You should not use quetiapine if you are allergic to it. Quetiapine may increase the risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis and is not approved for this use.
Drugs you should not use with quetiapine
Examples of these drugs include: Anti-arrhythmic drugs such as quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone or sotalol. Antipsychotic drugs such as ziprasidone, chlorpromazine, or thioridazine. Antibiotics such as gatifloxacin or moxifloxacin.
Quetiapine is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor before starting to take it if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to quetiapine or any other medicine. have a heart problem such as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Quetiapine may cause drowsiness, trouble with thinking, trouble with controlling body movements, or trouble with your vision (especially during the first week of use), which may lead to falls, fractures, or other injuries.
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.
you should know that quetiapine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common when you first start taking quetiapine and when your dose is increased.
Seroquel can make life more bearable for people who have severe mental illnesses. People without mental illnesses may find that the drug helps them experience feelings of pleasure and relaxation. The more they abuse the drug, the more prone they are to developing tolerance.
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.
Serious Side Effects
Increased risk of death due to dementia-related psychosis. Increased risk of suicidal thoughts.
Antipsychotic drugs are harmful if you do not need them. For someone with dementia, antipsychotic drugs can make everyday activities more difficult. They also have dangerous side effects such as more anxiety, restlessness, loss of hunger or thirst, excessive sleeping and even death.
Neither the immediate-release or XR formulation is indicated for treating anxiety, but quetiapine has been studied as a treatment for several anxiety disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety secondary to mood disorders.
Some people may only need to take quetiapine occasionally or on an as-needed basis, while othersmay take it regularly. If you take it regularly, quetiapine is usually taken once daily in the evening (XR tablets) or twice a day in the morning and evening (regular tablets) , at the same time(s) each day.
There is an increased risk of sudden cardiac death with antipsychotics, with an aggregate adjusted risk–incidence ratio for newer antipsychotics of 1.59 for low-dose and 2.86 for high-dose therapy. Within this, quetiapine accounted for a risk–incidence ratio of 1.88 (95% confidence interval 1.30–2.71).
Worsening depression, suicidal thoughts and behavior
Taking quetiapine (Seroquel) can make your depression worse and cause you to have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself.
It's fine to take paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen with quetiapine, assuming these are appropriate for you. If you find quetiapine makes you drowsy or constipated, it's best to avoid taking co-codamol, because this painkiller could make these problems worse.
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.
There is evidence of addiction to quetiapine. Side effects associated with quetiapine — such as next morning hangover symptoms and daytime fatigue — means that patients should be cautious. Drugs such as quetiapine cannot treat a sleep problem, they will only mask them.
Mood changes
It's possible to experience changes in your mood while taking quetiapine. In rare cases, it may increase feelings of depression, or raise the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior.
Irritability was a rare side effect in Seroquel's clinical trials. With irritability, you may feel angry, agitated, or annoyed. Keep in mind that anger can also occur with mood changes related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Seroquel has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
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.
Most people feel better with a daily dose of 400mg to 800mg. If you're taking standard tablets, take half your dose in the morning and half in the evening, unless your doctor gives you different instructions. If you're taking slow release tablets, take the whole daily amount in one dose.
QUETIAPINE (kwe TYE a peen) treats schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It works by balancing the levels of dopamine and serotonin in your brain, hormones that help regulate mood, behaviors, and thoughts. It belongs to a group of medications called antipsychotics.
Quetiapine is available as an oral tablet in an immediate-release formulation (time to peak plasma level 1.5 hours) and an extended-release formulation (6 hours). Its half-life, about 6 hours, is the shortest of all the second-generation antipsychotics.
It is typically prescribed to be taken once a day, preferably at bedtime, and comes in 50mg, 150mg, 200mg, 300mg, and 400mg doses. While you can take the immediate-release version with or without food, it is usually advised that you take the extended-release version without food, or with a very light meal.