Zoloft With Unisom Interaction Details
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses the safety of combining Zoloft and Unisom.
I have taken 25mg of Zoloft for 3 days at around noon, and tonight I took a Unisom sleep gels to fall asleep. Is it safe to take Unisom while on Zoloft?
Mar 11, 2023- There is no direct interaction between Zoloft and Unisom, but both can cause drowsiness so taking them together may increase sedation. Unisom products contain different active ingredients like diphenhydramine or doxylamine, so check which type you're using. You can safely use Unisom and Zoloft together, just be aware of potential added sleepiness and take Unisom in the evening as intended.
Quick Answer
Unisom is a brand name product, and there are several different formulations containing different active ingredients (e.g., Unisom SleepGels contain diphenhydramine while Unisom SleepTabs contain doxylamine). Zoloft doesn't specifically interact with either of these Unisom products but there is a risk of certain additive side effects (e.g., drowsiness, dizziness).
Detailed Answer
As mentioned, there are several different 'Unisom' products on the market.
Although there are 'drug-free' Unisom products, when Unisom is brought up in the context of a drug interaction question like this, generally what is being referred to are the Unisom products that contain one of two sedating antihistamines:
- Diphenhydramine
- Doxylamine
Diphenhydramine is a commonly utilized sedating antihistamine available in a number of different products, including Benadryl and Unisom SleepGels.
Doxylamine is also a sedating antihistamine and can be found in products like NyQuil and Unisom SleepTabs.
Regardless of which Unisom product you are referring to, we are looking for an interaction between a sedating antihistamine and Zoloft (sertraline). You mentioned specifically the 'SleepGels', which contain diphenhydramine (the same antihistamine that is in Benadryl).
The good news here is that there is no specific interaction between Zoloft and Unisom SleepGels. Unisom does not affect the metabolism or clinical effects of Zoloft in any way.
However, and this is important to note, some common side effects of Zoloft include drowsiness and dizziness.
Since Unisom products are sedating, there is a risk of additive side effects when taken with Zoloft (e.g., additive sedative effects).
This generally isn't much of a concern since Unisom is intended for evening dosing to help sleep at night. Regardless, risk of additive sedation is important to be aware of.
Final Words
I hope you found this helpful!
Unisom and Zoloft can certainly be used together safely, just watch out for the potential of additive sedative effects, especially if Zoloft already makes you feel tired.
Reach back out anytime!
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Active ingredients
- The chemical substances in a medication that produce the therapeutic effect.
- Diphenhydramine
- A sedating antihistamine commonly used to reduce allergy symptoms and promote sleep.
- Doxylamine
- A sedating antihistamine similar to diphenhydramine, used in sleep aids and cold medications.
- Antihistamines
- Medications that block histamine to reduce allergy symptoms, with some types causing drowsiness.
- Drug interaction
- A change in how a medication works when taken with another drug, food, or substance.
- Metabolism
- The process by which the body breaks down and processes medications and other substances.
- Additive side effects
- When two medications combined cause stronger unwanted effects than either would cause alone.
- Sertraline
- The generic name for the antidepressant medication commonly known as Zoloft.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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