Seroquel vs. Ativan

• Are Ativan and Seroquel the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Seroquel?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Ativan?
• What Is Seroquel?
• What Is Ativan?
• What Drugs Interact with Seroquel?
• What Drugs Interact with Ativan?
• How Should Seroquel Be Taken?
• How Should Ativan Be Taken?

Seroquel (quetiapine) and Ativan (lorazepam) are used to treat psychiatric disorders and insomnia.

Seroquel is used to treat schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder. It may be used off-label to treat insomnia.

Ativan is used for the management of anxiety disorders, insomnia, panic attacks, and alcohol withdrawal.

Seroquel and Ativan belong to different drug classes. Seroquel is an antipsychotic medication and Ativan is a benzodiazepine.

Common side effects of Seroquel include:

• mood or behavior changes,
• constipation,
• stomach pain,
• upset stomach,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• tiredness,
• headache,
• trouble sleeping,
• dry mouth,
• sore throat,
• breast swelling or discharge,
• missed menstrual periods,
• increased appetite, or
• weight gain.

Older adults with dementia may have a slightly increased risk of death when taking Seroquel.

Common side effects of Ativan include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Muscle weakness
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Forgetfulness or amnesia
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Changes in appetite
• Skin rash

Seroquel (quetiapine) is a psychotropic medication used to treat schizophrenia in adults and children who are at least 13 years old. Seroquel is also used in the treatment of major depression and bipolar disorder.

Ativan (lorazepam) is a benzodiazepine used for the management of anxiety disorders, insomnia, panic attacks, and alcohol withdrawal.

Seroquel may also interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), medications to treat Parkinson's disease, steroids, antibiotics, antifungal medications, anti-malaria medications, heart rhythm medicines, medications to treat HIV or AIDS, or migraine headache medicines.

Ativan may interact with alcohol, other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety).

Ativan may also interact with MAO inhibitors.

Acute withdrawal symptoms, such as insomnia, nausea, and vomiting may occur if you suddenly stop taking Seroquel. Withdrawal symptoms may occur when you stop using Ativan including tremor, sweating, muscle cramps, stomach pain, vomiting, unusual thoughts or behavior, and seizure (convulsions).

Dosing preparations are 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg tablets.

The usual dose of Ativan for treating anxiety is 2-3 mg/day given in two or three divided doses. Insomnia is treated with 2-4 mg given at bedtime.