Elavil vs. Desyrel, Oleptro (Trazodone)

• Are Elavil and Desyrel, Oleptro (Trazodone) the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Elavil?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Desyrel, Oleptro (Trazodone)?
• What Is Elavil?
• What Is Desyrel, Oleptro (Trazodone)?
• What Drugs Interact with Elavil?
• What Drugs Interact with Desyrel, Oleptro (Trazodone)?
• How Should Elavil Be Taken?
• How Should Desyrel, Oleptro (Trazodone) Be Taken?

Elavil (amitryptiline) and Desyrel, Oleptro (trazodone) are used to treat depression.

Elavil may also be used to treat other conditions including mood disorders, nerve pain, eating disorders, anxiety, and panic disorders.

The brand name Elavil is no longer available in the U.S. It is available as a generic.

Elavil and trazodone belong to different drug classes. Elavil is a tricyclic antidepressant and trazodone is a serotonin modulator.

Side effects of Elavil and trazodone that are similar include drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, blurred vision, constipation, weight changes, and headache.

Side effects of Elavil that are different from trazodone include trouble urinating, increased hunger, and changes in taste.

Side effects of trazodone that are different from Elavil include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, muscle ache/pain, bad taste in the mouth, stuffy nose, or change in sexual interest/ability.

Both Elavil and trazodone may interact with alcohol, other products that cause drowsiness (antihistamines, drugs for sleep or anxiety, muscle relaxants, and narcotics), MAO inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and blood thinners.

Elavil may also interact with arbutamine, disulfiram, thyroid supplements, other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising, anticholinergics, high blood pressure medicines, cimetidine, terbinafine, drugs to treat irregular heart rate, other antidepressants, amiodarone, cisapride, dofetilide, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, macrolide antibiotics, isoniazid, phenothiazines, or theophylline.

Trazodone may also interact with HIV medicines, antifungal medications, digoxin, seizure medicines, St. John's wort, tramadol, diuretics (water pills), medicine to treat mood disorders or mental illness, or migraine headache medicines.

Common side effects of Elavil include:

• drowsiness,
• dry mouth,
• dizziness,
• blurred vision,
• constipation,
• weight gain,
• trouble urinating,
• headache,
• increased hunger, and
• changes in taste.

Common side effects of Desyrel, Oleptro (Trazodone) include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• tiredness,
• blurred vision,
• changes in weight,
• headache,
• muscle ache/pain,
• dry mouth,
• bad taste in the mouth,
• stuffy nose,
• constipation, or
• change in sexual interest/ability.

Elavil (amitryptiline) is a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression and mood disorders. Elavil may also be used to treat other conditions including nerve pain, eating disorder, anxiety, and panic disorder. The brand name Elavil is no longer available in the U.S.

Desyrel, Oleptro (trazodone hydrochloride) is an antidepressant used to treat depression. The brand name Desyrel is no longer available in the U.S. but may be available in generic form.

Elavil may also interact with MAO inhibitors, arbutamine, disulfiram, thyroid supplements, other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (antiplatelet drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], blood thinners), anticholinergic drugs, and certain drugs for high blood pressure.

Desyrel, Oleptro (trazodone) may interact with HIV medicines, antifungal medications, digoxin, seizure medicines, warfarin, or MAO inhibitors. Tell your doctor all medications you use. During pregnancy, trazodone should be used only when prescribed. This medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Elavil is taken by mouth in tablet form. The medication may take up to four weeks to take full effect.

The initial adult dose of Desyrel, Oleptro (trazodone) is 150 mg/day in divided doses. The dose may be increased by 50 mg/day every three to four days. The maximum dose for outpatients usually should not exceed 400 mg/day in divided doses.