Trazodone for Insomnia: Meta-Analysis
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (2017)
50 to 100mg significantly improved sleep quality and latency vs placebo with acceptable tolerability profile.
Trazodone
Oral tablet (50mg)Available in all 50 statesMarketing purposes only. Actual medications, if prescribed, are dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.
sleep
TrazodoneTrazodone
Serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI) primarily used off-label at low doses (25 to 100mg) as a sleep aid. At low doses, H1 and 5-HT2A antagonism predominates, producing sedation without the dependence risk of benzodiazepines or Z-drugs.
Effective sleep aid without benzodiazepine dependence
Improves both sleep onset and maintenance
No next-day sedation at low doses
Not a controlled substance
No commitment · HSA/FSA eligibleNo commitment · HSA/FSA eligible
How it works
Mechanism of action
Blocks 5-HT2A receptors and H1 histamine receptors (producing sedation at low doses) while also inhibiting serotonin reuptake (antidepressant effect at higher doses). Minimal effect on GABA receptors, no dependence or tolerance.
The baseline panel.
Every Marek client receives this baseline panel before a provider review. Your provider may add additional biomarkers based on your health history, symptoms, and goals, pulling from 1,000+ available markers. See more biomarkers →
Hormone Profile
12 markers
Sex hormones
- Total TestosteroneLC/MS
- Free TestosteroneEquilibrium Dialysis
- Estradiol, Sensitive / UltrasensitiveLC/MS
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
- ProgesteroneLC/MSFemale panel
- Prolactin
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- hCG, Total, QuantitativeFemale panel, pre-menopause
Adrenals & neurosteroids
- Cortisol
- DHEA-S
Growth hormone / IGF-1
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-1)
Thyroid Status
3 markers
Thyroid hormones
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Free T4
- Free T3
Heart Health
9 markers
Cardiovascular health
- Total Cholesterol
- HDL Cholesterol
- LDL Cholesterol
- LDL:HDL Ratio
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Apolipoprotein-B (ApoB)
- C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity (hsCRP)
- Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a))
Metabolism
3 markers
Insulin sensitivity
- Blood Glucose
- Fasting Insulin
- HbA1c
Organ Function
26 markers
Liver & pancreas
- AST
- ALT
- Bilirubin, Total
- γ-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
Kidney function
- BUN
- Creatinine w/ eGFR
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Glucose
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
- Creatinine
- eGFR
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
- Carbon Dioxide, Total
- Calcium
- Protein, Total
- Albumin
- Globulin, Total
- Albumin/Globulin (A/G) Ratio
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
- AST
- ALT
Prostate health
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)Male panel
- Free PSAMale panel
- % Free PSAMale panel
Nutrient Status
31 markers
Vitamins & minerals
- Vitamin D, 25-OHD (25-Hydroxy)
- Magnesium, RBC
Iron status
- Iron
- Iron Saturation
- TIBC
- UIBC
- Ferritin
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- White Blood Count (WBC)
- Red Blood Count (RBC)
- Hemoglobin (Hgb)
- Hematocrit (HCT)
- MCV
- MCH
- MCHC
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
- Platelets
- Neutrophils
- Neutrophils (Absolute)
- Lymphocytes
- Lymphocytes (Absolute)
- Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio
- Monocytes
- Monocytes (Absolute)
- Eosinophils
- Eosinophils (Absolute)
- Basophils
- Basophils (Absolute)
- Immature Cells
- Immature Granulocytes
- Immature Granulocytes (Absolute)
- NRBC, w/ Reflex for Immature Cells
Clinical evidence
The research behind Trazodone.
Safety profile
Monitoring & safety information.
Commonly reported side effects
- Morning sedation
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Orthostatic hypotension
Less common but serious risks
- Priapism (rare but serious, 1 in 10,000)
- Cardiac QT prolongation (at higher doses)
- Serotonin syndrome (with other serotonergic agents)
Generally not appropriate for
- Concurrent MAOIs
- QT prolongation
- Known hypersensitivity
Typical monitoring
- Sleep quality assessment
- Blood pressure (orthostatic)
- Sexual function (priapism awareness)
- ECG if cardiac risk
FAQ
Quick answers.
Serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI) primarily used off-label at low doses (25 to 100mg) as a sleep aid. At low doses, H1 and 5-HT2A antagonism predominates, producing sedation without the dependence risk of benzodiazepines or Z-drugs.
Effective sleep aid without benzodiazepine dependence. Improves both sleep onset and maintenance. No next-day sedation at low doses. Not a controlled substance.
Common side effects include: morning sedation, dizziness, dry mouth, headache, orthostatic hypotension. Most side effects are dose-dependent and may resolve with continued use or dose adjustment.
Serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI) primarily used off-label at low doses (25 to 100mg) as a sleep aid. At low doses, H1 and 5-HT2A antagonism predominates, producing sedation without the dependence risk of benzodiazepines or Z-drugs.
Treatments are dependent on licensed clinical prescription. Client costs vary based on individual labs and panel in treatments and services.