The Dangers of Mixing Trazodone & Alcohol

What Is Trazodone?

Trazodone is a medication FDA-approved to treat major depressive disorder in adults. FDA approval means a medication has been found to be safe and effective for a specific use based on data from clinical trials. Trazodone is thought to work by influencing levels of serotonin, a chemical in the brain, which may relieve depression symptoms for some people.¹

When taken as prescribed, trazodone has been shown to improve symptoms of depression. Taking trazodone does have risks that all patients should be aware of. Besides the severe risks mentioned above, many patients experience central nervous system depressive symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms can include confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, and general fatigue.¹

Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Trazodone?

You should not drink alcohol while taking trazodone. Both trazodone and alcohol cause central nervous system depression. When the two are combined, the symptoms of CNS depression are enhanced. This may lead to increased drowsiness, dizziness, impaired judgment, and impaired functioning.^1,2

Trazodone is a medication used for depression. For some who take it, trazodone may help with sleep problems. Some people may utilize alcohol to temporarily improve mood or improve sleep, and may also consider combining it with trazodone for greater effect.

However, the risks of doing so significantly outweigh the potential benefits. Combining alcohol with antidepressants like trazodone can cause an increased risk of overdosage and increased feelings of hopelessness and depression, the opposite of the intended effect. ³

Can Trazodone & Alcohol Kill You?

Yes, taking alcohol and trazodone together can be fatal. Combining the two substances can increase the risk of drowsiness, impaired function, and trazodone overdose. Since a person taking the two together might not understand the combined effect, they may be hurt or killed doing things they think they can normally do when taking one or the other.

How Long Should You Wait After Taking Trazodone to Drink Alcohol?

The answer to this question varies based on how you take trazodone and what you are using it to treat. If you are taking trazodone daily for depression, you should wait until you have stopped trazodone completely with the help of your doctor. Your doctor will most likely prescribe a gradual taper or slow decrease of trazodone dosage instead of stopping all at once.¹

If you take trazodone irregularly, and only as needed for sleep, you should wait at least a day before consuming any alcohol. This will ensure that the trazodone has been broken down and expelled from your body

What Are the Side Effects of Mixing Alcohol & Trazodone?

It is important to understand the side effects of mixing alcohol and trazodone. Mixing the two substances should always be avoided. If you recognize any of these side effects, it is important to get help right away. Since the side effects of both individually are similar, the potential side effects from taking the two together are mostly more severe versions of the same side effects.^1,3

Common side effects of mixing alcohol and trazodone may include:*

• Impaired motor function
• Confusion
• Decreased concentration
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Increased feelings of hopelessness
• Headache

Severe side effects of mixing alcohol and trazodone may include:*

• Increased risk for overdose
• Death
• Respiratory depression
• Seizures
• Changes in heartbeat
• Vomiting
• Fainting

*All medications, including trazodone, can cause side effects which can be mild or serious. This is not a comprehensive list of all possible side effects. You should talk with your doctor about any questions you have and to understand the potential side effects and benefits of any medication.

When to Seek Professional Help

It is important to seek professional help if you or someone you know struggles with avoiding alcohol when taking trazodone. Risks of side effects are increased even after combining the two substances just once. If you find you have ingested both trazodone and alcohol, you should stop consuming alcohol and contact medical services right away. If you need help trying to stop drinking alcohol or do not think you will be able to regulate your alcohol intake while on trazodone, seek immediate medical care.

Your doctor may be able to prescribe an alternative medication to trazodone that can still be effective without less risk of interacting with alcohol. Alternatively, you and your doctor may be able to come up with a plan for consuming alcohol only on certain days that you do not take trazodone. This type of drug holiday should only be utilized at the direction of your physician to ensure the antidepressant effects of trazodone work as intended.

Questions to Ask Your Health Team About Trazodone Use With Alcohol

It is important not to try to hide alcohol use from your prescriber. Instead, be open about how you would like to consume alcohol or if you may struggle to eliminate alcohol from your life. This can allow your prescriber to decide a different treatment may be better for you. Preventing unsafe interactions should always be the goal. Be sure to spend significant time with your healthcare team to understand what safe alcohol use looks like when taking trazodone.

Questions to ask your doctor about alcohol and trazodone include:

• Is there a safe amount of alcohol that I can consume with trazodone?
• Would nonalcoholic drinks be an okay alternative?
• Are there certain alcohols that are safer than others?
• Do any of my other medications, including over-the-counter products, contain alcohol?
• How long do I need to avoid alcohol while taking trazodone?
• Is there a trazodone alternative that isn’t negatively affected by alcohol?
• What should I do if I decide to drink anyway and have an adverse reaction?
• I have an important event coming up that will have alcohol, and I would like to drink, what can I do?
• How long after stopping trazodone should I wait to consume alcohol?
• I no longer want to take trazodone, how can I stop?