What drugs should not be taken with Seroquel? (5 dangerous meds) 

In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “What drugs should not be taken with Seroquel?”. Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic medication that can be used for the treatment and management of a variety of mental health-related problems. 

However, its primary use is to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Although Seroquel is tolerated well, there are some meds that may make Seroquel quite dangerous and ineffective. Let’s look at the meds that should not be taken with Seroquel. 

What drugs should not be taken with Seroquel? 

The following drugs should not be taken with Seroquel:

• Other antipsychotic medications
• Drugs used to treat arrhythmia 
• Certain antibiotics 
• Methadone
• Pentamidine

Other antipsychotic medications

The use of other antipsychotic medications like Chlorpromazine, Ziprasidone, or Thioridazine along with Seroquel can give rise to a number of disturbing complications. They interact in several ways. The first and the most basic interaction is pharmacokinetic in nature. 

The above-mentioned antipsychotics can decrease the plasma concentration of Seroquel when these meds are used together. This can result in therapeutic failure because of the presence of insufficient amounts of Seroquel in your blood to bind to its respective receptors. 

When the adequate amount of the drug does not bind to its active site, it does not generate the response which is required by your mental health condition. This is the biggest reason why these meds are not combined together. 

Another important reason is the possibility of psychological side effects. All antipsychotics, whether typical or atypical, are associated with some side effects. If then or more of such meds are combined, these side effects become ten-folds. 

Not every human body can tolerate these effects. This is why it is important to not start using any medication without your doctor’s approval. 

Drugs used to treat arrhythmia 

Seroquel should never be paired with drugs that are used to treat arrhythmia or any drug that can affect the rhythm of your heart. This is because one of the major side effects of Seroquel is its ability to cause arrhythmia, heart palpitations, or QT prolongation in general. 

When different types of drugs, that can affect your heart rate, are combined together, they can cause a number of complications. These complications can become life-threatening for people who are already suffering from a cardiac problem, especially the one related to the rhythm of their heart. 

This is why Seroquel should also not be paired with other meds that can cause similar side effects. Make sure you inform your healthcare provider if you are a cardiac patient. 

You should not only talk about the symptoms you are going through but also about the prescription medications you have been taking for your heart condition. Your doctor should be fully aware of your situation before he prescribes you Seroquel or any other antipsychotic medication. 

Certain antibiotics

Certain antibiotics like Moxifloxacin and Gatifloxacin don’t do well when combined with Seroquel. This is because these antibiotics act on the liver enzyme system which is responsible for the metabolism and elimination of Seroquel. 

These are the two basic processes involving a drug and they should be properly managed in order to ensure the safe and effective use of any medicine. Antibiotics like Moxifloxacin can also affect your heart rate. 

These meds are known to cause heart palpitations and this is why these antibiotics may not be tolerated well by some people. When these two drugs are combined together, the chances of arrhythmia are drastically increased and not everyone can tolerate such a side effect. 

This is why you should always inform your healthcare provider about such matters. If you need an antibiotic for some reason, your doctor should know that you’re being treated with Seroquel. This can make your healthcare provider choose the safest antibiotic for you.

Methadone

Methadone and Seroquel interact in a number of ways and should not be used together. The first and the most basic interaction is pharmacokinetic in nature. Seroquel acts on the liver enzyme system which is responsible for the metabolism of Methadone. 

This way, more Methadone is available in your body. This gives rise to a number of complications, one of which could be Methadone toxicity. On the other hand, Methadone is also associated with causing arrhythmia and heart palpitations as a side effect. 

This means that more amount of Methadone can cause twice as much arrhythmia, and that combined with Seroquel-induced QT elongation can cause life-threatening complications. It can and will be deadly for a cardiac patient. This combination should be avoided at all costs. 

Pentamidine

Pentamidine should also not be paired with Seroquel. The combination can cause a number of side effects. 

Seroquel may decrease the bioavailability of Pentamidine, which means the drug will not act in the best possible way and it may not help you recover from the symptoms for which you are taking Pentamidine in the first place. 

Another potential side effect is the risk of cardiac failure. This is because Pentamidine is associated with QT prolongation and it may cause your heart to beat irregularly. The drug can also induce chest pain, all on its own. 

When it is combined with a drug like Seroquel, which is also associated with arrhythmia and cardiac disturbances, it can cause an instant heart attack. This is why you should avoid this combination if you wish to stay away from deadly consequences. 

What to ensure the proper use of Seroquel? 

The best way to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome is to make sure you’re taking Seroquel in the best possible way. It is important that you take all the necessary precautions with the drug that must be taken. There are some important warnings associated with Seroquel. 

It should never be taken by older adults, especially those who suffer from dementia. The drug can cause significant disturbances in their behaviour and may exacerbate the symptoms associated with their mental illness. 

The treatment with Seroquel also increases the risk of death in such patients. If we talk about the use of Seroquel in people younger than 24 years of age, there are some complications that may arise. The drug can induce suicidal behaviour in such individuals. 

The severity and intensity of this suicidal behaviour can vary from person to person and it also depends on the fact that the person is taking antidepressants along with Seroquel or not. 

People who were treated with the combined use of Seroquel and antidepressants showed even more intense suicidal behaviour. This is because antidepressants are solely responsible for making younger people feel that way.

However, this effect was found to be more disastrous in teenagers. A lot of other disturbing behaviour patterns were also observed. As far as children younger than that are concerned, experts suggest that Seroquel should not be used in children younger than 10 years of age. 

Some studies indicated that even adults can show suicidal behaviours, especially during the early course of the treatment. They showed other symptoms as well, including:

• Psychosis 
• Mania 
• Insomnia or inability to fall asleep 
• Irritability 
• Anxiety 
• Agitation 
• Confusion 
• Forgetfulness. 
• Reckless and violent behaviour
• Panic attacks 
• Abnormal excitement 

This is extremely important to make sure that people around you are aware of the dangerous side effects of Seroquel. Oftentimes, people are unable to help themselves when they suffer from manic behaviour. 

This is why your family or caregiver should know about the possibility of such side effects so that they can immediately take you to the doctor. It is also extremely important to make sure that you’re taking as much as you are supposed to.

Taking more than the prescribed dose can cause a number of other complications for you. If you don’t understand how much drug you’re supposed to take or how to take it, make sure you ask your doctor or pharmacist again and again until you completely understand the proper use of the drug. 

Proper drug administration is the key to achieving your desired therapeutic outcome. You should also talk to your healthcare provider about the risk and dangers of missing your dose. 

When you know how important it is, you will try to take your meds more carefully. If you’re being treated for a psychological illness, skipping a dose can be dangerous.

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed the medications which should not be taken with Seroquel. A lot of the meds we have discussed are associated with cardiac arrhythmia, and so is Seroquel. 

This indicates that Seroquel should not be paired with any medication that can disturb your heart rate. Make sure you inform your healthcare provider if you are a cardiac patient. 

You should not only talk about the symptoms you are going through but also about the prescription medications you have been taking for your heart condition. Your doctor should be fully aware of your situation before he prescribes you Seroquel or any other antipsychotic medication. 

FAQs: Drugs not to take with Seroquel 

Can you take ibuprofen with Seroquel?

Yes, you can take painkillers like paracetamol, Ibuprofen, and aspirin with Seroquel. However, you need to make sure that you’re not taking too many of these meds. A certain amount is considered harmless, but if you continue to consume all of these meds together, you will be subjected to some terrible side effects. Make sure you ask your healthcare provider before using any medication. 

Why should you not take Seroquel?

Seroquel should never be taken by older adults, especially those who suffer from dementia. The drug can cause significant disturbances in their behaviour and may exacerbate the symptoms associated with their mental illness. The treatment with Seroquel also increases the risk of death in such patients. If we talk about the use of Seroquel in people younger than 24 years of age, there are some complications that may arise. 

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 to treat and manage 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. 

What drugs should not be taken with quetiapine?

• Certain antibiotics including macrolides. Examples are clarithromycin, azithromycin, and erythromycin. 
• Other antipsychotic medications
• Drugs used to treat arrhythmia  
• Methadone
• Pentamidine 
• Some antifungal agents like ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole etc. 
• Certain antiarrhythmic medications like quinidine
• Medications used to treat HIV, including ritonavir, indinavir, etc.

Is quetiapine good for anxiety and depression?

Yes, Quetiapine shows some good activity against depression and it can be used in combination with other antidepressants for the treatment and management of MDD. Proper drug administration is the key to achieving your desired therapeutic outcome. You should also talk to your healthcare provider about the risk and dangers of missing your dose.

References 

• Does Seroquel Interact with other Medications? https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-4718/seroquel-oral/details/list-interaction-medication
• National Library of Medicine – Quetiapine https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a698019.html