Does Trazodone (Desyrel) cause weight gain?
The honest answer from the FDA-approved label for Trazodone (Desyrel)— what the trials actually reported, not the “every drug makes you gain weight” folklore.
What the label reports
The label lists both weight loss and weight gain as adverse reactions. Weight loss is highlighted among the more notable adverse reactions and appears in the patient MedGuide, and in the adverse-reactions table weight loss was reported at rates around 3% to 6% versus placebo. Weight gain is also listed in the table at a low rate (about 1% to 5% across groups). So the label reports both directions rather than a single consistent effect.
Frequently asked questions
Does Trazodone cause weight gain?
The label's picture is above. Trazodone's weight effect is mixed / dose-related — read the summary rather than the folklore, and track your own trend.
How much weight can Trazodone cause?
The label reports what the trials found (above) and does not hand out a single number that applies to everyone — weight change depends on dose, duration, your starting point, and why you are taking the drug. If your weight is changing in a way that bothers you, that is a specific, fixable conversation with your prescriber, not a reason to quit abruptly.
Does the weight come off after stopping Trazodone?
Often at least partly, when the drug's effect on appetite or metabolism was the cause — but that is individual, and some weight tracks lifestyle rather than the drug. Never stop a medication just to lose weight without talking to the prescriber first; for several of these drugs abrupt stopping has its own risks.
More guides for Trazodone
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The weight information is what the drug’s FDA-approved label reports from its trials. This is general reference information, not medical advice, and weight change is individual — do not start or stop a medication to change your weight without your prescriber.