Trazodone Side Effects: Grogginess, Dizziness and What to Watch For
The most common trazodone side effects are sleepiness or dizziness, dry mouth and blurred vision.
By withClaro Editorial · 2026-11-02 · 4 min read
Clinical section reviewed by Dr. Jason Tan , Consultant Psychiatrist, on October 27, 2026.
Key takeaways In the FDA trials with outpatients, drowsiness affected 41% on trazodone against 20% on placebo, and dizziness 28% against 15%. The label's own short list also includes blurred vision, fainting, tiredness, diarrhea, a stuffy nose, swelling and weight loss; headache was nearly as common on placebo. In 82 Reddit threads, tiredness or grogginess was the side effect people named most, by 44 of 126. An erection lasting more than 4 hours needs emergency care. On this page
What are the most common side effects of trazodone? What side effects did people on Reddit describe on trazodone? Do trazodone side effects go away? Why do you feel groggy the next day on trazodone? Which trazodone side effects are serious? What should you tell your prescriber about trazodone side effects? The most common trazodone side effects are drowsiness and dizziness, followed by dry mouth and blurred vision. Many people take it for sleep, so the drowsiness is often the point, but it can carry into the next day, and the dizziness can make you faint when you stand.
What are the most common side effects of trazodone?
Drowsiness leads, at 41% against 20% on placebo, with dizziness or light-headedness at 28% against 15%. These figures come from the label's outpatient trials for depression, with 157 people on trazodone and 158 on placebo, at depression doses that start at 150 mg a day; many people take far less for sleep, so their odds may differ. Not every row is clearly higher than on placebo: headache and constipation were close to it, while blurred vision, fainting and low blood pressure stood out.
Side effect Trazodone Placebo Drowsiness 41% 20% Dizziness or light-headedness 28% 15% Dry mouth 34% 20% Headache 20% 16% Blurred vision 15% 4% Constipation 8% 6% Tiredness 6% 3% Fainting 5% 1% Low blood pressure 4% 0%
What side effects did people on Reddit describe on trazodone?
We read 82 recent threads on r/insomnia and other subs where people discussed trazodone, comments included, and 126 people described their own experience. Most took it for sleep, at lower doses than in the trials, so the two tables are not about the same people and can't be compared line for line. People with ongoing problems are more likely to post, so treat this as a range of experiences rather than odds. Tiredness or grogginess came first, named by 44 of the 126, while 9 said they noticed nothing unusual; one person could name several side effects:
What they named Of 126 people Tiredness or grogginess 44 Brain fog 17 Nausea or stomach trouble 13 Dizziness 13 Vivid dreams 12 Headache 9
Do trazodone side effects go away?
Some early ones do, but our count can't give a typical time: only 12 of 126 people said how long their side effects lasted, and most of them were still having them when they wrote. One person on Reddit, whose early side effects passed, wrote:
The nausea and headaches only lasted for a few weeks.
Why do you feel groggy the next day on trazodone?
Drowsiness from a bedtime dose can carry into the morning. The label warns that trazodone can affect thinking and coordination and that people should be careful driving or using machinery until they know how it affects them; the label also says trazodone may strengthen the effects of alcohol and other sedatives. If you still feel heavy in the morning after the first weeks, tell your prescriber how long it lasts and at what dose. More in whether trazodone makes you tired .
Which trazodone side effects are serious? Medically reviewed by Dr. Jason Tan on October 27, 2026, this section only.
The label warns about priapism, a painful, long-lasting erection that can cause lasting damage if not treated; men with an erection lasting more than 4 hours, painful or not, should stop the drug and get emergency care. It also warns about heart rhythm problems: trazodone lengthens the QT interval, the risk is highest with heart disease, but the label also asks for caution with other drugs that lengthen QT, low potassium or magnesium, or an inherited long QT, and rare reports after approval include doses of 100 mg or less. Other warnings cover low blood pressure on standing, fainting, bleeding and serotonin syndrome. The clinical view:
Most early side effects of antidepressants ease within the first weeks, while a few tend to last and are worth raising.
Call your prescriber the same day, or get urgent care, if you notice:
- new or worse thoughts of suicide or self-harm, especially early on, after a dose change, or in people under 25 - agitation, heavy sweating, fever, muscle twitching or confusion, which can be signs of serotonin syndrome - unusual bleeding or bruising, black or tarry stools, or vomiting blood - a sudden burst of energy, little need for sleep, racing thoughts or unusual risk-taking, especially if you or a close relative has bipolar disorder With trazodone, two more belong on that list: a long-lasting erection, which needs emergency care, and fainting or a racing or irregular heartbeat, especially when you stand up. If you're having thoughts of harming yourself, contact emergency services or a crisis line straight away. In the US, call or text 988. In the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123. Elsewhere, find a crisis line near you .
What should you tell your prescriber about trazodone side effects?
Tell your prescriber which side effects you have, when they start after a dose and whether they are easing; decisions about the dose or the medicine are made together. It helps to tell them:
Your dose and what time you take it. How you feel the next morning. Any dizziness or fainting when you stand up. Any heart problems or palpitations. Other medicines that make you sleepy, and alcohol. Download on the App Store Next-day grogginess and other effects of trazodone can change with the dose. The withClaro app lets you log sleep, energy and side effects each day, linked to your dose, and turns it into a report for your prescriber.
Frequently asked questions Can trazodone cause weight loss? It can: weight loss is on the label's short list of common side effects. Tell your prescriber about any steady change.
Is trazodone addictive? The label says it is not a controlled substance, and no drug-seeking behavior was seen in clinical studies, though abuse potential hasn't been studied systematically. Stopping suddenly can still cause withdrawal, so plan it with your prescriber.
What is priapism? A painful, prolonged erection; the label describes cases lasting more than 6 hours. Don't wait that long: an erection over 4 hours, painful or not, needs emergency care right away.
Can trazodone cause vivid dreams? Some people on Reddit said so. Mention them to your prescriber if they bother you.
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Sources TRAZODONE HYDROCHLORIDE tablets prescribing information, US Food and Drug Administration via DailyMed Claro articles are for self-monitoring and educational purposes only. They are not a medical device, therapist, or diagnostic tool, and do not replace care from your prescribing clinician. If you are in crisis, contact your care team, emergency services, the Samaritans (UK: 116 123), or the Crisis Text Line (US: text HOME to 741741).