have been taking trazodone every other night to every night for about three weeks now, and I have never slept better. I feel generally happier, and my anxiety is better controlled. Definitely worth a try for those who can relate."

• T C...
• November 12, 2013

For Anxiety "I have had trouble sleeping for years now, especially during peri-menopausal phase. My doctor prescribed 50 mg of Trazodone and said I could go up as high as 100 mg if I wanted to. The drug really knocked me out -- I mean like 9 to 10 hours a night as I am only 5'2 at 120 pounds. So I dropped my dosage to just 25 mg per night and I sleep for a good 8.5 hours every single night. The problem I noted was I would have a cup or two of coffee in the morning around 9 a.m. and I would get SUPER dizzy and elevated blood pressure by like 10:30 a.m. and it would last until about 7 p.m., so I had to make the choice between sleep or my coffee in the morning and sleep won, of course. Take the lowest possible effective dosage."

• Mar...
• January 12, 2015

For Insomnia "I've been on trazodone for almost a year. I have trouble sleeping. They started me off at 50 mg. My body got used to it, so they upped my dosage to 100 mg. I noticed that I felt awful in the morning. Felt like the room was spinning, I didn't want to get out of bed, not to mention being irritable. For some reason, I'm at 150 mg now. I just split them down the middle, but I noticed my dreams are really weird now."

• Isl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2020

For Depression "My doctor prescribed this since Prozac and Brintellix wiped me out sexually. Apart from the issue with libido, Prozac suited me perfectly, not so however this drug, Trazodone. I was told to take 150 mg, which in the light of these reviews seems extreme considering my sensitivity to drugs and my body weight, being petite. As instructed, I took it five hours before bedtime. I then slept like a zombie for ten hours and woke feeling groggy with super spaced-out eyes the next morning. I felt heavy, drugged, and seemed to have lost my sense of balance. It took till lunchtime to feel vaguely normal again. While I do not doubt this would prevent the panic attacks as you would be too out of it to panic, whatever the issue, nuclear attack, invasion of the body snatchers, aliens abducting your children. I had no intention of suffering such extreme side effects. Consequently, I did not take it again. The search goes on for the perfect drug. It most definitely is not this one."

• dro...
• March 25, 2015

For Insomnia "Helps me fall asleep within 30 minutes of taking it. It helps me stay asleep, too. When I wake up, however, I always get a sort of 'sleep hangover.' By that I mean I still feel sleepy and dizzy for a few hours after waking up. Overall, pretty good sleeping pill."

• mar...
• January 29, 2017

For Insomnia "I took 25 mg of Trazodone one night and will never take it again! An hour after going to sleep, I woke up to find the room spinning. My heart was pounding and racing. I was sweating profusely and extremely frightened. It has been two days, and I am still having a few dizzy spells. Be very careful if you take this medication, and make sure you have someone around that can help you if you have a bad reaction. Hope this helps."

• pas...
• January 14, 2020

For Anxiety "I started taking it about 3-4 months ago, at first, I loved it, and it helped me sleep through the night. It’s less effective at keeping me asleep, but I now have terrible dizziness and vertigo during the day and have started having terrible panic attacks. I will be cutting my dosage in half, and then I’m never taking this again."

• pas...
• January 14, 2020

For Anxiety "I started taking it about 3-4 months ago, at first, I loved it, and it helped me sleep through the night. It’s less effective at keeping me asleep, but I now have terrible dizziness and vertigo during the day and have started having terrible panic attacks. I will be cutting my dosage in half, and then I’m never taking this again."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 29, 2016

For Sedation "My husband is in a nursing home with dementia. He was given this drug as a sleep aid. He is now very confused and his balance is poor. He cannot stand on his own or even with his walker. He is falling almost every night. Our family is very concerned about his deterioration since taking this drug. The doctor's response was to increase the dosage! We told him no and insisted on removing this drug from his medication. Since stopping this drug, we can see improvement in his condition. It will take time to get it out of his system. I would not recommend this drug to anyone, especially seniors."

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2020

For Anxiety "I have mixed feelings about trazodone. It helped me a lot, and at that time, it was a lifesaver for me. My insomnia, anxiety, and depression just disappeared completely. Before that, I had suicidal thoughts, I couldn't get out of bed, I had social anxiety, panic attacks, but after trazodone, I was already a functioning, happy human being. I started to go out with my friends again, I had motivation, etc. So far, so good, BUT it had too many side effects... I needed to sleep like 10-11 hours, I was numb for hours after waking, I felt constant dizziness, my sex drive disappeared. And the withdrawal was tough... I had to reduce the amount very slowly. So basically nothing seriously bad, and it is still a decent antidepressant, but there are better SSRIs out there. It will sure help your depression/anxiety, but you will have to pay the price for that (that is true for every medicine, btw)."

• Shi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2019

For Depression "I take this as a mood enhancer/sleep aid alongside my antidepressant, Zoloft. Within an hour of taking this medication, I need to sleep. If I wake up within 3 hours of taking it, I get extremely dizzy and begin to stumble around. If I do manage to sleep after waking up, I wake up with a terrible headache and brain fog. If I don’t wake up after taking this medication, I sleep very soundly but still wake up a bit disoriented (brain fog)."