Can Trazodone Get You High?

Mental problems such as nervousness, depression, panic, etc. can cause a few other clinical conditions as well. Many individuals – living with depression – do not know that your physical health and productivity at work too are likely to come down. Your caregiver may prescribe meds belonging to a category called antidepressant drugs. Trazodone is a very popular drug in this category. But, does this drug get you high? It is a wise thing to know about this before starting to take this drug.

Foremost of all, you need to know the symptoms of a mental health condition like depression. The characteristic signs include being sad or down most of the time, a significant change (often a drop) in appetite, inability to sleep, problems with maintaining mental concentration, etc. If you leave mental health problems without proper care, you are likely to witness disorders like phobia, anxieties – social anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), etc.

Our current lifestyle is known to cause various types of stressful situations. So, it is viewed as normal if you are feeling down once in a while. But, if you catch yourself feeling down quite often, it is a good practice to consult with a qualified mental health specialist. A qualified caregiver will recommend a few changes to your lifestyle and daily habit; you may also be asked to take meds which can boost serotonin, norepinephrine and / or dopamine levels in your system.

In this light, what is trazodone?

This med is grouped under a class of drugs called serotonin-antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (in short, SARI). This medication is known to sedation users to provide needful relief. Owing to this, trazodone is used for the treatment of mood shifts such as depression, anxieties, panic attacks, etc. As it has lesser level of anti-cholinergic properties, it can be used for elders – aged above 55 years, and the aged.

Can this med get you high?

The answer is yes, but it is not the same degree of high one may get while using illicit drugs or items such as weed. Trazodone – i.e., its key ingredients – is known to have sedative capabilities. As a result, you may get a type of high if this med is taken in high doses. In such instances – i.e., while taking excessive doses – you are likely to experience dizziness, being drowsy as well as sleepy. Those who enjoy having any of these effects may use it for non-clinical reasons.

Drowsiness trazodone causes can vary from one individual to another. It hence becomes a tough thing to say who is likely to get a high. In this light, you need to know that non-clinical use of this antidepressant is not a safe thing to do.

Some people may try mixing this med with intoxicants such as opioid-based drugs, alcohol, heroin as well as benzos. These drugs may work to yield a highly sedative effect. In a few instances, people have used OTC drugs (such as cough meds that have alcohol in them) along with trazodone to get sedated for pleasure. All these are unsafe practices and may amount to an overdose; such uses may lead to near-fatal / fatal outcomes.

The typical dosage strength of trazodone fares ~ 150 – 300 milligrams (mg) for a day. Your caregiver may also administer this med in sizably lower dosage forms; at lower doses, it helps enhance therapeutic effectiveness of antidepressant drugs that are co-administered as part of the medication plan.

Always remember that your caregiving team is likely to prescribe this med in lower doses, especially when during the start of your treatment. At low doses of trazodone, your caregiver will assess possibilities of allergies or hypersensitivity. If side effects like changes to your body weight, abdominal conditions like vomiting, nausea or pains in stomach are observed, doses are altered accordingly. As trazodone is not an OTC med, it is consumed as per your caregiver’s instructions.

Disclaimer

Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.

Emily Harris

Education: Master’s in Nursing (MSN) from Johns Hopkins University. Experience: 7 years writing for online health portals and nursing journals, specializing in patient education and chronic illness management.