From the Guidelines
Trazodone Discontinuation
Abruptly stopping trazodone after 2 months of use is not recommended due to the risk of withdrawal symptoms, such as dizziness, headache, and nausea 1.
- A gradual tapering of the dose over a period of 1-2 weeks is advised to minimize the risk of these symptoms, with a suggested reduction of 50-100mg every 3-4 days.
- Patients taking trazodone for an extended period, such as 2 months, should be closely monitored by their healthcare provider during the tapering process to ensure a safe and successful discontinuation.
- Gradual withdrawal is recommended to minimize potential discontinuation effects, similar to the approach used for antipsychotics and benzodiazepines 1.
- The tapering schedule should be individualized, considering the patient's response and potential withdrawal symptoms, with a possible reduction of 25% of the daily dose each week 1.
- Nonpharmacological interventions, such as close monitoring and patient education, can also support the tapering process and mitigate potential withdrawal symptoms.
From the FDA Drug Label
Adverse reactions can occur when Trazodone Hydrochloride Tablets are discontinued [see Warnings and Precautions (5. 8)]. Adverse reactions may occur upon discontinuation of Trazodone Hydrochloride Tablets [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.8)]. Gradually reduce the dosage rather than stopping Trazodone Hydrochloride Tablets abruptly whenever possible.
Trazodone should not be discontinued abruptly after 2 months. Instead, the dosage should be gradually reduced to minimize the risk of adverse reactions. 2 2
From the Research
Discontinuation of Trazodone
- There are no research papers to assist in answering this question, as the provided study 3 discusses the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of a single oral dose of abacavir/dolutegravir/lamivudine combination tablets in healthy Japanese study participants, which is not relevant to the discontinuation of trazodone.
- The study 3 focuses on the administration of abacavir 600 mg/dolutegravir 50 mg/lamivudine 300 mg and its effects on healthy Japanese participants, with no mention of trazodone or its discontinuation.
- Therefore, no information can be derived from this study regarding the discontinuation of trazodone after 2 months.