Trazodone is an antidepressant that can be used to treat insomnia. It also has sedative properties and is sometimes used as a sleep aid. If you have both insomnia and depression, your doctor may recommend that you take trazodone for sleep in addition to your antidepressant medication. If you also have a fever, a sore throat and the flu, should you take nyquil or trazodone?
The answer depends on whether your primary care provider has recommended taking either of these medications. If so, then follow their recommendations. Also remember that over-the-counter medications tend to be less effective than prescription drugs for most conditions because they aren’t tailored specifically for each individual’s needs.
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How Does Trazodone Work?
Trazodone is an antidepressant with sedative properties. It works by increasing serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain. There is also some evidence to suggest that it may inhibit gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) reuptake. GABA is a neurotransmitter that has a calming, sedative effect on the nervous system.
Trazodone is not as effective as SSRIs and SNRIs for treating depression, but it may work better for insomnia. Unlike SSRIs and SNRIs, trazodone doesn’t inhibit serotonin reuptake. Instead, it increases serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain.
How to Take Trazodone
Before taking trazodone, inform your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, are taking any other medications (prescription or non-prescription), or if you have any allergies. Your doctor will likely advise you to start with a lower dose (50 mg) of the drug and then to increase the dose as needed.
Trazodone should be taken approximately 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. It’s also important to follow through with a consistent sleep schedule and a healthy sleep routine to maximize the benefits of this drug.
Side Effects of Trazodone
Some of the most common side effects of trazodone include dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, confusion, constipation, and abdominal cramping. As with all medications, it’s important to weigh the potential benefits of taking trazodone against the potential risks.
Because trazodone can cause drowsiness, it should be avoided if you operate machinery or drive a car. It should also be avoided if you have any medical conditions associated with drowsiness, such as sleep apnea or metabolic disorders.
Should You Take Nyquil with Trazodone?
As we mentioned earlier, trazodone is a sedating antidepressant. It’s therefore likely that taking this drug with Nyquil will decrease the effectiveness of both medications. If you have insomnia, the first step is to see a physician and rule out any physical causes for the sleep problem(s).
Once you do that, it’s important to understand that antidepressants are rarely prescribed for insomnia. Instead, your doctor may recommend a non-medication approach such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). This type of therapy isn’t as quick as taking a pill, but it is effective.
Conclusion
While nyquil is often recommended as a go-to sleep aid, it isn’t usually a good idea to take trazodone with Nyquil. This is because both of these drugs are sedating antidepressants that decrease serotonin levels in the brain. If you have insomnia and depression, your doctor may recommend that you take trazodone as a sleep aid in addition to your antidepressant medication.
Before taking any medication, it’s important to rule out any physical causes for insomnia and to understand that antidepressants are rarely prescribed for insomnia.
