As a drug, Desyrel falls under the SARI (serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor) class. The main idea behind this drug is to increase the amount of serotonin secreted in our brains. Serotonin is the natural ‘feel good’ hormone that facilitates better mental balance and allows the patient to experience some sort of relief where depression is concerned.
Taking Desyrel
Desyrel, also known as trozodone, generally takes effect within the first two weeks. Considering it goes towards treating insomnia and battling depression, that is a rather fast acting drug.
Usually, the adult dose of this drug is 100 mg a day. Depending on your progress, this dosage could be increased by 50 mg/day after about 3-4 days. That being said, however, the maximum dose should never exceed 400 mg a day. When it comes to extended doses, they should be taken in divided doses and never at once. For insomnia, a small dosage of 25 mg before going to bed is sufficient in most cases.
Trozodone has a tendency to interact with other medication and should be taken when and how instructed by a doctor. If you are on HIV medication, digoxin, antifungal medication, MAO inhibitors, warfarin or seizure medication, you should let your doctor know before taking Desyrel. You should also know that this medication passes into breast milk and thus you should consult your doctor if you are a breastfeeding mother.
One of the reasons as to why Desyrel has gained popularity is that it is a cheaper option to many similar drugs. As a form of treatment for insomnia, Desyrel will cost you less than most of the common soporifics. Another reason for its popularity is that the drug really works.
Other uses for Desyrel
Apart from insomnia and depression, Desyrel has been known to treat schizophrenia and anxiety. There are some cases in which Desyrel has been used to mitigate the abnormal, uncontrollable movements that tend to occur as a side effect of other forms of medication. You are, however, advised to only use Desyrel the way your doctor directed.
Precautions to take before taking Desyrel
Like every other prescribed medication there are some precautions that one must take into account before using Desyrel.
The first thing you need to know is that you should take this drug upon the recommendation of your doctor. You should only take the directed dosage at the instructed times, which will help to avoid possible side effects. Tell your doctor what other medication you are on to make sure that they do not negatively interact with trozodone.
The drug is not recommended for those who have some heart problems. This is because trozodone can cause what is known as QT prolongation. This is an irregularity in your heart rhythm that could cause a patient to faint and lead to further complications in patients who already have heart problems.