Bre asked
Do cetirizine and zolpidem share the same pill description? My cetirizine pill has APO on the front and 10mg on the other side. When I looked up the pill description, it says it's zolpidem. They almost look alike but one is more oval. Also, can they both be taken together in the same day.
Answer
There is a moderate interaction between Zyrtec (cetirizine) and Ambien (zolpidem), and they generally should not be taken at the same time. Both drugs cause CNS (central nervous system) depression) and additive drowsiness/sedation may occur if used together.
The interaction isn't considered major however as there are no reports of serious adverse effects, such as respiratory depression, when both drugs have been used together. In addition, both can generally be taken in the same day if Zyrtec is taken in the morning and Ambien at night. Nevertheless, these medications should only be taken together under the recommendation and supervision of a medical professional.
In regard to the similarities in tablet appearance between Ambien and Zyrtec, many different tablets may have the same or very similar markings on them. They may only vary in color, size, shape or scoring on the tablet. If you are ever not sure what a medication is, consult your pharmacist before taking it.
In this specific case, Apotex is a generic manufacturer of both cetirizine and zolpidem, and they do imprint their tablets with "APO" on one side and the mg strength on the other side. Since zolpidem and cetirizine are both 10mg, they will look very similar. Check with your local pharmacist to confirm the pills.
