Prescription medications often have imprint codes rather than familiar names, which can make identification challenging. This article decodes the medication associated with the imprint “262,” clarifying its identity, primary uses, and important considerations. This information is for general understanding; always consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
Decoding “Pill 262”
The numerical imprint “262” found on a white, round tablet most commonly identifies Trazodone Hydrochloride. This imprint, typically on one side of the tablet, signifies a specific medication and its manufacturer. Trazodone is classified as an antidepressant and belongs to a group of drugs known as serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs). While “262” frequently corresponds to a 50mg dosage, imprint codes can vary between manufacturers. Always verifying a pill’s identity with a pharmacist or a professional drug identification tool is the best practice to ensure accuracy.
Primary Medical Applications
Trazodone’s primary FDA-approved use is for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). It improves mood, appetite, and energy levels, and can decrease anxiety and insomnia related to depression. Beyond this, trazodone is frequently prescribed off-label. Its sedative properties make it a common choice for treating insomnia, even at lower doses than for depression. Trazodone may also be used off-label to manage anxiety symptoms, particularly in individuals with sleep disturbances.
How Trazodone Works
Trazodone is a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI) that influences serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, appetite, and behavior. Trazodone primarily works by inhibiting serotonin reuptake, increasing its concentration in the brain’s nerve synapses. This mechanism contributes to its antidepressant effects and, at lower doses, its sedative properties by blocking certain serotonin, histamine, and alpha-1 adrenergic receptors.
Important Usage Considerations
For depression, typical adult dosages can start around 150 mg per day in divided doses, potentially increasing up to 400 mg daily for outpatients, or up to 600 mg for inpatients. For insomnia, lower doses, generally between 25 mg and 100 mg, are commonly used, often taken before bedtime. Taking trazodone after a meal or snack can help reduce common side effects like nausea and lightheadedness.
It is important to avoid alcohol and other central nervous system depressants while taking trazodone, as this can worsen drowsiness and dizziness. Trazodone can interact with several medications, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), requiring a 14-day washout period before starting or stopping either drug to prevent serious reactions like serotonin syndrome.
Other serotonergic drugs, such as certain antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs), triptans, and herbal supplements like St. John’s wort, can also increase the risk of serotonin syndrome when combined with trazodone. Trazodone can increase the risk of bleeding, especially when taken with blood thinners like warfarin. Abruptly stopping trazodone is not recommended, as it can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety, and sleep disturbances; dosage should be gradually reduced under medical supervision.
Potential Side Effects
Trazodone, like all medications, can cause side effects, ranging from common to more serious. Common side effects often include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, blurred vision, and headache. These effects may diminish as the body adjusts to the medication over the first few weeks. Other frequently reported mild side effects can include fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, and stuffy nose.
More serious, though less common, side effects can occur and warrant immediate medical attention. These include cardiac arrhythmias, such as QT prolongation (a heart rhythm issue), especially in individuals with pre-existing heart conditions. A rare but serious side effect in males is priapism, a prolonged and painful erection lasting more than four hours, which requires emergency medical care. Serotonin syndrome, characterized by symptoms like agitation, confusion, rapid heart rate, muscle rigidity, and fever, can occur if serotonin levels become too high, particularly when trazodone is combined with other serotonergic medications. Severe allergic reactions, indicated by hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, are also possible and require immediate medical assistance.