Drug Comparison
For educational purposes only — a decision-support tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.
Side-by-side rubric across 96 psychiatric medications. Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote — click any cell to see it.
How to read this tool ▾
Rating scale
– Favorable / lower than class baseline
± Minimal / equivocal
+ Low / uncommon
++ Moderate / common
+++ High / very common
++++ Very high / class-outlier
Frequency vs severity
F = frequency, S = severity. Each gets its own pill colored on the same traffic-light scale: green → blue → yellow → orange → red. Click any cell for incidence percentages and NNH.
Evidence tier
A Network meta-analysis / RCT / FDA label
B Cohort / registry / pooled label data
C Expert review / textbook / case series
Sourcing
Click any cell to see the verbatim source quote and citation. Missing data shows n/a.
Data depth
++ Graded — frequency + severity, primary-source traces
+ FDA label — §6 frequency only (dashed border). Click for sub-types.
Blank — not yet checked (not “absent”)
–±++++++++++ABCF = frequency · S = severity · Dashed border = FDA label only · Click cell for details
1 drug selected — Trazodone(click to collapse)
1/4 selected
Trazodone
Desyrel · Raldesy
Serotonin Antagonist and Reuptake Inhibitor
FDA-approved indications
- Major depressive disorder (adults)
Off-label uses
- Insomnia
- Anxiety disorders (adjunct)
- Agitation in dementia
Half-life5 to 9 hours
Decision GuideWhen to pick each / when to consider an alternative
Trazodone
Consider when
- Insomnia as primary or major symptom — most commonly prescribed off-label hypnotic (~1% US adults); improves N3, total sleep time, efficiency
- SSRI/SNRI-induced insomnia needing adjunct — 5-HT2A antagonism counteracts serotonergic activation without additive serotonergic burden
- Sexual dysfunction is treatment-limiting and bupropion contraindicated — 12–24% SD vs 43–51% for SSRIs; 5-HT2A mechanism preserves function
- Weight neutrality required — FDA label lists weight loss as common AE; no appetite stimulation unlike mirtazapine
- +1 more
Consider an alternative when
- Daytime function is critical — drowsiness 41% vs 20% placebo; labeled cognitive/motor impairment with next-day carry-over
- Male patient with priapism risk factors — ~1/8,000 incidence; unique among commonly prescribed ADs; emergent if >4 hours
- Orthostasis-prone or fall-risk patient — syncope 5% vs 1% placebo; dizziness 28% vs 15%; α1-antagonism mechanism
- MDD efficacy is the priority — ranks among least efficacious in Cipriani 2018; not appropriate as sole antidepressant for moderate-severe MDD
- +1 more
| Axis | Trazodone SARI |
|---|---|
| CNS | |
Sedation / somnolence | |
Cognitive dulling / anterograde amnesia | |
| Metabolic | |
Weight loss | |
| Autonomic | |
Anticholinergic burden | |
Orthostatic hypotension | |
| Cardiac | |
QTc prolongation | |
| GI | |
Nausea / GI (general) | |
| Sexual | |
Sexual dysfunction | |
| GU | |
Priapism | |
| Discontinuation | |
Withdrawal / discontinuation | |