Desyrel (trazodone) vs. Lexapro

Desyrel (trazodone hydrochloride) and Lexapro (escitalopram) are antidepressants used to treat depression.

Lexapro is also used to treat anxiety in adults.

Desyrel and Lexapro are different types of antidepressants. Desyrel is a phenylpiperazine antidepressant and Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

The brand name Desyrel is no longer available in the U.S. but is available as a generic.

Side effects of Desyrel and Lexapro that are similar include nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, changes in weight, dry mouth, constipation, decreased sex drive, impotence, and difficulty having an orgasm.

Side effects of Desyrel that are different from Lexapro include vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, blurred vision, headache, muscle ache/pain, bad taste in the mouth, and stuffy nose.

Side effects of Lexapro that are different from Desyrel include sleep problems (insomnia), upset stomach, gas, heartburn, yawning, and ringing in the ears.

Both Desyrel and Lexapro may interact with blood thinners and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Desyrel may also interact with HIV medicines, antifungal medications, digoxin, and seizure medicines.

Lexapro may also interact with other drugs that make you sleepy (sleeping pills, narcotics, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or seizures), other antidepressants, medicines to treat mood disorders or mental illness, lithium, St. John's wort, tramadol, L-tryptophan, migraine headache medications, and stimulants or ADHD medications.

Common side effects of Desyrel (trazadone) 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.

Common side effects of Lexapro include:

• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• nausea,
• upset stomach,
• gas,
• heartburn,
• constipation,
• weight changes,
• dry mouth,
• yawning,
• ringing in the ears,
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or
• difficulty having an orgasm.

Desyrel (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.

Lexapro is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider. Lexapro is also used to treat:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Lexapro treatment.

Desyrel (trazadone) 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.

Do not take Lexapro if you:

• are allergic to escitalopram oxalate or citalopram hydrobromide or any of the ingredients in Lexapro. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Lexapro.
• take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
• take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®) because taking this drug with Lexapro can cause serious heart problems.

Do not take an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping Lexapro unless directed to do so by your physician.

Do not start Lexapro if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your physician.

People who take Lexapro close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:

• high fever
• uncontrolled muscle spasms
• stiff muscles
• rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure
• confusion
• loss of consciousness (pass out)

Before starting Lexapro, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• Are taking certain drugs such as:
  • Triptans used to treat migraine headache
  • Medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, SSRIs, SNRIs, amphetamines, or antipsychotics
  • Tramadol
  • Over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John's Wort

• have liver problems
• have kidney problems
• have heart problems
• have or had seizures or convulsions
• have bipolar disorder or mania
• have low sodium levels in your blood
• have a history of a stroke
• have high blood pressure
• have or had bleeding problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known if Lexapro will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of treating depression during pregnancy are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Some Lexapro may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking Lexapro. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Lexapro and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.

Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe to take Lexapro with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking Lexapro without talking to your healthcare provider first.

If you take Lexapro, you should not take any other medicines that contain escitalopram oxalate or citalopram hydrobromide including: Effexor.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

• triptans used to treat migraine headache
• medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, buspirone, SSRIs, SNRIs or MAOIs
• tramadol and fentanyl
• amphetamines
• cimetidine
• the antibiotics ciprofloxacin, enoxacin
• medicine to treat irregular heart rate (like propafenone, flecainide, quinidine)
• theophylline
• the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (like ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin).
• over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John's Wort
• thioridazine (Mellaril). Mellaril together with Lexapro can cause serious heart rhythm problems or sudden death.

Ask your healthcare provider for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

Do not take Lexapro with any other medicine that contain duloxetine.

The initial adult dose of Desyrel (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.

Take Lexapro exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Lexapro until it is the right dose for you.

Lexapro may be taken with or without food.