It’s a common question among people who are taking Seroquel and Ambien together: How safe is it?
There are actually a number of factors that determine the safety of combining these medications. The first thing to look at is whether or not you’re taking any other drugs in addition to Seroquel and Ambien. If you are, then the answer may be different than if you’re taking just those two medications.
Another major factor is your specific personal health condition(s). If you have any known allergies or other sensitivities to medications, then it’s best to talk with your doctor before starting a new treatment plan.
A third factor that affects how safe this combination is for you is how long you’ve been taking one or both of these medications. If they’ve been around since before you were born (and maybe even before your parents were born), then they shouldn’t cause any problems when taken together with each other—but if either one is relatively new to your system, this may be something worth checking into further before continuing forward with this treatment plan (especially if it’s a brand-new drug).
These two medications are very different from each other. Seroquel is an antipsychotic medication, while Ambien is a sedative. The thing that makes these medications potentially dangerous when taken together is that they have opposite effects on the central nervous system—Seroquel is an antagonist (blocks receptors), while Ambien is an agonist (activates receptors). Because of this, mixing them could cause a side effect known as serotonin syndrome.
Serotonin syndrome is characterized by:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Confusion or agitation
- Shivering, high body temperature (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Fever, sweating, chills
- Restlessness or sleepiness (hypersomnia)
- Mental status changes such as confusion or hallucinations.
Taking Seroquel and Ambien Together
Although it’s not recommended to take Seroquel with alcohol because it can cause side effects such as drowsiness or dizziness, it’s possible to take it with other medications. When you’re taking these two drugs together, there’s an increased risk of side effects like sedation and confusion. You should talk about this with your doctor before taking them together so that he or she can help you find an alternative solution for your sleep problems if necessary.
Are Seroquel and Ambien the same?
Seroquel and Ambien are both sedative medications that can be prescribed to help with insomnia. Here’s how they compare:
Seroquel is a prescription medication that contains an antidepressant, quetiapine. This drug works by increasing the amount of dopamine in your brain, which helps you feel more relaxed. It also has anti-anxiety effects and can cause drowsiness.
Ambien is a prescription medication that contains zolpidem. Zolpidem is a sedative-hypnotic drug that works by binding to GABA receptors in your brain, which makes you feel sleepy. Ambien also has anticonvulsant properties and can help relieve anxiety symptoms.
Seroquel is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It can be prescribed for other conditions as well, but it’s not approved by the FDA for those purposes. Ambien is a sleep aid that helps people with insomnia fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.