Trazodone (desyrel) Side Effects: What to Expect
Common Short-term Side Effects and What They Feel Like
Starting trazodone often feels like a soft fog settling over the first few days. You may notice drowsiness, lightheadedness, or a dull headache; nausea, dry mouth, and blurred vision are common too. Some people describe a jittery restlessness or mild stomach upset, while others simply feel slowed down or oddly mellow.
Effects usually peak in the first week and often ease as your body adjusts, but sensitivity varies. Daytime sleepiness can make concentration hard; dizziness when standing suggests orthostatic effects. Sexual side changes and appetite shifts are common but less immediate. If symptoms are intense or sudden, call your clinician.
Small steps help: take at bedtime, avoid alcohol, stay hydrated, chew gum for dry mouth, rise slowly. Record side effects to discuss adjustments or stopping with your prescriber.
| Effect | Feels |
|---|---|
| Drowsiness | Heavy eyelids, |
| Dry mouth | Cottony feeling |
| Nausea | Queasy, unsettled |
Sedation, Drowsiness, and Managing Daytime Sleepiness
I remember the first week after starting desyrel; mornings felt heavy, like moving through cotton. That groggy cloud is common early on as your brain adjusts, and it usually eases after a few days or weeks. Avoid driving until you know how it affects you.
To manage daytime sleepiness, schedule doses at bedtime, limit alcohol and other sedatives, and prioritize short naps or caffeine strategically. Keep a sleep diary and tell your clinician if sleepiness interferes with work or mood — dose adjustments or switching medications may be needed. Also review other medications and over-the-counter supplements that might amplify sedation to reduce surprises, and discuss safer alternatives. Small lifestyle tweaks often make a big difference.
Sexual Dysfunction, Libido Changes, and Relationship Impact
A partner told me that starting desyrel felt like a gentle fog over desire — interest dipped and intimacy routines became awkward. It's common for people to notice reduced arousal, delayed climax, or difficulty maintaining interest; those changes can feel confusing and personal.
Open conversations help: normalize that medication can alter sex response and plan adjustments together. Simple steps like scheduling intimate moments, trying different types of touch, or reducing pressure can restore connection.
If shifts persist, discuss dose timing, alternative meds, or adding therapies with a clinician; couples counseling can address emotional fallout and keep trust intact while seeking solutions. Patience, experimentation, and medical guidance often lead to meaningful improvement over weeks for many
Cardiovascular and Orthostatic Effects: Risks to Monitor
On a bright morning, Maria stood up and felt wooziness — a drop in blood pressure that some people feel when starting desyrel. This orthostatic lightheadedness or palpitations can be alarming, but it often represents the drug’s effect on blood vessels and heart rate.
Those with older age, dehydration, or existing heart disease are at higher risk; combining trazodone with blood pressure medications or antidepressants raises concern. Clinicians check blood pressure lying and standing, review other drugs, and consider ECGs if there are rhythm worries.
To reduce risk, rise slowly, drink fluids, and avoid heavy alcohol. Seek prompt care for fainting, chest pain, or persistent dizziness—these may signal a need to stop or adjust treatment.
Rare but Serious Reactions: Priapism and Serotonin Syndrome Warning
Uncommon but serious, priapism is a prolonged, painful erection that can occur with desyrel and demands immediate attention.
Seek emergency care to avoid lasting damage; doctors may need to drain blood or give injections to relieve it.
Serotonin syndrome is a drug interaction reaction characterized by agitation, rapid heartbeat, high temperature, tremor, and confusion; it can be life-threatening.
Stop medication and seek urgent care if symptoms like muscle rigidity, high fever, or unresponsiveness appear; inform providers about all medications.
| What | Action |
|---|---|
| Priapism | ImmediateER |
| PriapismRisk | SeekER |
| SerotoninSyndrome | CallProvider |
| Fever | UrgentCare |
| MuscleRigidity | Emergency |
| Tremor | StopMeds |
| Confusion | Hospital |
Tips for Reducing Side Effects and When to Stop
Begin with a plan: start at the lowest effective dose, keep a brief symptom diary, and avoid alcohol and other sedatives. Take trazodone with food if stomach upset occurs, and allow extra time for morning routines if you feel groggy. Small dose reductions or moving the dose to bedtime often eases daytime sleepiness without losing benefit. Stay hydrated, monitor blood pressure, and carefully avoid driving until you know how it affects you.
Stop or contact your prescriber promptly if you notice chest pain, fainting, irregular heartbeat, extreme weakness, high fever, rigid muscles, confusion, or signs of priapism (a painful, prolonged erection). Don’t abruptly stop after long-term use; tapering reduces withdrawal and relapse risk. For detailed safety and prescribing information see DailyMed (Trazodone) and Mayo Clinic. Seek help for agitation, rapid heartbeat, hyperthermia, or tremor, and avoid combining with MAO inhibitors.