Can You Take Gabapentin And Trazodone Together?

Damage of nerves may cause severe pains. You may experience such discomforts upon sustaining spinal cord injuries. Your treating doctor may administer drugs that form part of a genre called anti-epileptics to treat such pains. Meds of this class may also be labelled as anticonvulsant drugs. Gabapentin is a popular med in this category. But, can you take this antiepileptic drug along with trazodone – an antidepressant med? It is a safe thing to have more details on this front.

US-based federal drug certifying agency – the food and drug administration (FDA) – has approved a few drugs for the treatment of nerve-related conditions. Such drugs are grouped as anticonvulsant or antiepileptic meds. Such meds have key chemicals in them to calm your nervous system and treat conditions such as convulsions or fits.

What is Gabapentin?

Gabapentin is popular anticonvulsant med, taken to treat nerve-linked disorders including seizures. The key ingredients present in gabapentin help numb pains; in other words, signals transmitting pains are modified/distorted to make you feel less pain. It is administered to treat neuralgia (incidence of nerve pains), disorders triggered by onset of shingles (i.e., attack of a microbe called herpes zoster).

This antiepileptic offering is sold both as a branded formulation as well as a generic med. So, if your aim is to save on costs, the generic version can help. Moreover, gabapentin is made as an extended-release form and as an immediate release mode; your treating doctor may select an apt form based on your medical condition – especially, depending on the severity of your nerve pains.

What is Trazodone?

This antidepressant has needful approval from the federal drug authorising body – FDA. Trazodone is grouped as a serotonin-antagonist and reuptake-inhibitor. It bears sedative properties; these help in making you calm amid conditions such as anxieties, restlessness and / or depression. Moreover, trazodone is known to possess a significantly low anticholinergic ability. Like several other neuro transmitters, acetylcholine is a transmitter compound. The limited scope this drug bears to inhibit acetylcholine works well for elders – chiefly, those more than 50 years of age.

Upon launch of trazodone in the 80s, it has steadily obtained acceptance. As a result, it fares one among largely-prescribed drugs in the US. More than 25 million prescriptions are written for it every year. It comes as no big surprise to know of its ranking in the list of top-50 widely prescribed drugs.

Can you Take Gabapentin and Trazodone Together?

Co-administration of these two drugs i.e., gabapentin and trazodone – may cause a few discomforts. Common among adverse reactions and side effects are being drowsy, dizzy, inability to focus on tasks, being in a confused state of mind, etc. In case of elderly patients – mainly, those aged 55+ years – loss of coordination, loss of cognitive capabilities and thinking may occur.

Your treating doctor will advise you to stay away from performing activities needing high level of mental focus and attention. For instance, do not drive, work on heavy machinery and / or engage in sporting actions like swimming, running or jumping. Intake of alcohol can further worsen your inability to stay focused.

It is a safe practice to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking now. Better still, make a list of all medication plans and treatment that you are currently pursuing. As you make such a list, care to add all forms of drugs including those falling under over the counter (OTC) category, herbal meds, supplements of proteins, vitamins or minerals, dietary aids, etc. If you need additional details about taking gabapentin and trazodone together, talk to your caregiver and/or pharmacist.

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.

Thomas Reed

Education: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Florida. Experience: 5 years as a pharmacist and medical writer, creating content on medication management and pharmaceutical news for healthcare blogs and patient education sites.