Quetiapine is an antipsychotic medication that treats several kinds of mental health conditions including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It balances the levels of dopamine and serotonin in your brain. These hormones help regulate your mood, behaviors and thoughts. The brand name of this medication is Seroquel®.
Quetiapine is available as the brand-name drugs Seroquel (immediate-release tablet) and Seroquel XR (extended-release tablet). Both forms are also available as generic drugs.
What is quetiapine? Quetiapine (Seroquel, Seroquel XR) is a second-generation or atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.
At standard doses used for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, quetiapine has been associated with weight gain and increased levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which are risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Quetiapine is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia. It is also known as a second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) or atypical antipsychotic.
Your doctor should monitor for progression of potential long-term side effect of Seroquel, which can include cataracts, weight gain, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and tardive dyskinesia, a rare condition characterized by involuntary and abnormal movements of the jaw, lips, and tongue.
Quetiapine (Seroquel) is an atypical antipsychotic that's used to improve mood, thoughts, and behaviors for people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The extended-release form of quetiapine (Seroquel) can also be used to treat depression when combined with another antidepressant.
If you take it for mania or depression in bipolar disorder, you may need to take it for a few weeks or months. Your doctor may suggest that you keep taking it for a long time, maybe several years, to stop your symptoms coming back.
Taking quetiapine may make you feel tired or dizzy, and may affect your eyesight when you start taking it. This could affect you if you drive a car, ride a bike, or do anything else that needs a lot of focus. It might be best to stop doing these things for the first few days, until you know how it affects you.
Quetiapine can cause postural hypotension so it should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disease. Other common adverse effects are somnolence, dry mouth, constipation, dizziness and altered liver function.
Adults—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 750 mg per day. Children 13 to 17 years of age—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day.
The general consensus amongst studies is that quetiapine should be avoided as a drug for insomnia. The results are reinforced by a review of quetiapine for use in insomnia which concluded that any benefit in the treatment of insomnia has not been proven to outweigh potential risks.
Quetiapine is an antipsychotic medication that treats several kinds of mental health conditions including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It balances the levels of dopamine and serotonin in your brain. These hormones help regulate your mood, behaviors and thoughts.
Its ability to also calm and make people sleepy means it may be used in addition to antidepressants or to treat other conditions (off-label uses include anxiety disorder). Seroquel is available as a generic under the name of quetiapine.
Quetiapine is available in both immediate-release and extended-release variations,1 Seroquel helps reduce anxiety by balancing the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Quetiapine is used to treat certain mental/mood disorders (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, sudden episodes of mania or depression associated with bipolar disorder). Drugs used to treat depression can help prevent suicidal thoughts/attempts and provide other important benefits.
One of the most commonly reported side effects is weight gain. Over time, excess weight can harm the heart, lungs, stomach, liver, pancreas, and other organs. While many people gain weight while taking Seroquel as prescribed, the result isn't inevitable.
It is important to follow the dosage guidelines provided by a healthcare provider and not exceed the recommended dosage. The usual recommended starting dosage of Seroquel for insomnia is 25 mg once daily at bedtime.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is found in omega-3 fish oils and is thought to have beneficial effects in mitigating psychiatric symptoms such as those found in patients with schizophrenia, a safe alternative to Seroquel.
Are Seroquel and Lithium the Same Thing? Seroquel (quetiapine) and lithium (brand name: Lithobid) are used to treat bipolar disorder. Seroquel is also used to treat schizophrenia in adults and children who are at least 13 years old, and major depression. Seroquel and lithium belong to different drug classes.
Seroquel (quetiapine) and Xanax (alprazolam) are used to treat psychiatric disorders. Seroquel is used to treat schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder. Xanax is prescribed to treat panic attacks and anxiety disorders. Seroquel and Xanax belong to different drug classes.
Seroquel use may also be directly implicated in memory issues for some patients. This likely has to do with the mechanism by which it works to affect dopamine regulation. The rewarding, accomplished feeling dopamine produces is believed to be central to learning and memorization.
Yes. Quetiapine is an antipsychotic that sedates and calms you down by reducing the severity and frequency of manic episodes. It helps to alleviate manic and depressive behavior and psychotic thoughts by maintaining a chemical balance between neurotransmitters in the brain.