{"id":40177,"date":"2021-09-08T14:46:36","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T18:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=40177"},"modified":"2026-03-27T10:41:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:41:54","slug":"trazodone-for-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/trazodone-for-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"Trazodone for sleep: What you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is trazodone an approved sleep aid?<\/a> | Trazodone dosage<\/a> | Trazodone advantages<\/a> | Side effects<\/a> | Alternatives<\/a> | FAQs<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Trazodone<\/a> is a prescription drug FDA-approved to treat individuals with depression or major depressive disorder. It works by regulating certain chemicals in the central nervous system (CNS), such as serotonin. Trazodone is similarly effective to other antidepressants, including tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), <\/span>selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),<\/span><\/a> and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), but it is classified as a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI). Trazodone is a generic drug that can be purchased under the brand name Desyrel or Oleptro.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it is mainly prescribed for depression, trazodone can be prescribed off-label to treat insomnia because of its sedative properties. Trazodone may be especially useful for people who experience insomnia caused by depression.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Is trazodone approved as a sleep aid?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Trazodone is not approved as a <\/span>sleep aid<\/span><\/a> by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but rather as a <\/span>treatment of depression<\/span><\/a>. Although not approved as a sleep aid by the FDA, trazodone is sometimes prescribed for insomnia. The use of a medication for something other than its intended FDA-approved use is called off-label use, and it is a common practice by healthcare providers. Prescribing a drug off-label is up to the discretion and judgment of a healthcare provider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some research suggests that trazodone can be an effective medication for treating primary and secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia is not caused by a medical condition or problem, while secondary insomnia typically develops due to a health condition, such as a mental health disorder, lung disease, or cancer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One systematic review<\/span><\/a> compiled and analyzed various studies on trazodone for insomnia, and it concluded that low doses of trazodone could be a safe and effective way to help treat insomnia. Studies analyzed in the review found that trazodone may help improve sleep latency, duration, and quality. In addition, trazodone may help improve deep sleep, or slow-wave sleep. In other words, trazodone can be a useful drug to help a person fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night. However, more large-scale clinical trials are needed to evaluate these findings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends avoiding trazodone for chronic insomnia. <\/span>Trazodone guidelines from the AASM<\/span><\/a> are based on a short-term clinical trial that compared 50 mg of trazodone to 10 mg of Ambien (zolpidem) and placebo. The AASM task force determined that trazodone produced no significant improvement in sleep and is linked to various side effects. Instead, the AASM recommends other sleep medications, such as Belsomra (suvorexant), Lunesta (eszopiclone), or Sonata (zaleplon).<\/span><\/p>\n

Related: <\/b>Trazodone vs. Ambien<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How much trazodone should I take for sleep?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The trazodone dosage for insomnia ranges from 25 mg to 150 mg, although it is typically started at 25 to 50 mg at bedtime. The dosage may be increased gradually depending on the person\u2019s response to the drug.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTypically a starting dose of trazodone as a sleep aid is between 25 to 50 mg at bedtime, but max doses can go higher,\u201d says <\/span>Sean Kiesel<\/span><\/a>, DO, who practices family medicine in Utah. \u201cThis is ultimately determined by you and your physician.\u201d <\/span>The <\/span>maximum dose of trazodone<\/span><\/a> for insomnia is 200 mg.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Trazodone is usually only recommended for short-term treatment of insomnia. People who are on long-term treatment with high doses of trazodone will need to gradually decrease their dosage when discontinuing the drug.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Is it safe to take sleep aids every night?<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Advantages of taking trazodone for sleep<\/span><\/h2>\n

Typically, trazodone is not a first choice for the treatment of insomnia. Medical experts may recommend trying lifestyle changes or cognitive behavioral therapy first to help treat chronic insomnia. If these methods are not enough, a healthcare provider may prescribe an FDA-approved sleep disorder medication, such as <\/span>Lunesta<\/span><\/a> (eszopiclone) or <\/span>Ambien<\/span><\/a> (zolpidem).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A healthcare provider may prescribe trazodone for sleep in different scenarios. For example, if you are taking an SSRI for depression and experience insomnia, a healthcare provider may prescribe trazodone as a sleep aid. Taking trazodone for sleep may have some advantages, including:<\/span><\/p>\n