quetiapine

Pronunciation:	kwe TYE a peen
Brand:	Seroquel

What is the most important information I should know about quetiapine?

Quetiapine is not for use in psychotic conditions that are related to dementia. Quetiapine has caused fatal pneumonia or heart failure in older adults with dementia-related conditions.

Stop using quetiapine and call your doctor at once if you have the following symptoms: fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats, uncontrolled muscle movements, symptoms that come on suddenly such as numbness or weakness, severe headache, and problems with vision, speech, or balance.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

What is quetiapine?

Quetiapine is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain.

Quetiapine is used to treat the symptoms of psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (manic depression).

Quetiapine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking quetiapine?

Quetiapine is not for use in psychotic conditions that are related to dementia. Quetiapine has caused fatal pneumonia or heart failure in older adults with dementia-related conditions.

Before taking quetiapine, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease;
kidney disease;
heart disease, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems;
a history of heart attack or stroke;
a thyroid disorder;
seizures or epilepsy;
high cholesterol or triglycerides;
a personal or family history of diabetes; or
trouble swallowing.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use quetiapine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

Quetiapine may cause you to have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Talk to your doctor if you have any signs of hyperglycemia such as increased thirst or urination, excessive hunger, or weakness. If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis while you are taking quetiapine.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether quetiapine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give quetiapine to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take quetiapine?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

It is important to take quetiapine regularly to get the most benefit.

Do not take quetiapine for longer than 6 weeks unless your doctor has told you to.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store quetiapine tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a quetiapine overdose may include extreme drowsiness, fast heart rate, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking quetiapine?

Quetiapine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall.

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of quetiapine.

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by quetiapine.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to become dangerously overheated and dehydrated while you are taking quetiapine.

What are the possible side effects of quetiapine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using quetiapine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats;
jerky muscle movements you cannot control;
sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
increased thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, or weakness;
feeling light-headed, fainting; or
urinating less than usual or not at all.

Continue taking quetiapine and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

dizziness, drowsiness, or weakness;
dry mouth, runny nose, sore throat;
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation;
blurred vision, headache, anxiety, agitation;
breast swelling or discharge;
missed menstrual periods; or
weight gain.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect quetiapine?

Before taking quetiapine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

cimetidine (Tagamet);
lorazepam (Ativan);
rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);
steroids (prednisone and others);
thioridazine (Mellaril);
an antibiotic such as erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S, Ery-Tab), fluconazole (Diflucan), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox);
medicine for depression or mentail illness, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Torfanil), or risperidone (Risperdal);
a medication to treat high blood pressure or a heart condition; or
seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), divalproex (Depakote), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), phenytoin (Dilantin), or valproate (Depakene).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use quetiapine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect quetiapine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has information about quetiapine written for health professionals that you may read.

What do my pills look like?

Quetiapine is available with a prescription under the brand name Seroquel. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Seroquel 25 mg--round, peach-colored tablets
Seroquel 100 mg--round, yellow tablets
Seroquel 200 mg--round, white tablets
Seroquel 300 mg--white, capsule-shaped, film-coated tablets

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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