How Long Does It Take for Trazodone to Make You Sleepy?
Medically reviewed by Andre Stone | MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine on August 25th, 2026.
Trazodone may make some people sleepy within about 30 to 60 minutes, but the timing and intensity vary. Take it at the time recommended by your prescriber and follow the instructions about taking it with or after food. Individual response times can vary based on factors like dosage, body weight, and whether you take it with food. Clinicians sometimes prescribe lower doses of trazodone off-label for insomnia. When trazodone is used to treat depression, improvement in mood may take several weeks, although drowsiness can occur much sooner. Some people become drowsy within the first hour, but trazodone does not work the same way for everyone. It can cause next-day sleepiness, dizziness, or impaired alertness, so follow your prescriber’s directions and avoid driving or other hazardous activities until you know how it affects you.
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