Drug interactions
Guanfacine + Trazodone
Severity: Moderate
Guanfacine and Trazodone: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Trazodone has alpha-adrenergic blocking effects and may add to the hypotension and sedation of guanfacine. The legacy concern of reduced guanfacine effect is established mainly for tricyclic antidepressants, not trazodone, so the interaction is mostly additive.
What this interaction means in plain words
Guanfacine and Trazodone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Guanfacine belongs to Cardiovascular; Trazodone belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive hypotensive and sedative effects; trazodone alpha-1 blockade adds to central alpha-2 agonism.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and sedation when starting or adjusting either drug. Counsel patients about orthostatic dizziness.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Trazodone
- Arsenic trioxide + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Levoketoconazole + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Trazodone Contraindicated
Other interactions of Guanfacine
- Clonidine + Guanfacine Major
- Guanfacine + Lofexidine Major
- Aldesleukin + Guanfacine Moderate
- Amiodarone + Guanfacine Moderate
- Amisulpride + Guanfacine Moderate
- Amitriptyline + Guanfacine Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Guanfacine with Trazodone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Guanfacine and Trazodone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Trazodone has alpha-adrenergic blocking effects and may add to the hypotension and sedation of guanfacine. The legacy concern of reduced guanfacine effect is established mainly for tricyclic antidepressants, not trazodone, so the interaction is mostly additive.
How serious is the interaction between Guanfacine and Trazodone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and sedation when starting or adjusting either drug. Counsel patients about orthostatic dizziness.
What other medicines interact with Trazodone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Trazodone with, for example, Arsenic trioxide, Ibutilide, Isocarboxazid. The full list is on the Trazodone page.
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