white and blue pills coming out of a vial on a table

Can Trazodone Be Used As A Hangover Medication?

white and blue pills coming out of a vial on a table

Trazodone is a prescription medication that is typically used to treat depression. It can help to improve mood, increase appetite, and support energy levels. It has also been found to decrease feelings of anxiety and prevent insomnia that is caused by depression. Trazodone has also been used for other purposes as well, including as a hangover cure.

This article will share more about Trazodone as a hangover cure and how it works.

How Trazodone works

Trazodone works by balancing out certain chemicals in the brain. This medication works by increasing levels of serotonin and noradrenaline to help people who have depression feel better. Trazodone falls into a class of medications called serotonin modulators.

Trazodone is typically used as a second-line treatment for depression, so it is prescribed when other antidepressants have been used without success.

Does trazodone work for hangovers?

Trazodone is not typically prescribed for hangovers; you should only use it as your doctor directs. Further, Trazodone has not been studied for its effect on hangovers, and some individuals who have used it report that Trazodone itself may cause a hangover after being used.

Studies relating to trazodone and alcohol use focus more on alcohol withdrawal symptoms in detoxing patients, not hangover treatment.

Trazodone has been studied for its use as a treatment for alcohol withdrawal and for helping with sleep disturbances related to alcohol detoxification. One study found that Trazodone was a successful treatment for preventing alcohol withdrawal symptoms during detox.1 When a person struggles with alcohol abuse, they can experience uncomfortable and dangerous symptoms while their body detoxes from the alcohol. Trazodone might be able to help with these symptoms.

Another study looked at Trazodone as a method to help improve sleep quality in people detoxing from alcohol.2 Alcohol can cause poor sleep, and the goal of this study was to look at how Trazodone could help improve sleep quality in the individuals who were studied. This study found that Trazodone could provide short-term improvement in sleep quality, but the safety and efficacy of it still need further research.

What is a typical dosage of Trazodone?

A typical adult dosage of Trazodone is 150 milligrams per day. This dosage may be adjusted over time depending on how your body adjusts. Trazodone should not be combined with certain medications, so it is important to tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications before starting the use of Trazodone. Other precautions when taking Trazodone include:

pills and capsules
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • Before having surgery, make sure to inform your doctor that you are taking Trazodone
  • Do not combine alcohol and Trazodone since alcohol can worsen the side effects of Trazodone.
  • Trazodone can cause glaucoma.

Trazodone does have the potential to cause certain side effects. Some examples include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Appetite changes
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Nervousness
  • Muscle pain
  • Rash
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Shakiness

Although less likely, more serious side effects can occur when taking Trazodone. Serious side effects that warrant immediate medical attention include:

  • Chest pain
  • Irregular heart rate
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Fainting
  • Seizures
  • Nosebleeds
  • Fever
  • Confusion
  • Poor coordination

If you think you are having a serious reaction, you should seek medical care immediately. Trazodone has the potential to cause serious and dangerous side effects. This medication has provided some positive benefits for some patients who take it for depression. However, it is best not to take medication for off-label usage, like a hangover treatment.

Conclusion

Trazodone is an effective medication that is used as an antidepressant. Trazodone is typically prescribed to patients who have tried one antidepressant without having positive results. The effects of Trazodone are achieved by balancing out certain chemicals in the brain. Trazodone is considered a serotonin modulator, meaning it affects the brain’s serotonin amount.

Trazodone has not been studied as a hangover treatment and is not prescribed for this purpose. Some studies have evaluated trazodone and alcohol use by evaluating how it helps addicts with withdrawal symptoms. It is best to only use Trazodone as your doctor has prescribed it since serious and dangerous side effects are possible.

Get a Hangover IV

You can get a hangover IV right at your hotel, resort, or business location. Drip Hydration Mobile IV Therapy is a company that will come to you and treat your hangover symptoms. All you need to do is book an appointment online or call. We have locations in cities all over the world.

Our mobile hangover IV treatment is administered by certified nurses who will visit you at your desired location. The nurse will treat your symptoms in the comfort of your hotel, office, or resort. We are here to help accommodate you and answer any questions you have about mobile IV therapy.

Don’t struggle with a headache, nausea, or discomfort the morning after a well-deserved night out. Call Drip Hydration or book an appointment using the button below, and let us give you back your day!

Hangover IV - Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in our hangover IV?

Our Hangover IV treatment contains a blend of IV fluids, electrolytes, vitamins and medication to restore the vitamins in your body and help your body battle with the unwanted hangover symptoms. Among the main ingredients are B-Complex vitamins, Vitamin B12, Toradol and Anti-Nausea medication. 

Why is hangover IV much more effective than hangover drinks?

Hangover IV is more effective than hangover drinks because the IV solution is introduced directly into your blood without having to go through the digestive system which is already overloaded. This means you will feel the effects much faster and feel much better very quickly. 

How long does it take for our Hangover IV to start working?

It usually takes between 30-60 minutes for you to feel the benefits of our Hangover IV drip.

What are the levels of hangover severity?

IV therapy in general is FDA approved. Our nurses are overseen by our Medical Director, Abe Malkin, and every nurse is registered and certified per state standards.

How long does it take for our nurses to arrive at your location?

Usually it takes anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours of booking an IV treatment for our nurse to arrive at your location. 

How do electrolytes help with hangovers?

When you drink alcohol you get dehydrated and deplete your electrolyte stores in your body. By replenishing your electrolytes you rehydrate your body and this helps you fight the symptoms of the hangover.

Why are anti-inflammatory medications included?

Anti-inflammatory medications are used to diminish the inflammation in the body which is caused by the alcohol. When the inflammation is taken care of, your headache and muscle ache will start to fade. 

How long does our Hangover IV treatment last?

It takes anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes for our hangover IV treatment to be fully done and for you to feel the effects and get relief from the hangover symptoms

What are the levels of hangover severity?

There are 4 levels of hangover severity including: No hangover symptoms, Mild hangover symptoms, Moderate hangover symptoms and Severe hangover symptoms.

How does a Hangover IV therapy stack versus other at home remedies?

  • Showers - cold showers MAY help ease your hangover symptoms but a Hangover IV Therapy WILL improve your symptoms within 30-60 minutes.
  • Orally taken vitamins - Orally taken vitamins will help you with some hangover symptoms but it will take much longer because they have to be digested first.
  • Orally taken medications - Orally taken medication can help you with some symptoms but they won’t tackle all of them. This medication also needs to pass through the digestive system so it takes a bit longer than our Hangover IV.
  • Food - Food high in carbohydrates can help with some of the fatigue and headaches when you have a hangover but it takes some time to be digested and introduced into your blood.
  • Drinks - drinking water and sport drinks rich with electrolytes will help you recover from your hangover but it takes a lot longer than getting all the right nutrients directly into your bloodstream.

References

[1] Borras L - Successful treatment of alcohol withdrawal with trazodone.;

[2] Friedmann PD - Trazodone for sleep disturbance after alcohol detoxification: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.;