Can You Overdose on Trazodone?

Trazodone is primarily an antidepressant available commercially as a generic prescription drug. Though it has sedative properties, it has also been used to treat certain anxiety disorders and dementia-related agitation. Others use it as a sleeping aid, and also as a solution for erectile dysfunction. With the disparate applications, trazodone is being put to, it’s no surprise that the answer to the question “Can you overdose on trazodone” is YES.

Generally speaking, unless a chemical or substance is inherently a poison, an overdose would usually depend on certain things, such as what was mixed with it, how soon and in what quantity it was absorbed by the system of the person, and other factors.

In the case of trazodone, the typical daily dose is around 150 mg, although there have been cases where a higher dosage was deemed necessary. As a precaution, however, a dosage that exceeds 600 mg in less than 24 hours is already well within overdose territory. Complications that could lead to death could also come from mixing even an acceptable amount of trazodone with other substances, such as alcohol.

Addiction to trazodone might not always lead to death, but some aberrant symptoms will manifest after repeated use. The most obvious symptom of a trazodone overdose would be death or being left in a coma-like state, unable to regain consciousness. It is among the most abused substances and difficult to kick for those addicted to it.

Unlike other abused substances that mostly manifest in one or two symptoms, repeated use of trazodone tends to affect multiple bodily systems at once. This usually brings about several symptoms that could manifest one after the other, or sometimes all simultaneously, with varying severity. In some cases, the symptoms are not even those the person is predisposed to.

Cardiovascular Symptoms

• Chronic chest pain
• Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat
• Hypotension or dangerously low blood pressure
• Bradycardia or slow heart rate

These symptoms are quite alarming as they simulate the warning signs that one is about to have a heart attack. They are also quite dangerous in that these symptoms are already debilitating to a certain extent. Having a low and irregular pulse means the heart is underperforming and, therefore, not bringing enough oxygenated blood to where it is needed, such as the brain and other organs.

Some with low blood pressure feel extremely weak or even lose consciousness. This is particularly dangerous as there are typically no warning signs when this happens. It could cause the person to lose consciousness while driving, going up the stairs, or in places where help might not be readily available.

Neurological Symptoms

• Chronic headaches
• Dizziness and drowsiness
• Compromised motor functions and coordination
• Insomnia
• Seizures of varying intensity
• Myoclonus or involuntary muscle twitching

Trazodone abuse also largely affects the nervous system, leading to symptoms that could hinder the person periodically or for long periods, depending on the severity. The sleep-related effects of trazodone are peculiar in that some find it difficult to get decent rest because of insomnia caused by it. In contrast, others enter a coma-like state and cannot regain consciousness.

Some also lose their motor control or ability to focus due to dizziness or drowsiness from trazodone, which becomes a danger when the person is driving or operating heavy equipment. This not only makes them a threat to themselves but to others as well.

Gastrointestinal Symptoms

• Stomach pains
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea

Constant use of any substance could lead to the point where it becomes highly toxic to the body, much like a poison. This is also how the body reacts to too much use of trazodone. To flush it out of the system, the body will try to reject any ingested object either through vomiting or diarrhea.

Both conditions are usually accompanied by severe stomach pains or by nausea.

Trazodone also helps to counteract erectile dysfunction in some men, leading to more regular use. Frequent use, however, could result in painful, abnormal erections that last for hours. Such prolonged erections could permanently damage the blood vessels in the penis.

Seek medical help for the person who appears to be in distress. Take note if the person appears to have any medication on hand that they might have taken. This detail is one of the first things to be asked by emergency responders to help them assess the situation faster.

In the event that trazodone addiction is established, the medical staff would want to know how long the patient has been taking it, and if possible, in what quantity. Once the patient has been stabilized and deemed no longer in a life-threatening situation, detox and rehabilitation are certain to be a suggestion.

As with most substance abuse issues, the first step is to stop taking trazodone. The detoxification phase is never easy for anyone who has had substance abuse issues. Their addiction has become second nature to them like breathing, and to deprive them of it would definitely feel like a death sentence to them. This is even more so if the substance is something as addictive as trazodone.

Detoxification

Substance abuse treatment centers are staffed with people who understand what it is like for those undergoing detox. The understanding comes with the need to have people who know what people with substance abuse issues become when the substance they depend on is removed.

It is not uncommon for patients in detox to behave as if they are slowly being killed, mainly because it is how they feel once withdrawal kicks in. Their bodies have become so dependent on the substance to either numb their senses, remove any hint of pain, or provide a sense of euphoria that they could not begin to live without it.

Rehabilitation Therapy

As soon as the patient is assessed to have removed the urge to immediately engage in substance abuse once more, the task is to now build their willpower again so that they don’t fall back on bad habits. This is done by ensuring they have people who support them to talk to, giving them something else to preoccupy themselves with, and having regular check-ins with therapists to assess how far along they are to recovery.

In some cases, the drug rehabilitation treatment could include physical therapy, which would allow the use of their limbs again. This is particularly true for those who went into a coma. Depending on how long they were comatose, their muscles could have begun to atrophy from lack of use. This requires the slow and painful retraining of their limbs to do the simplest things, such as lift and carry things and even walk.

Medication-assisted Rehabilitation

It is not uncommon for some people undergoing rehabilitation to need medication to help fight the urge to get back into their bad habits. The medication is typically administered by medical staff while in therapy. The medications used could either dull the craving for the substance or make it so that the system of the rehab patient does not experience a high from taking drugs again.

Sober Living Program

Some treatments extend to providing a sober environment for those in rehab. This is to ensure they don’t find themselves in a situation where going into relapse is so enticing and conducive. These programs aim to help the transition of those either in outpatient care or residential treatment to a more independent setting.

The stigma of being a known substance abuser often makes life immensely difficult for those seeking to make a fresh start. This is why some sober living programs also include assistance in securing employment, education, and even housing.

Aftercare

The nature of substance abuse centers around dependency. In many cases, the coping mechanism of those in therapy requires they shift their dependency on something else. This is why some rehab patients create a dependency on the rehabilitation process itself. This is addressed by aftercare programs intended to help the patient into full recovery where they can stand on their own two feet.

More than just helping people kick a bad habit, we here at Achieve Wellness and Recovery structure our programs to help patients achieve a full and true recovery.

This means making sure they are equipped to live a normal life again once out of therapy. We are dedicated to helping patients stand on their own and get their dignity back, because that is what true recovery is all about.

References

1. Shin JJ, Saadabadi A. Trazodone. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470560/
2. Fink H a., MacDonald R, Rutks I r., Wilt T j. Trazodone for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJU International. 2003;92(4):441-446. doi:10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04358.x
3. Jaffer KY, Chang T, Vanle B, et al. Trazodone for Insomnia: A Systematic Review. Innov Clin Neurosci. 2017;14(7-8):24-34.