Can Chlordiazepoxide Be Taken With Trazodone? (3+ Risks)

By Ivan Kahwa

Page last updated: 02/02/2024 | Next review date: 02/02/2026

Author bio

Mr Ivan Kahwa is a chemist and phytopharmaceutical scientist with expertise in chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and Nanobiotechnology. He writes and reviews content on these topics.

Mr Ivan Kahwa’s Highlights:

Guest Researcher at the University of Leipzig, Senior Research Fellow/Scientist, and Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Professional Experience:

Mr Ivan joined PHARMBIOTRAC as a research fellow/scientist during his master of science tenure. He contributed to the development of most of the phytopharmaceutical products in the project. Furthermore, he participated in carrying out the pharmacological activities of the developed products in laboratory animals such as mice and rats in order to develop proper doses hence leading to pre-clinical studies.

With the above relevant research experience, Ivan started to work with the University of Leipzig on collaborative projects with Mbarara University to develop the chemistry of Ugandan Medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities. This was coupled with several consultative positions by different German NGOs. Mr. Kahwa is also a supporting in the teaching and learning at the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

With the increase in antimicrobial resistance globally, Ivan retooled his thinking towards developing new naturally derived antibiotic regimens from Ugandan propolis with the assistance of nanotechnology to improve their delivery to microbial cells. Kahwa has also published over 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he is currently reviewing for many journals.

Education:

2023-2027: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (ongoing) with a focus on Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Nanobiology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

2022: 2Msc. in Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

2018: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Publications:

▪ Iqbal, S., Jabeen, F., Kahwa, I., & Omara, T. 2023. Suberosin Alleviates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via Modulation of ACSL4-LPCAT3 and PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathways. Cardiovascular Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-023-09804-7

▪ Gupta, A. K., Yadav, R., Sharma, S., Sawale, J., & Kahwa, I. 2023. Anti-ageing Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 15(3), 448–455. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2023.15.60

▪ Tolo, C.U., Kahwa, I., Nuwagira, U., Weisheit, A. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Medicinal plants used in treatment of various diseases in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, pp.1-16.

https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4683

▪ Kahwa, I., Ajayi, C.O., Yadav, R., Chauhan, N.S., Shah, K., Abdelgadir, A.A., Shegena, E.A., Daniel, S., Omara, T., Asiimwe, J.B. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda. TMR Integr Med, 7, p.e23004.

https://doi.org/10.53388/TMRIM202307004

▪ Nalimu, F., Oloro, J., Kahwa, I. and Ogwang, P.E., 2021. Review on the phytochemistry and toxicological profiles of Aloe vera and Aloe ferox. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, pp.1-21.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00296-2

▪ Elamin, O.H.S., Ali, M.A., Elgezuli, I.A.A., Bashir, M.A. and Kahwa, I., 2021. Diagnosis of pre-and post-treatment of echinococcus granulosus with counter current immune electrophoresis and bacterial co-agglutination. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 11(02), pp.88-94.

https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.951600

Published book Chapter

▪ Kahwa, I., Ayesiga, I., Nakalema, S., Alinaiswe, R., Mbabazi, R. and Iqbal, S., 2023. Natural products in the management of onchocerciasis. In Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management (pp. 63-80). Academic Press. Book Chapter.

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91942-5.00012-4

Submitted manuscripts Under Review:

▪ Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats. Journal name: Clinical Phytoscience

▪ Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Herbal Medicine

▪ Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used in treatment of epilepsy by PROMETRA-Uganda Traditional Health Practitioners in Mpigi District, Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Submitted book chapters under review

1.Book title: Algae as a Natural Solution for Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Section 4: Microalgae and cyanobacteria for food applications, Chapter 4.6: Safety, toxicological and allergenic aspects of using algae for food. Authors: Christine Kyarimpa, Tom Omute, Caroline K. Nakiguli, Alice V. Khanakwa4, Christopher Angiro, Ivan Kahwa, Fortunate Ahumuza, Timothy Omara*. Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore.

2.Book title: Nutraceuticals Inspiring the Contemporary Therapy for Lifestyle Diseases. Chapter: Nutraceutical applications of Seaweeds and their Phytocompounds in Nutrition and Treatment of Diseases. Authors: Ivan Kahwa, Timothy Omara , Innocent Ayesiga , Gael Noel Neh Neba Ambe , Zehbanaz Javidbhai Panwala , Rachel Mbabazi , Shabnoor Iqbal , Christine Kyarimpa , Christine Betty Nagawa , Kamal Shah ,Nagendra Singh Chauhan* Publisher: CRC Press

You can view my works on the following professional sites:

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan-Kahwa

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tOwrvqoAAAAJ&hl=en

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-3437

Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/ivan-kahwa-865450159

Ivan Kahwa

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In this article, we will discuss whether Chlordiazepoxide be taken with Trazodone. We will also discuss the potential side effects of this combination and how to ensure the safe and effective use of this combination.

Can Chlordiazepoxide be taken with Trazodone?

Chlordiazepoxide can be taken with Trazodone but only if recommended by your healthcare provider. Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide may cause some additive effects, especially sedation, as they can cause drowsiness.

Trazodone is an antidepressant which is used to treat a variety of mental health-related problems. It is usually taken at night time because of its sedative properties (1). Chlordiazepoxide, on the other hand, is a benzodiazepine used for treating anxiety-related disorders (2).

Although Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide don’t chemically interact with each other, they can affect your mental alertness. Both are prescription medications and this combination should be prescribed with caution.

If your doctor thinks Chlordiazepoxide is a good treatment for your anxiety while you are being treated with Trazodone, they will most likely adjust the doses and advise you to take the two medications at separate times.

This way you will avoid the presence of both Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide in your body simultaneously.

Potential benefits of taking Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide

Taking Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide together can offer some potential benefits for some people. Chlordiazepoxide when taken in the morning can provide calming effects as the medication is used to manage anxiety disorders and can help ease feelings of unease or nervousness.

Trazodone being an antidepressant can lift your mood over time. So by taking these medications, you can address anxiety and mood at the same time.

Additionally, the combination of Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide may have a synergistic effect, enhancing their sleep-promoting properties. By working together they can potentially improve overall sleep duration and reduce instances of night time awakenings.

It is important to note that combining medications should only be done under the guidance and approval of a healthcare professional.

Potential risks of taking Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide together

There are several risks associated with taking Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide together, and these medications should only be taken under the guidance of a healthcare provider. Some of the potential risks of taking Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide together may include:

Excessive sedation

The concomitant use of Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide can cause excessive sedation and can significantly impair your mental alertness. They may also cause some other physiological side effects in people because they both can alter the chemical activity in your brain (3,4).

The problem with taking these medications concomitantly is that they can’t be taken at the same time. If you keep them at least 12 hours apart – as Chlordiazepoxide is a long-acting benzodiazepine – you will have to take at least one of them in the morning.

However, that’s the main problem. You can’t possibly take a med that puts you to sleep in the morning when you are literally starting your day. This is why it is best to avoid them, and there are plenty of other antidepressants that you can replace Trazodone with.

Generally, Trazodone should not be taken at the same time as other sedative medications such as Lorazepam, Diazepam etc.

Additive side effects

Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide can both cause cognitive impairment, including drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating when taken alone. Combining these medications can further increase the risk of impaired cognition, drowsiness and dizziness which can affect daily life activities such as driving or operating heavy machinery.

General intolerance

Some people may not be able to tolerate this treatment approach generally. the dosage strengths of these meds are also very important to ensure their safe and effective use. However, there are plenty of other combinations that may provide more appropriate benefits than this one.

Increased risk of respiratory depression

Taking Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide together can also increase the risk of respiratory depression which is a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by slow shallow breathing (5,6).

This is more likely to occur in individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and these patients can suffer from fatal consequences if this combination impairs their respiratory function.

Ensuring safe and effective use of Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide.

The following points should be considered to ensure the safe and effective use of Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide.

Always take the medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Take one med in the morning and the other at night to reduce the risk of side effects.
Avoid taking alcohol or caffeine with these meds as they can intensify the side effects.
Do not skip the doses or discontinue the medication without medical supervision.
Keep an eye on our side effects and report them to your doctor promptly.

In my view and the knowledge available, taking Trazodone and Chlordiazepoxide together can have some potential benefits and risks. It depends on your specific condition whether or not your body needs Chlordiazepoxide while being treated with a sedative antidepressant.

It is crucial to consult your doctor before taking these meds together. They will assess your condition and determine the most appropriate plan for you.