After trazodone is absorbed, the liver converts a portion of it into mCPP through the CYP3A4 enzyme pathway. mCPP has its own effects on serotonin receptors and has a longer half-life than the parent drug in some studies, which is one reason drug interaction questions about trazodone often focus on CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers.
Active metabolite
Also called: mCPP
A breakdown product of a drug that is itself pharmacologically active. Trazodone is partly converted in the liver to meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), which has its own serotonergic activity.