Trazodone Medication: What It Is and What It Serves, Indications

Trazodone, a derivative of triazolopyridine, was synthesized in Italy in 1966 and became available in the United States only in the 1980s.

It has been considered one of the first, second-generation antidepressants, sometimes also called atypical, developed to present antidepressant effect, arising from the hypothesis that depression is caused by an imbalance responsible for the emotional integration of unpleasant experiences in the brain ( Therefore, in its creation, models that mediate the response to noxious and unpleasant stimuli or situations were used, and the results obtained in terms of antidepressant efficacy and anxiolytic effect will be guaranteed among the most prescribed antidepressants—alternative for patients with intolerance to the anticholinergic effects of the traditional antidepressants tricyclic antidepressants (TCA).

Because of its ability to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, it is often referred to as such in the literature. However, its efficacy does not seem to be caused by this mechanism to be considered low potency. It also shows the antagonistic effect on 5HT2 receptors, such as nefazodone, probably related to the therapeutic effects of the substances. In animal studies, most antidepressants bind similarly to 5HT2 receptors, whose exact role in the antidepressant effect of drugs is still under investigation. The therapeutic efficacy of trazodone for depression is successful in many cases, comparable to the impact achieved by other antidepressants.

Indications about Trazodone

The classic recommendation of trazodone continues to be for depression, especially when anxiety and insomnia are present (Rotzinger et al., 1998; 1999; Zalma et al., 2000.). The usual daily dose ranges between 150 and 200 mg. In lower doses, between 25 and 100 mg, has been prescribed as hypnosis for patients with insomnia, even when this is the result of the action of other antidepressants, such as selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake.

Sometimes the indication of trazodone in the treatment of depression in the elderly and patients with cardiovascular disease is reinforced, taking into account the low anticholinergic and cardiac effects of this drug.

It has also been prescribed to patients infected with HIV, demonstrating the benefits as anxiolytic and sedative often as needed. Other indications include neuropathic pain during times of agitation in patients with dementia, premature ejaculation, and male erectile dysfunction.