Summary
- Mixing trazodone and alcohol increases sedation, dizziness, and the risk of serious short-term effects—including accidents, overdose, respiratory depression, and in rare cases, death.
- Trazodone may worsen alcohol recovery outcomes in the long term, with one study showing increased relapse rates and heavier drinking among patients given trazodone for insomnia after detox.
- Combining the two can put added stress on the liver and heart, potentially increasing the risk of liver damage, blood pressure drops, and cardiac arrhythmias over time.
- Self-medicating with trazodone to manage alcohol-related sleep or mood problems is dangerous, and should never be done without medical supervision.
- Safer alternatives like CBT, AUD medications, and professional care can help treat depression and insomnia without the health risks of mixing trazodone and alcohol. To help recover from alcoholism, call our national hotline at (855) 955-0771.
Many commonly-prescribed medications can also interact unfavorably with alcohol, increasing the health risks associated with either or both. This includes a number of antidepressants, which means it’s extremely important to know your risks and make smart choices about alcohol if you’ve been prescribed a medication like trazodone.
Below, we explain more about the health effects of trazodone and alcohol—and how they can interact if both of them are in your system at the same time. Read on and learn what you need to know about mixing these substances.
To find resources that can help with recovery from alcohol addiction, call our 24-hour hotline from anywhere in the country. We’re here to help you connect with the support you and your loved ones need to enjoy healthier and happier lives.
What Trazodone Is & How It Works
Trazodone is a prescription antidepressant primarily used to treat major depressive disorder. It belongs to the class of serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARI).
Taking trazodone can boost your levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter related to mood and behavior. This is why it’s commonly prescribed to help treat depression.
It can also block certain receptors related to arousal, like alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. This can have a sedative effect—which is one of the reasons trazodone may sometimes be prescribed off-label to help with insomnia or other sleep disorders.
How Alcohol Interacts with Trazodone
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, meaning it slows your brain activity. It enhances the effect of inhibitory neurotransmitters and suppresses excitatory neurotransmitters. As a result, drinking alcohol can make you feel relaxed and sedated. It can also impair your coordination and affect your attention or energy levels.
These effects are similar to some of the side effects of trazodone—which means that drinking alcohol can make trazodone’s side effects worse. The NIH lists trazodone as one of the numerous medicines that can interact harmfully with alcohol.
Learn more about the health effects of alcohol here.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Risks
Some of the risks that come from mixing alcohol with trazodone are relatively immediate and urgent, while others may develop over a longer period of time. Here’s what can happen in the short- or long-term when they’re taken together.
Short-Term Dangers
Accidents or Injuries
Trazodone can make the CNS-depressant effects of alcohol more pronounced. This can increase your risk of falls or injuries if you mix them.
Fatal Overdoses
Additionally, the University of Michigan states that a trazodone overdose can be fatal when alcohol is involved. Certain barbiturates and sedatives can also carry a risk of death when taken with too much trazodone.
For this reason, it is strongly recommended that alcohol be avoided altogether if you are taking trazodone for any reason.
Potential Signs of an Overdose
- Feeling extremely drowsy
- Vomiting
- Priapism (painful or prolonged erections in men)
- An irregular heartbeat
- Seizures (blackouts or convulsions)
- Respiratory problems—for example, your breathing could slow down or stop completely
Long-Term Risks
Interfering with Recovery from AUD
Although there is no evidence that trazodone itself is addictive, there is some evidence to suggest that it can interfere with recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD).
One clinical trial in patients recovering from alcohol dependence found that those given trazodone for insomnia actually had worse drinking outcomes in the long run—during the months after detox, they had fewer abstinent days and drank more heavily compared to those given a placebo. The researchers concluded that despite helping with sleep, trazodone “might impede improvements in alcohol consumption” in that context.
Learn more about alcohol withdrawal here.
Liver Damage
There is also reason to be concerned that drinking alcohol while taking trazodone could put extra stress on certain organs. For example, alcohol is directly toxic to the liver with long-term heavy use, which can lead to a variety of problems—including fatty liver, hepatitis, or cirrhosis. Trazodone is also primarily metabolized by the liver and can cause mild liver enzyme elevations on its own (though serious liver injury from trazodone is rare). So combining alcohol and trazodone could increase your risk of liver damage and related diseases over time.
Cardiovascular Stress
Chronic alcohol use can weaken the heart and cause irregular rhythms, while trazodone has been associated with side effects like orthostatic hypotension (drops in blood pressure) and cardiac arrhythmias in rare cases. Together, these could increase risks like fainting episodes or heart rhythm disturbances.
Safer Alternatives for Sleep & Depression Management
If you are struggling with insomnia or depression and also find yourself drinking alcohol regularly, it’s important to avoid self-medicating with trazodone—or any medication—on your own.
The combination is risky, and trazodone is not meant to be a remedy for alcohol-related sleep troubles without medical supervision. Instead, consider these safer alternatives and strategies for managing your sleep and mood:
Consult a Healthcare Professional
Speak with a doctor about your insomnia and/or depression, and be honest about your alcohol intake. This will help your care provider create an effective plan to improve your health.
A medical professional can help create a tailored plan that addresses both issues. They might choose a different medication or try to see whether you meet the criteria for AUD so that they can connect you with appropriate treatment. Their goal will likely involve minimizing your alcohol use because alcohol itself can undermine the effectiveness of any antidepressant.
You can also connect with resources to help you recover from alcoholism by calling our national 24/7 hotline at (855) 955-0771.
Therapy & Behavioral Approaches
Non-drug treatments can be very effective for both sleep and depression without any risk of drug interaction. For insomnia, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is a gold-standard treatment. It helps you improve sleep hygiene, address thoughts that interfere with sleep, and establish a healthy sleep routine.
Unlike taking a pill, CBT-I has no side effects and its benefits can persist long after treatment. Similarly, therapy or counseling for depression (such as CBT for depression, or support groups) can improve your mood.
These approaches focus on lifestyle changes and coping mechanisms that do not carry the sedative risks that come with medications. Over time, successful therapy can alleviate the underlying issues (anxiety, trauma, etc.) that might be causing you to feel depressed or making you lose sleep.
Furthermore, CBT has also been used to help people with alcohol and drug use disorders. So if you are struggling with the amount of alcohol you consume, this method may make it easier to recover.
Healthy Lifestyle & Support
Beyond formal treatment, adopting healthier habits can make a big difference. Cutting back on alcohol (or quitting if possible) will itself lead to better sleep after the initial withdrawal period, as well as improvements in your mood.
Some medications can actually help you recover from alcoholism so that you can make it through withdrawal and experience these benefits sooner. For instance, certain anti-craving medications for alcohol use disorder (like naltrexone or acamprosate) can be prescribed to help reduce alcohol consumption.
Remember, mixing trazodone and alcohol is not a “solution” for insomnia or stress—it’s a risky practice that can mask underlying issues. Safer treatments exist and have proven benefits without the dangerous side-effect profile.
Find the Support You Need to Avoid Alcohol While Taking Trazodone
It’s best to avoid drinking alcohol while on trazodone. The interaction between the two can make the effects of alcohol more potent and cause serious health risks in both the short and long term. If you find yourself in need of help for sleep or depression and you consume alcohol, reach out to a healthcare provider for guidance. They can help you find safer ways to manage your symptoms.
By addressing the root causes of your health challenges and choosing safer treatment strategies, you can improve your sleep and mood without putting your health in jeopardy due to drug-alcohol interactions. And to find support recovering from alcoholism, a call to our 24-hour national hotline is all it takes to get started. Call us now on any day of the week so we can help you take the next step.