Have you been prescribed trazodone? Or maybe you are thinking of taking some tablets to help you fall asleep? One of the most common questions of people who are taking trazodone is whether the drug is addictive. Is it possible to be dependent on the drug? What are the chances of developing an addiction?
Trazodone is a prescription medication that was created for the treatment of depression. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this specific purpose. However, trazodone is widely prescribed for other off-label uses including treatment for insomnia, anxiety, schizophrenia, and pain.
One of the reasons why trazodone is being prescribed for many conditions is because doctors believe that it is a much safer alternative than other drugs. For example, compared to anti-anxiety meds like benzodiazepines or pain medications like opioids, trazodone has a lower potential for abuse. This is because while trazodone has sedative effects, taking the drug is not supposed to produce euphoric highs.
While it is not generally classified as an addictive drug, there are still instances when trazodone can be abused and this could lead to serious side effects.
The trazodone habit
If you do something every single day, the chances of forming a habit is high. A habit can be anything – drinking coffee, biting your nails, the way you tie your shoes, smoking, etc. These types of behavior becomes automatic and many people do them even without conscious thought. Some people don’t even realize that they have already formed a habit.
In the case of trazodone and other sleep aids, it is not difficult to develop a habit of taking such drugs. For someone who is always having a hard time sleeping, the relief that trazodone may bring could develop into a psychological addiction. This happens when trazodone users start believing that they cannot sleep without the drug so even if they no longer need trazodone, they still keep taking the tablet.
When taking trazodone becomes a habit, it can be difficult to stop taking the drug. Using the drug for a long period can also result in drug tolerance. When this happens, the user would need to increase the dosage to take the same effect. This continuous increase could lead to overdose.
Can trazodone be abused?
Just because trazodone is not classified as a highly addictive drug does not mean that it cannot be abused. One of the reasons why trazodone is being abused could be because it is much more accessible and also a cheaper alternative to benzos and opioids. Benzodiazepines like valium, Xanax, and Klonopin may be harder to acquire. The opioid crisis has also made doctors cautious about prescribing opioids to patients.
Trazodone then becomes the easier alternative, however, because the effects may not be as potent as other illicit drugs, some users try to increase the dosage that they’re taking without realizing that doing this poses various dangers.
The dangers of trazodone
As trazodone is widely used all around America, the common misconception is that it is a completely safe drug. While it is true that you probably won’t need emergency care after taking a couple of trazodone tablets, it is still possible to experience serious consequences because of trazodone.
It is a no-no to combine trazodone with alcohol because it will increase the side effects of trazodone such as drowsiness, dizziness, impaired thinking and reflexes, and more. Trazodone also increases the effects of alcohol so you get all the negative effects of both substances at the same time.
If you drink alcohol while on trazodone, it can also have serious effects on your blood pressure and your heart rate. It is also not advisable to combine trazodone with other drugs to heighten their effects. Drug cocktails are very dangerous and could even lead to death.
Trazodone overdose is uncommon but it can happen. There have been reports of people who overdosed after taking trazodone as a method of self-harm. Accidental overdose is also possible especially if you drink too many tablets with the intention of feeling euphoric effects. This is a common mistake that many people make. Because they think trazodone will provide them with an intense high, they become disappointed when they only become sedated.
However, it is important to note that taking too much of the drug will not make you feel better, instead, it can achieve the opposite.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, help is available.
Contact Anaheim Lighthouse today.
