Trazodone for Alzheimer's

Overview
Trazodone is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat depression. Trazodone is sometimes prescribed to treat sleep problems, low mood, and irritability in people with Alzheimer’s disease when non-drug approaches have failed to address these symptoms. Since the FDA has not approved Trazodone specifically for this usage, it is considered “off-label.”

Trazodone is an antidepressant of the serotonin modulator class. Trazodone is believed to work by changing the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain.

How do I take it?
Trazodone is generally taken one or more times a day.

Trazodone comes in tablet form.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Trazodone lists common side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, skin rash, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, nasal congestion, weight changes, and headache.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Trazodone include serotonin syndrome, which may be life-threatening.