Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41845402›Full record

ReviewAnnals of general psychiatry2026

A narrative review on trazodone as a multimodal and multifunctional antidepressant: clinical relevance of formulations, dosing, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic targets.

Alessandro Cuomo, Maurizio Pompili, Antonio Vita, Edoardo Spina, Filippo Caraci, Andrea Fagiolini

Erratum issuedAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Annals of general psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Alessandro CuomoDivision of Psychiatry, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Siena School of Medicine, Viale Bracci 16, Siena, 53100, Italy. alessandrocuomo86@gmail.com.
Maurizio PompiliFaculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Antonio VitaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Edoardo SpinaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Filippo CaraciDepartment of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Andrea FagioliniDivision of Psychiatry, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Siena School of Medicine, Viale Bracci 16, Siena, 53100, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTrazodone, an antidepressant, has only been approved for use in major depressive disorder (MDD), but has demonstrated potent therapeutic potential in various conditions, such as insomnia and anxiety. It targets multiple serotonergic, adrenergic, and histaminergic receptors. Given this multimodal and multifunctional profile, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of trazodone and its clinical applications across various conditions. MAIN TEXT: Trazodone demonstrates sedative and anxiolytic effects even at a low dose (25-75 mg) and a full antidepressant effect at higher doses (150-300 mg). The availability of trazodone in immediate-release, extended-release, intravenous, and intramuscular formulations enables flexible and personalized treatment based on the patient's symptoms, medical history, tolerability, and clinical settings. Clinical evidence also demonstrates that trazodone is effective and well-tolerated across various conditions, including MDD, treatment-resistant depression, insomnia (off-label), neurological disorders, dementia, and delirium, highlighting its versatility. Additionally, the low risk of sexual dysfunction, limited withdrawal symptoms, and weight-neutral effects make it suitable for use in patients with comorbid conditions.

conclusionTrazodone is a multimodal and multifunctional antidepressant that exhibits a broad range of therapeutic effects in MDD and other comorbid conditions. Further research on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationship of trazodone, its parenteral use in acute settings, and the development of prescribing algorithms for predicting treatment responses may enhance its therapeutic outcomes in patients with MDD.

Indexed as

AnxietyExtended-release formulationInsomniaMajor depressive disorderMultimodal antidepressantPharmacodynamicsPharmacokineticsReceptor occupancyTrazodone

Identifiers

PMID41845402
PMCPMC13112903

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.