Trazodone Rehabilitation and Treatment

The first step in trazodone rehabilitation is to tour the treatment facility and learn about the programs and services available. This orientation session is followed by an intake assessment to define the individual’s needs and develop a customized treatment plan, which improves the chances of a successful recovery. Once the individual’s needs have been identified, he or she goes through a medically supervised detoxification period in which trazodone is eliminated from the body. The gradual detoxification process reduces the risks associated with trazodone withdrawal.

Following the supervised detoxification period, the individual has the opportunity to participate in therapy sessions and receive support from staff members and other substance users. Social support is essential for changing harmful thoughts and behaviors, and it also helps in maintaining sobriety. Once the initial treatment plan is complete, additional services are available to help the individual avoid relapse.

For more information, read our guide to the rehab process.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) does not consider trazodone a controlled substance. Therefore, trazodone has no DEA schedule number. This does not mean there is no potential for misuse, however. In a 2015 article published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, Michael Weaver stated that drugs with sedative properties may be used to reduce stress, help people fall asleep, or improve an individual’s mood. The desire to experience these effects can lead some people to misuse trazodone.

Trazodone works on serotonin and other chemicals in the brain, producing a desirable sense of well-being and increasing the risk of dependence, which makes it difficult to stop using the drug. Furthermore, many people have high levels of stress, causing them to rely on trazodone to help them feel calmer and more relaxed. For people who develop a tolerance to trazodone, it can be difficult to recover successfully or avoid relapse in the future.

Long-term trazodone recovery begins with a detoxification process to eliminate the substance from the user’s body. Trazodone has a half-life of 10 to 12 hours, which means approximately half of the substance is removed from the user’s body during this period. Depending on the individual’s health status, metabolism, and other factors, this initial detoxification period usually lasts for about two days. It may take several weeks for the user to stop experiencing cravings and other effects of trazodone use.

Long-term users of trazodone may continue to experience withdrawal symptoms for up to a year after they stop using the substance. The amount of time it takes for these symptoms to go away depends on how long the individual has been taking trazodone, the amount of trazodone taken each day, and whether the individual has any chronic health problems that could result in a lengthier withdrawal process.

In some individuals, antidepressants can be used to prevent depression symptoms from becoming worse during the trazodone withdrawal process. Anti-anxiety medications may also be used to prevent anxiety and irritability associated with trazodone withdrawal. Depending on the individual’s health history, other medications may be used to treat physical symptoms, such as a fast heart rate, sweating, nausea, and dizziness.

For more information about withdrawal, read our guide on Trazodone Addiction.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has not approved any medications specifically for the treatment of trazodone addiction, but the medical detoxification process may include medications to treat the physical and psychological symptoms associated with withdrawal. During this process, a user slowly tapers off trazodone instead of stopping it suddenly, which can help prevent harmful side effects.

Behavioral therapies are also used to address the root causes of an individual’s trazodone addiction. These issues include poor coping skills and high levels of stress. If the individual has any co-occurring disorders, such as depression or alcohol dependency, these issues are also addressed in therapy. A qualified therapist can help a trazodone addict develop a recovery plan and avoid relapse.

Within either an inpatient or outpatient setting, treatments such as detoxification services, behavioral therapies, and medication-assisted treatments are offered for varying lengths of time.

Inpatient treatment involves living full-time (including overnight) at a treatment facility for a set period. Outpatient treatment involves scheduled appointments at a facility in which you are free to come and go. Within each category, there are several distinctions.

Behavioral therapy for substance addiction seeks to identify and manage addictive behaviors that lead to use and prevent relapse. Behavioral therapy is based on the concept that all behavior is learned, and, thus, unhealthy behavior can be changed through learning coping skills and increasing awareness of negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to substance abuse.

Sudden withdrawal from trazodone can have serious consequences, so it is important to look for a rehabilitation facility that offers a supervised medical detoxification process. Experienced, knowledgeable staff members can provide physical and emotional support during the initial withdrawal period.

Rehabilitation centers that offer cognitive behavioral therapy, 12-step facilitation therapy, and social support can help trazodone users recover successfully and avoid relapse after the initial treatment period ends. For long-term trazodone users, the structured environment of an inpatient rehabilitation program is especially helpful. While receiving inpatient treatment, trazodone users have an opportunity to improve their coping skills, learn how to avoid addiction triggers, and receive treatment for co-occurring disorders.

Our directory of rehab programs includes a comprehensive list of available treatment centers and programs as provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In the directory, you will find tools to filter the programs by setting, price, and location.