MajorNatural opium alkaloids×Atypical antipsychotics
Updated · Methodology
Mechanism
Additive CNS and respiratory depression. Quetiapine potentiates opioid sedation. Older patients: fall and aspiration risk.
Symptoms
Drowsiness, slowed breathing (rate below 12/min), cyanosis of lips. Severe cases include respiratory arrest. Older patients: fall risk.
Management
The combination is possible in palliative care with careful monitoring. Keep doses minimal. Older patients: cap quetiapine at 25–50 mg at night. Alternative antipsychotic for delirium: dexmedetomidine or low-dose haloperidol.
Check the full regimen, not just this pair
Opens the checker with these two drugs prefilled. Add the rest of the regimen and recompute additive risks.
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Sources
- FDA: Seroquel (quetiapine) prescribing information (2017)– ; DailyMed setid 8ae62aaf-f8c5-417f-baac-0098369ca322