Does Sinequan Interact With Abilify?

Posted on Fri, 10 Mar 2017

Question: Hello, my name is XXXX XXXXXXX and I take 15 mg of abilify in the morning, 1 mg of klonopin three times a day, 5 mg of L-methylfolate 2 times a day, and 45 mg of remeron at night to help me sleep. The remeron doesn't always work in helping me sleep. I take 30 mg at first, and then 15 mg in the middle of the night to help me fall back asleep and sometimes I can't fall back asleep. Do you know of any other good medication that would help me fall asleep which wouldn't interact with my current medications? I tried ambien and trazadone but they didn't work. I have sinequan, but I read on the internet that taking abilify and sinequan together can cause side effects such as drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, heat intolerance, flushing, decreased sweating, difficulty urinating, abdominal cramping, constipation, irregular heartbeat, confusion, and memory problems. Is it safe to take sinequan with abilify and my other medications? Please tell me which medication you think I should take for sleep.

Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You should avoid sinequan

Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXX.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.

Sinequan and abilify has drug-drug interaction which result in increase in the side effects. I would cautiously prescribe this combination in my patients.

You are taking remeron with abilify. This combination also has similar kind of interaction as with abilify and sinequan. So, you should avoid another drug with similar drug-drug interaction with abilify.

You are on abilify, klonopin, remeron and L-methyl folate. Your major concern is sleep. Remeron has more sedating property at lower dose. I would have given 7.5 mg to my patients for sleep and also would have given cautiously Seroquel 25 mg to my patients for sleep.

Apart from Seroquel and remeron, one can also use the drugs like Ambien CR (extended release).

After assessing the risks of side effects, I would have given Ambien CR 12.5 mg to my patient. Take drugs after consulting your prescribing psychiatrist.

Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further query then feel free to ask.

Regards, Dr Ravi Soni

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Ravi Soni (40 minutes later)

Can I safely take seroquel with remeron and with my other medications? And should I take them at the same time or how should I take them?

And I only have seroquel 50 mg tablets, so is it okay if I take 50 mg instead of 25 mg?

Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It is advisable to take one by one

Detailed Answer:
Hi, Soniya, thanks for asking again.

I would advise not to take remeron and seroquel together. It should be tried one after another and if they are not effective alone then only they can be taken together.

The seroquel 50 mg tablet comes as a scored tablet, so that it can be broken into two 25 mg tablets.

There is no contraindication in taking them together but if you shall have sleep with one then why to take two drugs?

Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further query then feel free to ask.

Regards, Dr Ravi Soni.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy