How do antipsychotics interact with antidepressants?

[rahnie440]

How do antipsychotics and antidepressants interact with each other? Should they be taken at different times? I am currently taking 10mg of Cipralex at noon and 15mg of Olanzapine at night.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Retired]

According to several drug interaction checkers I looked at, I could not find a specific interaction report between these two medications that might preclude taking them together.

However, from Drugs.com

Central nervous system- and/or respiratory-depressant effects may be additively or synergistically increased in patients taking multiple drugs that cause these effects, especially in elderly or debilitated patients.

During concomitant use of these drugs, patients should be monitored for potentially excessive or prolonged CNS and respiratory depression. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

and from UMM Drug Checker

LEXAPRO (Cipralex) (ESCITALOPRAM OXALATE) and ALCOHOL
Taking escitalopram and ethanol may cause you to feel more tired or confused. Using escitalopram and drinking alcohol is not recommended. It is important to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all other medicines that you are using and how much alcohol you drink. If you are already using escitalopram and drinking alcohol, call your doctor if you feel drowsy or sleepy, feel dizzy, have a decreased ability to concentrate, have confusion or changes in mental awareness, have slurred speech, or have a loss of balance. Do not stop using your medicines without talking to your doctor first.

OLANZAPINE (OLANZAPINE) and ALCOHOL
Drinking alcohol (or taking any product containing alcohol) while being treated with olanzapine may result in slowing down your nervous system. Using olanzapine and drinking alcohol is not recommended. It is important to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all other medicines that you are using and how much alcohol you drink. If you are already using olanzapine and drinking alcohol, call your doctor if you have loss of balance, have slurred speech, feel confused, have changes in mental awareness, or feel dizzy. Do not stop using your medicines without talking to your doctor first.

What instructions about how to take your medications have your doctor and/or pharmacist given you?

 

[rahnie440]

I don't think my doctor gave me any instructions on how to take my medication together. The only thing I've noticed with taking them both in the same day is I feel more sedated > drowsy, weak, faint. I guess I'll have to ask my doctor about it because I found nothing on the internet about it which is unusual.

 

[Retired]

I don't think my doctor gave me any instructions on how to take my medication together.

The instructions on your prescriptions would tell you how to take your medications. If you're not sure, call the pharmacist for clarification.

I guess I'll have to ask my doctor about it because I found nothing on the internet about it which is unusual.

Even better. Unless you know what you're looking for and are able to evaluate the competence of the internet site you're looking at, you stand the risk of getting faulty information.

The only thing I've noticed with taking them both in the same day is I feel more sedated > drowsy, weak, faint.

Precisely the information you need to report to your doctor. There may be an additive effect on your CNS system your doctor may need to correct by modifying the dosages, the timing of the medications or the actual meds.

You're on the right track..speak to your doctor and do let us know the outcome of your conversation.