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Tapering off of Trazadone

Posted by ksbrockman1 @ksbrockman1, Apr 19, 2025

Hello,
I have been taking 50mg of Trazadone nightly to help with my sleep but I have been getting a sensation during the day when I stand up like I am going to drop down or fall, not dizzy.
I would like to stop taking it all together. How can I taper off of it? Thank you!

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bobcinem | @bobcinem | Dec 18, 2025
In reply to @ctrogan "I have had the same symptoms as a result of Trazadone for sleep - when I..." + (show)
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I have had the same symptoms as a result of Trazadone for sleep - when I would get up from bed or stand up abruptly from sitting I sometimes become dizzy, lightheaded. This is a known side effect from Trazadone called hypostatic hypertension (sudden increase in blood pressure upon standing). I can manage it at a lower dose of Trazadone (50mg) but it’s much worse when on higher dosages or when dehydrated (I had several fainting spells last summer). My doctor wants me off Trazadone completely but I take it for my insomnia - difficult trade off.

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@ctrogan I have been taking Trazadone (250) for so many years I can’t remember. Lately I have taken another 50-75 when I wake up and can’t get back to sleep around 3:00 am.
I experience slight dizziness sometimes, and my balance isn’t great.
My blood pressure has always been low (not too low) but I had injections for pain (neck and shoulder) for two days this week. Both times my blood pressure was very high, before and after. I don’t experience any anxiety about these procedures, but I wonder if the Trazadone is a factor?

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daisy17 | @daisy17 | Dec 21, 2025

You can call your prescribing pharmacist and ask for a tapering schedule. However, if you do an on-line search, there are many websites that offer information on tapering. Below is one that recommends this:
"at a lower dose (50mg), I don’t think that you will have too many issues. An example taper for this dose would be:
37.5mg for one week
25mg for one week
12.5 mg for one week
Again, you're on a low dose already, so the length of taper would be relatively short and you likely won't have too many issues with withdrawal reactions".
Website: https://hellopharmacist.com/questions/does-trazodone-need-to-be-tapered

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bernieo50 | @bernieo50 | May 11 3:34pm

I'm happy I found this site---I have been taking trazodone 100mg for about a year---worked great , but I am very drowsy in the morning for about 2 hours, no matter what time I take it the night before, so I've been taking 50 mg for about a week now and it still worked fine. Now, I wanted to taper even more so last night I took 25mg. This afternoon I came down with diarrhea and nausea. Do you think this is from lowering the dose too soon?

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gloaming | @gloaming | May 11 5:04pm
In reply to @bernieo50 "I'm happy I found this site---I have been taking trazodone 100mg for about a year---worked great..." + (show)
Profile picture for bernieo50 @bernieo50

I'm happy I found this site---I have been taking trazodone 100mg for about a year---worked great , but I am very drowsy in the morning for about 2 hours, no matter what time I take it the night before, so I've been taking 50 mg for about a week now and it still worked fine. Now, I wanted to taper even more so last night I took 25mg. This afternoon I came down with diarrhea and nausea. Do you think this is from lowering the dose too soon?

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@bernieo50 I am going to say almost certainly....NO. While it may be plausible, or possible, I firmly believe what you describe is a bug.....or something you ate, or a 'stomach flu'.....something that is transient, that you'll be over in maybe five whole days, and that almost certainly has nothing to do with your taper. Think this way: you've already halved your original dose and done fine. Fifty percent 'discount', just like that, and you had no reaction. So, now you halve it again, but you have gastro symptoms. I think you should just think 'gastro', and monitor. Keep fluids and electrolytes in mind if you continue to 'leak' here and there, but I would be hesitant to urge you to undo your tapering so far. As always, do see a doctor, a real one (not me!), if you feel unwell and if your symptoms last more than 72 hours. Fluids and electrolytes, please.

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bernieo50 | @bernieo50 | May 11 6:12pm
In reply to @gloaming "@bernieo50 I am going to say almost certainly....NO. While it may be plausible, or possible, I..." + (show)
Profile picture for gloaming @gloaming

@bernieo50 I am going to say almost certainly....NO. While it may be plausible, or possible, I firmly believe what you describe is a bug.....or something you ate, or a 'stomach flu'.....something that is transient, that you'll be over in maybe five whole days, and that almost certainly has nothing to do with your taper. Think this way: you've already halved your original dose and done fine. Fifty percent 'discount', just like that, and you had no reaction. So, now you halve it again, but you have gastro symptoms. I think you should just think 'gastro', and monitor. Keep fluids and electrolytes in mind if you continue to 'leak' here and there, but I would be hesitant to urge you to undo your tapering so far. As always, do see a doctor, a real one (not me!), if you feel unwell and if your symptoms last more than 72 hours. Fluids and electrolytes, please.

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@gloaming Thank-You for the advice, I tend to agree with you.

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