Will Mom's new medications make her sleepy all the time?

Lovinarms asked...

My mom has severe panic attacks. Yesterday they started her on Ambien and Remeron at night. Is this going to make her sleepy all the time ?

Expert Answer

Both Ambien and Remeron cause drowsiness. In combination, they could definitely increase general drowsiness in your mom. There are certain factors that might increase your mom's likelihood of experiencing daytime drowsiness. This includes her medication dose, age, kidney function, and liver function. You can warn your mom of these side effects. You can also discuss with her physician the possibility of switching her to anxiety medications that cause less drowsiness.