We studied the pharmacokinetics and dynamics of single evening oral doses of conventional capsules (100 mg) and a controlled release formulation (150 mg) of trazodone in 12 fasting and non-fasting young healthy volunteers. When corrected for the different doses used, there was no significant difference among the areas under the plasma concentration-time curves (AUC) for the conventional capsules and the controlled release tablets under fasting and non-fasting conditions. Both conventional and controlled release formulations were followed by a reduction in critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT) and this effect was not influenced by the administration of food before dosing. After both conventional and controlled release formulations, blood pressure was significantly lower when medication had been given in the fasting state than when it had been given after food. The frequency of adverse symptoms was greater after the controlled release (150 mg) than after the conventional (100 mg) formulation. We conclude that there is no obvious advantage to the controlled release formulation (150 mg) and that conventional trazodone (100 mg) should be taken after food when it is given at night.