Is it normal that after 2 doses of Trazodone 50mg I still don't feel the effect?

Question

Hello, I have difficulty sleeping well during the day because of my night work. My doctor prescribed Trazodone 25 to 50 mg to be taken 30 minutes before bedtime to facilitate sleep. I took it twice, a few days apart. Thank you for your answer! Is it possible to gain a lot of weight with this medication since it is considered an antidepressant? It's something that stresses me a lot to take it on a regular basis

Sandrine Vézina · Accepted Answer

Hello, Trazodone is a medication in the antidepressant family, but it is mainly used to treat insomnia. Although some people have an instant effect with this medication, it can take several days or even up to 6 weeks before reaching its maximum effectiveness. It is preferable to take it more regularly in this context, especially since it does not create tolerance compared to other hypnotics. In your context (night work), you could for example take it in the mornings when you need to sleep and keep it only when you need to go to bed at night (on your days off). You could also take it 30 minutes before each "night" regardless of the time of day. Finally, you can take it as needed, but it may be less effective as mentioned above. I hope this answers your question, Sandrine Hello, According to studies, about 1 to 5% of people who take Trazodone will experience weight gain (compared to 10% for some other antidepressants) This is a dose-dependent side effect, which means that at small doses (like the one prescribed by your doctor), it's less likely to happen than at higher doses (some people can take up to 150-200 mg per day of Trazodone). I hope this answers your question, Sandrine