Trazodone vs Amitriptyline: side-by-side comparison
Trazodone (Atypical antidepressant / serotonin modulator) and Amitriptyline (Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA)) belong to different therapeutic classes and are rarely substitutes for each other. The comparison is useful when a single patient is weighing both options for adjacent or overlapping needs.
| Property | Trazodone | Amitriptyline |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic class | Atypical antidepressant / serotonin modulator | Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) |
| CAS | 19794-93-5 | 50-48-6 |
| ATC | N06AX05 | N06AA09 |
| Molecular weight | 371.86 g/mol | 277.40 g/mol |
| Brands with this active ingredient | 1 | 1 |
What they share
Trazodone and Amitriptyline share the common regulatory framework for prescription active ingredients, bioequivalence standards for generics, and pharmacist oversight. Beyond that, points in common are limited.
Key differences
Trazodone acts by a different mechanism than Amitriptyline, with indications that barely overlap. Comparing the two is useful when a clinician has mentioned both in the same context or the patient wants to understand why one was prescribed instead of the other.
Mechanisms compared
Trazodone: Trazodon wird als Serotonin-Antagonist und Wiederaufnahmehemmer (SARI) klassifiziert. Amitriptyline: Amitriptylin hemmt die Wiederaufnahme von Serotonin und Noradrenalin an zentralen Synapsen und erhöht damit die synaptischen Spiegel beider Neurotransmitter.
Indications compared
Trazodone: Trazodon ist zur Behandlung der Major Depression zugelassen. Amitriptyline: Amitriptylin ist zur Behandlung der Major Depression zugelassen, doch dominiert die zeitgenössische Anwendung niedrig dosierte Off-Label-Indikationen: neuropathischer Schmerz, Fibromyalgie, chronischer Spannungskopfschme…
Safety profile
Trazodone: Häufige Nebenwirkungen sind Sedierung (gewünschter Effekt bei niedrigen Dosen), Mundtrockenheit, Schwindel, orthostatische Hypotonie und Kopfschmerzen. Amitriptyline: Häufige Nebenwirkungen spiegeln die anticholinerge, antihistaminerge und α1-blockierende Aktivität wider: Mundtrockenheit, Verstopfung, Miktionsverzögerung, verschwommenes Sehen, Sedierung, Gewichtszunahme und orthostati…
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Is Trazodone better than Amitriptyline? ▾
Trazodone and Amitriptyline are not "better or worse" — they treat different things. The sensible question is which fits your specific need.
Can Trazodone and Amitriptyline be combined? ▾
Whether they can be combined depends on the indications and the interaction profile of each. If both are in a single prescription, the prescriber has weighed it; in self-medication they should never be combined.
Do they have the same side-effect profile? ▾
No — they belong to different classes and have distinct side-effect profiles. Each has its own prescribing information.
Products with Trazodone
Products with Amitriptyline
Die Informationen auf dieser Website dienen ausschließlich zu Referenz- und Bildungszwecken. Sie ersetzen nicht die Beratung durch qualifiziertes medizinisches Fachpersonal.