Theresa asked
I took Lexapro for 7 days and had been off it for 6 days due to some bad side effects. I have some insomnia so I took ZzzQuil for this last night. Is this safe?
At a glance
- There is no known drug interaction between ZzzQuil and Lexapro. However, both can cause sedation so use caution if you are taking both.
Answer
Lexapro (escitalopram) and ZzzQuil (diphenhydramine) are considered safe to take together. They do not have any reported drug interactions.
Additive Side Effects
However, both drugs can have additive side effects so it is important to be aware of them and potential symptoms you may experience. The side effects with Lexapro can be especially prominent when first starting out of the drug. These effects include:
- Dizziness
- Sedation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
ZzzQuil contains diphenhydramine, which is also the active ingredient in Benadryl. It is a sedating antihistamine which can cause similar effects like the ones mentioned above for Lexapro (e.g. sedation, constipation).
ZzzQuil With Lexapro
If you have insomnia and want to use ZzzQuil to help you sleep, that is safe for most individuals as there is no drug-drug interaction. One won't affect the overall effectiveness of the other.
Just be sure that you are aware of the potential additive effects of both and certainly don't drive or otherwise engage in activities requiring mental alertness until you know how the medications affect you.
Additional Information
As a side note, while Lexapro doesn't interact with ZzzQuil, there is a potential interaction between it and NyQuil (due to the cough suppressant dextromethorphan). Be sure to speak with your doctor regarding prior to combining Lexapro and NyQuil.
