Is the combination of Quetiapine and Sertraline effective? (3+ reviews) 

In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “Is the combination of Quetiapine and Sertraline effective?”. Sertraline is one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, whereas Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication. 

They both can be used for a number of mental health-related problems. However, they can also be used in combination, which is actually considered a good combination. This blog will cover the actual experiences of the people while being treated with Quetiapine and Sertraline. 

Is the combination of Quetiapine and Sertraline effective?

Yes, the combination of Quetiapine and Sertraline is considered quite effective. This combination can work wonders for some people and can significantly help in the management and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). 

However, you should always consult your healthcare provider for such matters. Although it can be beneficial for a huge number of people, only your doctor can determine if this combination is the best possible choice for your condition or not. 

Never start two or more medicines together without your doctor’s approval. One of the major benefits of using Quetiapine with Sertraline is the faster onset of action of this antidepressant. 

It is a known fact that antidepressants take time to work. No matter how severe your depression symptoms are, your antidepressant will take 4 to 6 weeks to kick in. 

After that, it starts to make changes in your system and help you recover from the symptoms. However, you may start to suffer from side effects, but the good part is bound to come in about a month and a half. With Quetiapine, this time period is reduced. 

This is because Quetiapine enhances the effects of Sertraline and other SSRIs. It makes them work quicker than these antidepressants normally do and you begin to notice differences in your mental health condition way earlier. 

Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It works by actively inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin by blocking serotonin transporters (SERT). This way more serotonin is available in the synaptic cleft to bind to its respective receptors. 

The excess serotonin compensates for its deficiency and actively counteracts the symptoms associated with depression and other mental health conditions. Quetiapine, on the other hand, is an atypical antipsychotic medication.

It is primarily used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The drug can be used for other conditions as well, including autism, irritability and major depressive disorders. 

Its exact mechanism of action is still unknown. However, experts believe that the drug acts as an agonist of some of the dopamine receptors including D2 receptors and some of the serotonin receptors including 5HT1A receptors. 

The experts have also added that Quetiapine can inhibit serotonin 5HT2A receptors actively. As Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic, it is considered safer than typical antipsychotics which possess a higher risk of causing extrapyramidal side effects.

As both of these medicines work on your brain and brain-related problems, the doses at which you take them play a huge role. Lower doses, especially when a combination is used, are your best bet, and many people respond well to well-adjusted doses. 

What actual people have experienced so far? 

There are a number of people who have come forward to reveal how they felt while being treated with Quetiapine and Sertraline. One user stated:

“I have been struggling with depression since my childhood. You know how you see one child in the playground just sitting and not playing with any other kid, yes that was me. I always battled this mental illness and it did not let me win. When I entered my teenage years, the problem progressed.”

The user continued:

“That was when I discovered that I had social anxiety as well because I felt like an outsider and could not blend in with the other teenagers in my school. That’s when my mom took me to our mental healthcare professional. He put me on 25 mg Sertraline. The med worked well for me and I used Sertraline for years.”

The user further stated:

“After a couple of years, Sertraline kind of stopped working for me. That’s when my doc put me on Quetiapine. The drug somehow reactivated my Sertraline and I have been using this combination ever since. I do feel a little funny sometimes, especially when there’s added stress in my life, but overall I have no complaints.”

This review indicates the strength of Quetiapine in the augmentation of Sertraline. Another user stated:

“I have always been a cheerful person. I used to take everything positively, everything was good, and I married the love of my life. My mental health was near perfection, but it all changed when my husband died in a tragic car crash. He was my salvation, my lifeline. When he went away, he took a big part of me with him.”

She further stated:

“At first I did what everyone would have done: I cried. For many days and nights. I know people believe that time heals things but my attachment to him was beyond that. Soon I fell into depression and PTSD. I visited my therapist and I got prescribed Lexapro. Somehow it didn’t work or it just wasn’t enough for me.”

She continued:

“My therapist told me I have MDD and put me on the combination of Quetiapine and Sertraline. The meds were a bit too much for me at first, but my insomnia and panic attacks began to get better. Within a few months, my panic attacks almost stopped. I have been using this combination ever since. I still miss him but I am better now.”

This is heartbreaking. Depression is a nerve-racking illness that can be triggered after a terrible life experience. When you lose someone so close to yourself, you do feel like a part of you is gone. This kind of heartbreak can actively trigger depression and PTSD. 

Make sure you seek medical attention. Such people sometimes just leave themselves and don’t seek any help. This can induce suicidal behaviour and some people may try to make attempt to kill themselves. This is why you should always seek medical assistance. Another user stated:

“I hear so many good reviews from people who are in my support group regarding the recent use of Quetiapine and Sertraline, but my story is the exact opposite. My doc put me on this combination a year ago and I was actually quite happy and optimistic about it because I had heard so much good stuff about these two meds.”

The user continued:

“When I started using it, I felt nothing. My doc told me to give it 2 to 3 weeks to kick in and I did. After 2 weeks, I started to feel drowsy and dizzy. My mood sure felt elevated, but I was constantly dizzy, like 24/7. This kept getting worse until one day I actually fell down and hit my head. After that, my doctor slowly started to change my prescription.”

This review is an example for us to know that this combination may not work for every other person in the exact same way. Some people may not be able to bear the side effects caused by this combination. Another user stated:

“I had heard about the augmentation of antidepressants with Quetiapine and I discussed this with my doctor. My depression was so bad that the thought of giving antidepressants for 4 to 6 weeks to work seemed like a long period of time. I researched it and found out about Quetiapine.”

The user further stated:

“My doc refused me this combination and told me that it may interact negatively with my cardiac condition. I have a cardiac birth defect that becomes symptoms twice or thrice a year or when I have too much stress in my life. So, this combination is clearly not a good option for cardiac patients.”

This review gives us a good insight into when and when not this drug should be taken. Always bear in mind that meds do interact with our underlying health conditions. Always make sure you rule out any such condition before using the combination of Quetiapine and Sertraline. 

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed the effectiveness of the concomitant use of Quetiapine and Sertraline. The combination of these two meds is considered a good one and it does hold some great therapeutic importance. 

This combination can work wonders for some people and can significantly help in the management and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, you should always consult your healthcare provider for such matters. 

The only way to ensure a safe and effective therapeutic outcome is to use these meds properly. Improper usage and non-adjusted doses can not only result in therapeutic failure but can also exacerbate the symptoms associated with your MDD. 

FAQs: Quetiapine and sertraline together reviews

Can you take quetiapine and sertraline together?

Yes, you can take Sertraline and Quetiapine together, but only if your healthcare provider prescribes this combination. The concomitant use of Sertraline and Quetiapine does hold some clinical importance. The purpose of combining two meds together is to increase efficacy and decrease the risk of side effects by lowering the dose of each of the drugs. This is why you should always stick to your doctor’s recommended dose. 

Which antidepressant is best with quetiapine?

Quetiapine can be paired with a number of antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), dopamine-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (DNRI), etc. Only your healthcare provider can determine which combination holds the best therapeutic importance in your case. Make sure you always stick to your doctor’s advice and do not take anything that is not approved by your healthcare provider.

Can you take quetiapine with SSRI?

Yes, you can take an SSRI with Quetiapine, but only if your healthcare provider prescribes this combination. When we combine SSRIs with Seroquel, your antidepressant kicks in faster. With Quetiapine, you might begin to notice some changes in around 2 to 3 weeks. This indicates that Quetiapine enhances the effects of SSRIs and it turns out to be in your best interest. Quetiapine also balances the activating effects of your antidepressant. 

What drugs should not be taken with quetiapine?

• Certain antibiotics including macrolides. Examples are clarithromycin, azithromycin, and erythromycin. 
• Antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Examples are fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, etc. 
• Some antifungal agents like ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole etc. 
• Certain antiarrhythmic medications like quinidine
• Medications used to treat HIV, including ritonavir, indinavir, etc.

What does Seroquel do to a normal person?

Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic medication. It is most commonly used for the treatment of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Seroquel can also be used for the treatment and management of irritability, autism, and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, this medicine is also associated with some side effects and it may severely damage the mental health of a person who has no psychological illness. 

References 

• Drug Interactions between Seroquel and sertraline https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/seroquel-with-sertraline-1979-1274-2057-0.html#:~:text=sertraline%20QUEtiapine&text=Using%20QUEtiapine%20together%20with%20sertraline,is%20a%20rare%20side%20effect. 
• Ella J Daly and Madhukar H Trivedi – A review of quetiapine in combination with antidepressant therapy in patients with depression https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2656328/ 
• J M Goldstein. Drugs Today (Barc). (1999) – Quetiapine fumarate (Seroquel): a new atypical antipsychotic https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12973385/
• National Library of Medicine – Sertraline https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697048.html