Trazodone and anesthetics

[Doggy]

I am having open needle localization with anesthetics for calcifications. Can you tell me what this means; increased serum digoxin and phenytoin levels have been reported to occur in patients receiving trazodone concurrently with either of those 2 drugs. Little is known about the interaction between trazodone and general anesthetics; therefore, prior to elective surgery, trazodone should be discontinued for as long as clinically feasible.
  What are serum digoxion and phenytoin?
  Also, what does this mean;  There is sufficient experimental evidence to conclude that chronic administration of those psychotropic drugs, such as trazodone, which increase prolactin secretion has the potential to induce mammory neoplasms in rodents under appropriate conditions. Tissue culture experiments indicate that approximately 33% of human breast cancers are prolactin dependent in vitro, a factor of potential importance if the prescription of these drugs is contemplated in a patient with a previously detected breast cancer.  Although disturbances such as galactorrhea, amenorrhea, gynecomastia and impotence have been reported, the clinical significance of elevated serum prolactin levels or increased secretion and turnover are unknown for most patients. Neither clinical studies nor epidemiological studies conducted to date, however, have shown a association between administration of these drugs and mammory tumorigenesis: Available evidence is considered too limited to be conclusive at this time.

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Doggy, First question - digoxin and phenytoin are two different types of medications, digoxin is used to treat certain heart conditions, and phenytoin is an anti-siezure medication.  Both of these medications can be very beneficial at certain blood levels, however if the blood levels are too high there can be problems.  So the blood levels of digoxin and phenytoin are monitored in patients who are on these medications.  If trazodone is given to people on either of these medications, extra caution needs to be taken in interpretation of the blood levels that are monitored.

Regarding general anesthesia and trazadone, because of some of the possible side effects of trazodone, such as sedation, extra caution needs to be taken.  Because not all interactions are known between trazodone and general anesthesia, there may be the recommendation to hold the dose - however your surgeon or the anesthesiologist could advise you if that is necessary.

As to the last piece, what is basically being said is; it is unknown as to whether long term use of psychotropic drugs (the family of drugs that trazodone falls into) promotes breast cancer development in humans.

[boots342]

A related discussion, trazadone was started.