Scientists Warn of Risks Associated with Commonly Prescribed Sleeping Pill Quetiapine
A recent study conducted by researchers at Flinders University in Australia has raised concerns about the use of quetiapine, a medication commonly prescribed off-label for sleep disorders such as insomnia. The study, published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society, found that while low-dose quetiapine can modestly improve sleep quality and reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it also significantly impairs alertness and driving performance the following day. The clinical trial involved 15 adults who spent two nights in a sleep laboratory, one after taking 50 milligrams of quetiapine and another after taking a placebo. Results showed that quetiapine reduced breathing interruptions during sleep and improved sleep efficiency, but also led to slower reaction times, more lapses in attention, and poorer steering control during a driving simulation task. 
