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What Causes Dizziness After Taking Trazodone?
Posted on
Sun, 31 May 2015
Sun, 31 May 2015
Answered on
Mon, 22 Jun 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : I have been diagnosed with stage 1 COPD after I had a bout with what I thought was pneumonia or bronchitis. I went to Stat care and was given antibiotic and prednisone for 5 days, then I followed up with family Doctor. He ordered a chest xray and told me it was stage 1 of COPD. I bought the CQ patches and frankly used them for 3 weeks (Step 1) they don't not help I've been a smoker for 40 years and I am 68 yrs old (female) two days ago while changing the patch I noticed a perfect round circle of a rash where the patch was, so I stopped using it.My cigarette consumption is approximately 6 per day and I keep tampering off ( this of course is subject to my anxiety level) I am also trying to get off Xanax that I took for insomnia went from 4 mg down to 1 mg in 4months. My Dr. suggested I see a psychologist and during the course of that meeting she asked me what I wanted and I told her I wanted to learn how to sleep without drugs...she then gives me a prescription for Trazodone. I'm sleeping 8 hrs per night which is wonderful but the side effects ( dizziness ) is awful..now when I smoke those 5-6 cigarettes during the day I have a burning sensation in top of my head, my skin on the outside burns too and after taking the Trazodone 2 toes on each foot become partially numb.My acid refulx kicks in also so the burning sensation is in full force.I see the psychologist in a week and my family Dr in July. What possibly could be happening?
Brief Answer:
Trazodon side effects or anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Those abnormal sensations that you are feeling can be due to two possible explanations. The first one is side effects of Trazodone. While not among the common side effects, trazodone is known to cause paresthesias at times. Paresthesias are abnormal sensations like numbness, tingling, crawling, itching etc, in the absence of an external stimulus.
Another possible explanation could be anxiety, which is also very commonly associated with paresthesias. Apart from you describing yourself as an anxious person, you have also several causes for triggering/exacerbating anxiety, such as removal of xanax (potent antianxiety drug - and you were on a high dose), trying to stop smoking, the stress of having a new medical condition. Trazodone should help with anxiety but its anti-anxiety effect often needs some weeks to really kick in.
Of the two alternatives above I would consider the second more likely. So what I would do for now, unless these symptoms are really unbearable, is give Trazodone a full try of at least 6 weeks, since its side effects often wane somewhat with time and antianxiety effect increases. I understand it is a difficult time, but it is a question of delicate neurochemical balance, which in your case has been altered by several factors and patience is needed till stability is achieved. Psychological therapy should help as well. In any case try to relax as those symptoms are not indicative of anything serious.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Trazodon side effects or anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Those abnormal sensations that you are feeling can be due to two possible explanations. The first one is side effects of Trazodone. While not among the common side effects, trazodone is known to cause paresthesias at times. Paresthesias are abnormal sensations like numbness, tingling, crawling, itching etc, in the absence of an external stimulus.
Another possible explanation could be anxiety, which is also very commonly associated with paresthesias. Apart from you describing yourself as an anxious person, you have also several causes for triggering/exacerbating anxiety, such as removal of xanax (potent antianxiety drug - and you were on a high dose), trying to stop smoking, the stress of having a new medical condition. Trazodone should help with anxiety but its anti-anxiety effect often needs some weeks to really kick in.
Of the two alternatives above I would consider the second more likely. So what I would do for now, unless these symptoms are really unbearable, is give Trazodone a full try of at least 6 weeks, since its side effects often wane somewhat with time and antianxiety effect increases. I understand it is a difficult time, but it is a question of delicate neurochemical balance, which in your case has been altered by several factors and patience is needed till stability is achieved. Psychological therapy should help as well. In any case try to relax as those symptoms are not indicative of anything serious.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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