Trazodone (Trazadone) for Anxiety: Is It Good or Bad?

Trazodone (Trazadone) for Anxiety: Is It Good or Bad?

Most people feel anxious if they are about to speak on stage or do some nerve-wracking extreme activity like sky diving or bungee jumping. But in some unusual cases, people feel anxiety so frequently or extremely that it almost takes over their daily lives.

How Can You Tell if The Anxiety You Feel is Already a Disorder?

It is not easy to know if the anxiety we feel is a disorder. Anxiety disorder comes in many forms such as phobia, panic attacks, and social anxiety. There is also a gray area between anxiety disorder and “normal” anxiety. However, there are many symptoms which can help us determine the kind or severity of the anxiety we feel. Here are a few symptoms of anxiety disorder:

  • Heart palpitations
  • Dry mouth
  • Inability to stay calm
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Feelings of fear and panic
  • Shortness of breath
  • Insomnia
  • Muscle tension
  • Irrational fears
  • Indigestion
  • Self consciousness

If you frequently suffer from these symptoms, it is advised that you consult professional help.

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What Causes Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorder is not caused by poor upbringing, a character flaw, or a personal weakness, but rather results from a combination of factors such as changes in the brain and environmental pressure. After studying anxiety for many years, researchers have discovered that anxiety may be caused by circuits of the brain associated with fear and other emotions malfunctioning. It is also theorized that long-lasting stress can change how the nerves in the brain circuits relay information through the different regions of the brain. Anxiety disorder may run in the family and may be caused by environmental factors such as trauma and significant life changes. Also bad dietary habits like high sugar intake are often behind anxiety and depression. In addition, hormonal changes can also cause anxiety.

How Anxiety Disorders are Addressed?

Anxiety disorders are addressed through one or a combination of the following treatments:

  • Psychotherapy

Expert mental health professionals help patients with diagnosed anxiety disorder by talking with them to develop and understand strategies that could help them.

This is a specific kind of psychotherapy in which the individual recognizes the cause of the anxiety and alters their thought patterns.

Medication drugs such as antidepressants and anxiety-reducing drugs are used to reduce the levels or symptoms of anxiety disorders. In this article, the antidepressant Trazodone will be discussed further.

What is Trazodone?

Trazodone, sometimes called trazadone, is an antidepressant of the serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor class and a phenylpiperazine compound which has anxiety- and sleep-inducing effects. It comes in brand names such as Depyrel, Mesyrel, Desyrel, Trazodil, Trazorel, Trittico, and Trialodine.

Trazodone tablets come in different dosages – 50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg. However, the 300 mg tablet was discontinued by most manufacturers in 2015 and is the least frequently prescribed dosage.

Indications of Trazodone

The treatment of major depression is the primary use of trazodone. Because of its relatively minimal anticholinergic activity, it was first used to treat geriatric patients with depression. It is thought to increase the activity of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that is known to work as a mood stabilizer for healthy sleep patterns and to maintain a balanced mood.

What You Should Know Before Using Trazodone

Before deciding the intake of trazodone, you should first of all, consult your doctor, and be aware that of the following considerations:

  • Pediatric

The relationship between age and trazodone is not yet studied. It is recommended that safety and efficacy on this matter should be considered.

  • Allergies

If you consult your doctor, tell them if you are allergic to anything, including  dyes, foods, preservatives, animals, and others. If you buy trazodone over the counter, you should read the label first before taking it.

  • Breastfeeding

Taking trazodone is not known to cause an adverse reaction in breastfeeding infants. However, you should consider the possible risks and benefits before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Use Trazodone Properly

To get the most benefit from trazodone and avoid serious adverse reactions, people who take it should use it properly. Take it as directed by the doctor – do not take more than the advised dosage, do not take it more often, and do not take it for longer time.

What are the Adverse Reactions of Trazodone?

The intake of trazodone may cause one or more of the following common adverse reactions. These are:

  • Drowsiness
  • Blurred vision
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Xerostomia
  • Confusion
  • Sedation
  • Diarrhea
  • Insomia

The following adverse reactions may disappear as soon as your body gets used to trazodone. You may not need to tell your doctor immediately if you notice them. However, you should seek professional help to reduce these side effects if they persist:

  • Dry mouth
  • Unpleasant taste
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Forgetfulness
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Hearing loss
  • Weight loss
  • Muscle ache

Precautions before Trazodone Intake

Before taking trazodone, it is very important to take precautions. For teenagers and young adults, trazodone intake may induce suicidal thoughts. If you feel more depressed or begin to have thoughts of hurting yourself, tell your doctor right away.  Your doctor should be informed of unusual thoughts, sleeping troubles, sudden or strong feelings of nervousness, anger, or fear.

Also, you should not stop taking trazodone without consulting your doctor. Your doctor may advise you to gradually reduce the dosage before completely stopping it, which should help you reduce the severity of the adverse reactions of drug withdrawal.

How Effective is Trazodone for Treating of Anxiety Disorders?

It is reported that trazodone is somewhat effective in treating anxiety disorders and often leads to improved anxiety symptoms within the first two to six weeks of intake. It also treats obsessive compulsive disorder or panic disorder leading to anxiety disorder. Symptoms of depressive disorders leading to anxiety disorder are also addressed by this medication.

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Conclusion

Anxiety is very hard to determine or diagnose. There are many symptoms which you can observe to help you find out if you are suffering from anxiety disorder. There are many holistic treatments available today as well as medicine. One of the medicines is trazodone. Trazodone is quite effective in the treatment of anxiety disorder but before taking it, you should first seek the medical advice of your doctor and understand its possible adverse effects. Together with medical treatment, the patient benefits from psychotherapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy, or a high-quality self-help program which can address several problems related to anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.

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