Trazodone is a mood stabilizer used to fight mental depression and anxiety disorder depression. It is marketed as Desyrel or Desyrel Dividose in pill form. A major depressive episode, RxList.com states, is when you experience symptoms of depression---such as sadness, hopelessness and lack of interest---for two weeks or more.
Dosage
Trazodone typically is part of therapy to relieve your depression. It generally is prescribed at a dosage of 150mg per day to start. Often, doctors prescribe several smaller dosages that add up to 150mg to be taken throughout the day. Although your physician or psychiatrist may increase your dose, the Mayo Clinic reports it generally does not exceed 600g in a day. When you take more than your recommended dose, you are putting your life at risk and must seek emergency medical aid at a hospital as soon as possible, the Mayo Clinic states.
Drowsiness
Excessive drowsiness is one side effect of a trazodone overdose. You may feel very tired and sleepy, and may have trouble staying awake.
Sexual
In men, taking too much trazodone may result in a painful erection without stimulation. The erection typically will continue for minutes or even hours. Go to the emergency room immediately if you experience this adverse overdose side effect.
Other Physical Side Effects
Another severe overdose side effect of trazodone is an inability to control the coordination of your muscles. This also may coincide with seizures and respiratory arrest. Other bodily side effects, Drugs.com states, include pain in your chest, hypotension (low blood pressure), arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), bradycardia (slow heart rate), a coma, insomnia, headaches, dizziness and fainting. The Mayo Clinic also reports vomiting and nausea as overdose side effects of trazodone. People have died from overdosing on trazodone while taking other drugs or alcohol. Again, if you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek emergency medical care immediately.
Suicidality
One possible side effect of trazodone overdose is suicidal ideation. Antidepressants now come with warnings, particularly for adolescents and children, concerning their potential for causing an increase in suicidal behavior and thinking. These generally occur within the first several months of taking the drug. Doctors, parents and other caregivers should carefully monitor children and adolescents for these types of behaviors.
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