Does Trazodone Cause Nightmares? - Is It Harmful?

Sweet dreams are what most people want while they are asleep. But some people get nightmares in return due to various reasons. The most common sense for one to suffer from nightmares is emotional distress, traumatic instances, sleep disturbances, or due to Medicinal purposes. 

Millions of people suffer from depressive symptoms. Yet people find various solutions to it, whether it's natural or with medicinal help. Medicinal help works best for depression, including other therapies. Trazodone is one of the most known medicines used for depression. 

When it comes to the question of medicinal components causing nightmares, find out does Trazodone cause nightmares or if you get sweet dreams.

What Is Trazodone?

Trazodone is a tetracyclic antidepressant approved by the FDA. You can use Trazodone for the treatment of depression. It is available under different brand names called Oleptro and Dysyrel. This medication is mainly used alone for accurate results. But if needed doctor might prescribe you according to your need.

Trazodone is used for other conditions and an off-label such as Anxiety and thereupatic disorders linked to depression. It is mostly not recommended for people under 18 due to the lack of evidence that it works well for these conditions.

Trazodone is not a controlled drug, but If you need to know Trazodone where to buy you must first visit your family doctor and get a prescription.

How Does Trazodone Work?

The medicines belong to Serotonin Antagonists, and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs) work the same. Trazodone is classified in this drug class; it regulates sleep and mood. Serotonin in the brain comes to a constant after fluctuating, which helps mood changes. Later, it also lowers sleep disorders, keeps you sleeping, and lowers depressive symptoms. 

You should take advisory precautions from the doctor before getting the medicine, as medicine can show adverse effects.

Does Trazodone Cause Nightmares?

Every medication has one or the other adverse effects that affect a person. When it comes to nightmares, Trazodone does have the potential to cause you nightmares. Common nightmares would not cause everyone; instead, some might suffer. 

According to the study of Trazodone and Nightmares, few people have stated that they had frightening dreams that made them wake up in the middle of the night. 

Reasons That Trazodone Can Cause Nightmares

The real reason for nightmares is not yet fully understood. Some factors can be the reason for sufferings caused due to Trazodone consumption.

Medication Side Effects

Every medication has its side effects. Drugs like Trazodone, if consumed, will react in the brain and cause side effects. Trazodone's medicinal components influence the brain, which makes a person go through nightmares.

Sleep Disruption

Few people suffer from sleep disruption due to the condition and the medicine's reaction to the brain. This disrupts rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which makes a person experience nightmares.

Individual Reasons

Some people experience nightmares after taking medicine due to the life they have experienced. Depending on their sleeping patterns, genetics, pre-medical conditions, or other reasons, different individuals will affect nightmares. 

Withdrawal Effects

If you have abruptly stopped taking medicines, withdrawal symptoms can affect you. This will cause problems for your central nervous system. Sometimes these symptoms can worsen, and you may suffer nightmares or vivid dreams. 

Does Trazodone Have Withdrawal Symptoms?

Trazodone doesn't affect you with withdrawal symptoms, but there are chances of getting addicted to the medicine. If you take it for a longer duration and stop abruptly, it can cause various withdrawal symptoms. 

Whenever the person tries to stop consuming medicine that has been used for a long time, the medical practitioner will use the method of medicine tapering. This is used for lowering the medicine dosage slowly and not causing any unnecessary symptoms. 

Sometimes the symptoms may include

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Suicidal thoughts
• Headaches
• Irritability

Above mentioned are not the only symptoms that a person might face. If you feel any other effects on your body, consult a doctor. 

How To Manage Nightmares While Taking Trazodone?

You should communicate with your medical practitioner if you are experiencing nightmares. They will give the best suggestion to get you off from such experiences. A few things that can help you from nightmares after taking Trazodone are as follows:

Balancing The Dosage

If you are experiencing nightmares due to Trazodone, the possibility might be that you are sensitive to the drug. In such cases, adjusting dosages can be an option. Lowering the dosage may help you from nightmares to sweet dreams.

Combination Of Medicines

Combining two medicines can help you from preventing nightmares. Sometimes your medical practitioner may prescribe another medication that can make you more sedative. This will help you sleep for a longer duration with better sleep quality.

Observing Your Sleep Hygiene

Following a few steps can help you get perfect sleep, such as avoiding eating before bed, Sleeping in a proper position, and following a good sleep schedule. 

Possible Side Effects Of Trazodone

Side effects are not mandatory to cause everyone. Few may experience effects, whereas others may cure without getting affected. There are two side effects; if it's severe, you should get the necessary help instantly, whereas if you feel common side effects, it can be cured quickly. 

Above mentioned side effects are not the only effects one could suffer. If you experience any other effects, get immediate help.

Precautions Of Trazodone

Preventive measures should be taken thoroughly without skipping the doctor's advice. You will suffer from unnecessary side effects if you do not take things seriously told by the doctor. Be away from side effects by following specific preventive measures. 

It is essential to inform your doctor about the pre-medical history you have been through. This will make it easy for a doctor to evaluate your condition and suggest the best dosage and medicine.

The following precautions should be taken:

• If you are suffering from a condition such as Glaucoma, Bipolar disorder, or any heart conditions, inform your doctor.
• Do not crush Trazodone.
• Do not work that needs concentration, such as driving, using machinery, etc.
• Avoid drinking alcohol with Trazodone
• If you are pregnant, firstly talk to the doctor about the dosage
• Do not breastfeed if you are on Trazodone medication.

Drug Interactions 

It is possible that your two drugs do not interact well in your stomach, causing drug interactions. You will get affected by the side effects if the two medicines work well together, and also the possibility that Trazodone working process may change in your body. 

You should not use certain drugs with Trazodone:

• Avoid using MAOIs drugs after 14 days of Trazodone consumption
• Benzodiazepines
• Other Antidepressants 
• Blood thinners
• CNS depressants
• SSRIs
• SNRIs

Medicines in the mentioned drug class should not be taken with Trazodone. You may suffer from side effects if you consume them both. 

Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

You may experience nightmares if you take Trazodone, but the chances are not more. If you have been prescribed Trazodone for depression, you should take the necessary precautions that will help you from such effects.

You can manage nightmares that you have been experiencing through Trazodone consumption. Nightmares are one of the side effects of the drug. If you are experiencing any other side effects, you should immediately consult the doctor for curable answers.