Trazodone is approved by the FDA as a prescription drug used for the medical treatment of depression. Learn about side effects, drug interactions, dosages, warnings, and more. Trazodone side effects in the elderly are somewhat lower however than with other similar drugs. One consideration to keep in mind with trazodone side effects in the elderly is kidney function. Kidney functionality may be impaired in older patients, so it may mean that it takes them longer to process a medicine like trazodone. This means that older patients should take lower doses and they may. While side effects of Trazodone are uncommon, the following symptoms can occur: Lethargy; Vomiting; Diarrhea; Sedation; Incoordination; Increased aggression Increased anxiety Priapism (prolonged erections in males) Signs of serotonin syndrome may include vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, and seizures. If your dog takes Trazodone and is showing these symptoms, you should. Trazodone is often prescribed for sleep. This is an off-label use of this antidepressant. Trazodone may be an effective sleep aid with fewer side effects than other options. It's not addictive. Trazodone, sold under many brand names, is an antidepressant medication. It is used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and, with other medications, alcohol dependence. It is taken by mouth. Common side-effects include dry mouth, feeling faint, vomiting, and headache. More serious side effects may include suicide, mania, irregular heart rate, and pathologically prolonged. Side Effects of Trazodone. If you use trazodone to alleviate insomnia and suddenly discontinue use, you might experience symptoms like anxiety, irritability, depression and mild flu-like symptoms. These side effects can be largely eliminated by slowly tapering off and using less trazodone over time. Trazodone side effects. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to trazodone: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking trazodone and call your doctor at once if you have a penis erection that is painful or lasts 6 hours or longer. This is a medical emergency and could lead to a serious condition that must be corrected. Trazodone is generally better tolerated in most people than Ambien because trazodone is not specifically designed to produce sedation. However, the actual side effects than any person will experience are difficult to predict, and physicians typically wait and see how the person reacts to the drug. Side effects not requiring immediate medical attention. Some side effects of trazodone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Find patient medical information for trazodone oral on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings and user ratings.