Dangers of Snorting Trazodone
This article will provide an explanation of what trazodone is, why it is dangerous for people to take it, the problems with prescription medication abuse in general, and the side effects that can occur as a result of taking trazodone. In addition, the article will discuss the symptoms of withdrawal people will experience when they quit taking trazodone, how trazodone can lead to the development of major depressive disorders, as well as information on where they can seek treatment in order to overcome an addiction to trazodone.
What is Trazodone?
Trazodone (also known by the brand names ‘Oleptro’, ‘Dividose’, and ‘Desyrel’) is a form of antidepressant prescription medication belonging to a range of prescription drugs known as SARIs (serotonin antagonist and serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs).
Trazodone does not belong to the range of antidepressant medications known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), however, it is considered to be similar in that it offers patients access to similar effects.
Trazodone’s Effects On The Brain And Body
Trazodone works as a form of neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor that stabilizes a person’s moods, providing sedating effects, and bringing balance to a patient’s chemical levels, which in turn will potentially improve a person’s feelings, emotions, and bodily responses.
What Is Trazodone Prescribed For?
Trazodone is typically prescribed to patients suffering from major depressive disorder, insomnia, and general sleep disorders. The drug reportedly improves a patient’s appetite. It can improve moods, decrease anxiety levels, address insomnia, and improve a person’s energy levels.
Trazodone achieves many of these effects by rectifying the levels of serotonin within the patient’s brain (i.e. restoring a chemical imbalance). Trazodone may also be prescribed to people suffering from insomnia or alcohol addiction.
Trazodone can result in psychological addiction and physiological addiction, and since the drug works as a serotonin antagonist and serotonin reuptake inhibitor, it can lead to the user experiencing an increased amount of serotonin within their brain and spinal cord.
How Is Trazodone Taken?
Trazodone is typically taken in the form of a tablet. People will usually insert the tablets into a meal in order to make it easier to ingest. Moreover, the drug is usually taken at specific times throughout the day.
Individuals abusing trazodone will typically snort trazodone, and the dangers of this may include a perforated septum, a runny nose, a stuffy nose, or constant nose bleeds. Moreover, snorting trazodone will, of course, mean that the drug reaches the brain quicker, meaning that the high will be felt quicker. It may be far more intense compared with a normal dose, and it also increases the likelihood of problems occurring as a result of trazodone abuse.
The Side Effects of Trazodone
The side effects of trazodone abuse may include:
- a stuffy nose
- itchy eyes
- shaking in various parts of the body
- rashes
- dry mouth
- decreased sexual desire
- nervousness
- nausea, vomiting
- diarrhea
- constipation
- nosebleeds
- weight loss or weight gain
- lack of appetite or an increased appetite
- dizziness
- lightheadedness
- nightmares
- muscle pains
- sweating
- confusion and memory loss
- cognitive problems.
If a person abuses trazodone they may develop substance use disorders, as well as potentially dangerous conditions:
- coordination problems
- red or purple dots on the skin
- bruises and bleeding
- respiratory problems
- hallucinations
- erections that last for unusually long periods of time
- gastrointestinal problems
- a dangerously high heartbeat
- chest pains
- coma
- death.
Trazodone abuse may also lead to health concerns such as the development of serotonin syndrome.
Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome is typically caused by prescription medications given to patients that result in the person building up higher levels of serotonin in the brain and within the body. Serotonin is produced naturally within the body, and therefore, higher than normal levels can cause adverse effects for a person.
The Symptoms Of Serotonin Syndrome
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include:
- fevers
- vomiting
- tremors
- twitching
- headaches
- dilated pupils
- diarrhea
- shivers
- seizures
- muscle problems
- anxiety
- a lack of sleep
- disorientation
- irregular heartbeat
- unconsciousness
- higher blood pressure
- increased body temperature
- death in extreme cases.
Trazodone Withdrawal Symptoms
Symptoms of trazodone withdrawal may lead to a person experiencing irritability, frequent headaches, concentration difficulties, chills, dizziness, lightheadedness, temporarily losing the ability to walk, shock sensations felt throughout the body, nausea, vomiting, depersonalization, and suicidal thoughts.
Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome
Antidepressant medication abuse can result in people suffering from antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. It is common for people who abuse antidepressants to experience co-occurring mood disorders, as well as general substance abuse issues.
When a person stops taking antidepressant medications, it can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety problems, insomnia (or an ability to sleep), strange sensory experiences (such as random sharp pains in the brain or around the body), nausea, and vertigo.
This syndrome typically occurs when antidepressant abuse has abruptly stopped. Moreover, these types of prescription medications may leave the body slowly or quickly, but in either case, if the patient stops using them straight away (without a doctor’s consultation or detox plan put in place), it can cause problems for the user.
The Signs and Symptoms Of A Trazodone Overdose
If a person has taken more than 600mg of trazodone within a 24-hour period, they are considered to have taken an overdose. In addition, the signs of a trazodone overdose may include respiratory problems, respiratory arrest, vomiting, nausea, low blood pressure, chest pains, an irregular heartbeat, a decreased heart rate, or a coma, to name but a few.
What To Do in the Event of a Tradozone Overdose
If a person is suffering from a potential trazodone overdose, the best immediate course of action is to call 9-1-1- and seek immediate treatment from a medical professional. There is unfortunately no known antidote or drug that can be used to successfully reverse the effects of a trazodone overdose.
Therefore, healthcare professionals have advised that people understand that time is extremely important in these instances, and that if the patient is reached in time, certain things can be done to improve their situation, and potentially the person can be saved.
For instance, the doctors might decide to proceed with intubation in order to address severe respiratory depression, or they might opt to administer a dose of charcoal within the patient’s stomach in order to flush out or clean the stomach.
Getting Treatment for Trazodone Addiction
Medical Detoxification For Trazodone Addiction
There is a range of treatment options available for people addicted to anxiety medications, antidepressant medications, trazodone, and drugs in general. Before deciding on addiction treatment via a treatment center that offers the patient the features that they require for their recovery process, it’s important to address the physical dependence on the drug first, either through a medical detox program, or a non-medical detox program.
Given that trazodone is a type of antidepressant medication, and as mentioned earlier in this article, it can cause users significant problems if they quit the drug cold turkey. The best initial course of action would be for the user to admit themselves to a medical detoxification program.
This detox program could either be carried out as part of an inpatient program at a residential treatment center (rehab) or as part of an outpatient program at a local medical facility or hospital.
Residential Treatment Centers
However, in either case, it would likely be a good idea for the patient to reside at a location for the duration of the medical detox program in order to avoid developing the discontinuation syndrome for anti-depressant abuse. This will also set them up well for the rest of the recovery plans available that treat addiction for those suffering from trazodone dependency.
For instance, the individual should consider admitting themselves to an addiction treatment center that may potentially be able to offer the detox treatment process, as well as the aftercare options that the user will require in order to beat trazodone abuse and addiction.
A residential treatment center can provide individuals with a place to reside during their treatment, in order to address their drug abuse, remove the drugs from their body and thereby overcome the physical dependence on the drug, and then move on to the psychological aspect of the addiction.
Therapy & Counseling
Addiction treatment for addressing the psychological dependence part of the treatment process will involve the individual taking part in therapy programs such as the 12-step program or the 4-step SMART recovery program, or similar forms of counseling and therapy.
Patients will typically follow these steps throughout the course of a few months or more, with the idea being that each stage represents a development for the individual in terms of moving forward with their recovery process.
With these forms of treatment, patients will learn how to build coping mechanisms that will prevent people from becoming addicted to prescription medications, as well as other drugs in the future. They will help people to understand how their addictions materialized, explore the root causes of the addiction, and they will then learn how to develop the strength and confidence they need to achieve recovery and prevent a relapse in the future.
If you need help with trazodone addiction, Ebb Tide has a range of excellent treatment options available for each individual’s journey to recovery. To find out how they can help you with trazodone addiction, or any other form of addiction, click here.