Contents
- Introduction
- How To Get Trazodone Out Of Your System?
- How Long Does Trazodone Stay in Your Urine?
- How Long Does Trazodone Stay in Your Hair?
- How Long Does Trazodone Stay in Your Saliva?
- How Long Does Trazodone Stay in Your Blood?
- How Long Does It Take for Trazodone to Take Effect?
- Half-Life of Trazodone
- Peak Levels of Trazodone
- Types of Trazodone Testing
Introduction
Trazodone is serotonin antagonists and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs) in wide use for treating major depressive disorder, anxiety, and sleep. While not as widely abused, it is important to know how long it stays in the system, especially for one who is about to undertake tests for drugs or is concerned with side effects.
The time trazodone will stay in your system varies depending on several factors, including metabolism, age, and dosage.
How To Get Trazodone Out Of Your System?
Like most medications, trazodone is naturally cleared from your system over time. It is metabolized in your liver and eliminated through the kidneys via excretion of urine. Keeping well-hydrated, on a good diet, and abstaining from alcohol or using other drugs will aid your body's natural detoxification process.
However, no quick trick gets around the complete removal of trazodone from your system because its elimination is strictly linked to personal factors like metabolism, age, and general health. To that effect, it is recommended to consult with a health professional before starting any detoxification method.
How Long Does Trazodone Stay in Your Urine?
Trazodone itself is rapidly metabolized, but the compounds that it breaks down into – the metabolites – can be present for a much longer period. These metabolites can be detected for up to 26 days in the urine test following the last dose taken.
How Long Does Trazodone Stay in Your Hair?
Hair testing has one of the longest detection windows with regard to drug use. Similar to many other drugs, trazodone can be detected in the hair for up to 90 days and sometimes even longer from its use. Hair testing is not usually employed in routine drug screening but finds its use when there is a need to establish a more extended history of drug use
How Long Does Trazodone Stay in Your Saliva?
Saliva tests are very sensitive to recent drug use, making them quick-acting. In saliva, trazodone can show up as soon as 4 hours after the last dose and may show up for up to 4 days. Saliva testing, though conducted less than urine or blood tests, is relatively non-invasive for finding recent drug use.
How Long Does Trazodone Stay in Your Blood?
Being less common, the detection of trazodone via blood tests shows that the blood tends to metabolize this substance a bit faster compared to other testing mediums. Trazodone may be able to stay in the blood for up to 3 days from the last dose.
Because of its invasive nature and a narrow window of detection, blood tests are not usually used unless there is urgency concerning the need to detect substances.
Test Type |
Detection Window |
Urine |
Up to 26 days |
Hair |
Up to 90 days |
Saliva |
Up to 4 days |
Blood |
Variable, 3 to 4 days |
How Long Does It Take for Trazodone to Take Effect?
Because of its sedative action, trazodone is frequently prescribed off-label for sleep disorders. For sleep, trazodone takes effect in about 30 min to 2 hr after administration, depending on whether it is administered before or after food intake, correspondingly. Thus, it would be most effective taken near bedtime with a light meal or snack.
Half-Life of Trazodone
Trazodone is considered to have a half-life of about 10 hours. It means that its concentration in the blood is reduced by half with each 10-hour period. In fact, the true clearance of trazodone from the system will depend on variables such as metabolism, age, and liver functionality.
Even though this drug is essentially cleared from the human body within 2 to 3 days, the active metabolites might remain in it and be detectable considerably longer.
Peak Levels of Trazodone
After oral administration, trazodone is well absorbed; peak blood levels occur about one hour in fasting individuals and two hours when administered after a meal. Given that it is usually almost entirely eliminated from the body within 2 to 3 days, this timeframe depends on individual health and metabolism.
Types of Trazodone Testing
Various test types may detect trazodone, all differing in the detection window.
-
Urine Test:
This is the most common method of use due to its low cost and ease of use. -
Hair Test:
It provides the longest window of detection. Hair tests are usually done to detect long-term use of drugs by comparison rather than determining recent use. -
Saliva Test:
It can detect trazodone within as little as 4 hours post-administration. Saliva tests will show the presence of the drug for up to a few days. -
Blood Test:
Blood tests are less used because of their very short detection period.
Dr. Ryan Peterson, MD, specializes in Addiction Medicine and Pain Management in Los Angeles, with advanced training from The George Washington University, St. Vincent's Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and UCLA Hospital. Currently accepting new patients.
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Written By
Dr Ryan Peterson