Sedatives & Hypnotics
Trazodone (Desyrel)
Street names: Desyrel, Traz, Oleptro
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Sedating antidepressant — the classic off-label sleep prescription
- Antianxiety at low doses
⚠Key risks
- PRIAPISM — the famous side effect: painful erections lasting hours; untreated = permanent damage. Emergency if >4 h
- Orthostatic hypotension: falls, dizziness
- Serotonin syndrome in combination
- Dependence as a sleep crutch; withdrawal insomnia
✚Overdose signs
- Priapism (emergency)
- Severe dizziness, fainting
- Irregular heart rhythm
📋Quick facts
Also known asDesyrel, Traz, Oleptro
CategorySedatives & Hypnotics
Schedule / classRx-only — not controlled
Appearance50–300 mg tablets, white scored
Street price~$0.20–$1 per tablet
Legal statusRx-only; among the most-prescribed sleep meds in the US
Last updated2026-09-18
Sources: FDA, NHS
Category comparison — Sedatives & Hypnotics
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trazodone (Desyrel) | Rx-only — not controlled | PRIAPISM — the famous side effect: painful erections lasting hours; untreated = permanent damage. Emergency if >4 h; Orthostatic hypotension: falls, dizziness | ~$0.20–$1 per tablet |
| Mirtazapine (Remeron) | Rx-only — not controlled | Not euphoric but dependence-forming as a sleep crutch; Weight gain, intense hunger (some abuse for appetite) | ~$0.30–$1 per tablet grey-market |
| Quetiapine (Seroquel) | Rx-only — not a controlled drug | The prison/street sleep drug: 'Suzie Q' trades as currency — it's numbing, not a high; Metabolic harm: weight gain, diabetes, dyslipidemia even at low doses | ~$0.50–$3 per tablet |
| Zolpidem (Ambien/Stilnox) | Schedule IV | Sleep-walking, sleep-driving, hallucinations; Dependence and rebound insomnia | ~$2–$10 per 10 mg tablet |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Trazodone (Desyrel) look like?
50–300 mg tablets, white scored
What are the signs of a Trazodone (Desyrel) overdose?
Priapism (emergency); Severe dizziness, fainting; Irregular heart rhythm Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
PRIAPISM — the famous side effect: painful erections lasting hours; untreated = permanent damage. Emergency if >4 h Dependence can develop with regular use.