Many people struggle to get a good night’s sleep. Insomnia affects millions of adults and can leave people feeling tired, frustrated, and unable to function properly during the day. Because of this, doctors sometimes prescribe medications to help people sleep.
One drug that has become increasingly popular for this purpose is quetiapine, also known by the brand name Seroquel. Although it was originally developed to treat serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, it is now often prescribed in low doses to help people with insomnia.
However, a new study led by researchers at Flinders University suggests that this approach may carry important risks.
The research, published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society, found that while low-dose quetiapine helped participants sleep better and reduced symptoms of sleep apnea, it also significantly impaired alertness and driving performance the following day.
Sleep problems are extremely common. Many adults have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking feeling refreshed. At the same time, obstructive sleep apnea affects millions of people worldwide.
This condition occurs when the airway repeatedly becomes blocked during sleep, causing interruptions in breathing. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly, feel tired during the day, and face a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.
Researchers focused on people who experienced both sleep apnea and insomnia, a combination that is more common than many people realize. These individuals often wake up repeatedly during the night and struggle to maintain good-quality sleep.
The study included 15 adults who spent two separate nights in a sleep laboratory. On one night they received a 50-milligram dose of quetiapine, while on another night they received a placebo. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew which treatment was being given at the time, making the study more reliable.
Researchers carefully monitored sleep quality, breathing patterns, oxygen levels, attention, and driving ability. The results showed that quetiapine improved sleep efficiency and reduced the number of breathing interruptions during sleep. Participants generally slept longer and woke up less frequently.
At first glance, these findings might seem encouraging. Better sleep is often expected to improve daytime functioning. However, the researchers discovered a troubling downside.
The morning after taking quetiapine, participants performed worse on tests designed to measure alertness and attention. Their reaction times were slower, they experienced more attention lapses, and they had poorer steering control in a driving simulator. These changes are important because they are linked to a greater risk of real-world traffic accidents.
Perhaps most concerning, some participants did not feel particularly sleepy even though objective testing showed their performance had declined. This means people may incorrectly believe they are safe to drive or operate machinery when their alertness has actually been reduced.
The study also revealed that side effects were common. More than three-quarters of participants experienced problems such as dizziness, grogginess, or drops in blood pressure after only a single dose. One participant even required medical attention after suffering a fall.
The findings are particularly relevant because sleep apnea remains widely underdiagnosed. Researchers estimate that around 80 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea may not know they have the condition. Many individuals who visit a doctor because they struggle to stay asleep may receive a sleeping medication without being assessed for sleep apnea.
The researchers argue that this highlights the need for better screening and diagnosis before sedative medications are prescribed. They also emphasize alternatives such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, a treatment that helps people change thoughts and behaviors that interfere with sleep.
Analysis of the study suggests that it provides valuable evidence because it used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, which is considered a high standard in medical research.
However, the study involved only 15 participants and examined the effects of a single dose, meaning larger studies are needed to confirm the findings.
Even so, the results raise important concerns about the growing off-label use of quetiapine for sleep problems. While the medication may improve sleep quality in the short term, the potential impact on daytime alertness and driving safety should not be ignored.
If you care about sleep health, please read studies about foods that help people sleep better, and Keto diet could improve cognitive function in people with sleep loss.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the natural supplements for sound sleep, and how your diet can improve sleep quality.
Source: Flinders University.
