Because combining trazodone with an MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) carries a serious serotonin syndrome risk, prescribers generally require a washout period — often about two weeks — after stopping an MAOI before starting trazodone, and vice versa.
Washout period
A waiting period between stopping one medication and starting another, used to let the first drug clear the body and reduce interaction risk. A roughly 14-day washout is typically required between MAOIs and trazodone.