SEROQUEL (quetiapine) pronounced SER-O-KWELL, is an oral medication for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.
SEROQUEL (quetiapine) is a member of a category of medicines called "atypical antipsychotics." SEROQUEL (quetiapine) has been found to be effective in treating symptoms, while causing few of the unpleasant side effects of older medications. Illnesses that affect the brain, such as schizophrenia, may be due to certain chemicals in the brain being out of balance. These imbalances may cause some of the symptoms you may be experiencing. Doctors and scientists are not sure what causes these imbalances to occur. SEROQUEL (quetiapine) is thought to work by regulating the imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Although SEROQUEL (quetiapine) is not able to cure your condition, treatment can help manage your symptoms and help you feel better. For this reason, it is very important to take your doses of SEROQUEL (quetiapine) every day or as your doctor recommends, even once your symptoms go away and as you're feeling better.
Symptoms commonly associated with schizophrenia include:
1. Positive Symptoms- Delusions (belief in ideas that are obviously false), Hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that do not exist), Disorganized thinking (unclear or confused thoughts), Agitation (nervousness) and
2. Negative Symptoms- Lack of drive or initiative (daily activities cannot be accomplished (e.g., bathing), Social withdrawal (isolate oneself from friends, family, and the public), Apathy (lack of feeling or emotion), Emotional unresponsiveness (has no feeling towards anything, the person would not cry if sad, show anger if mad, or smile/laugh when happy), Anhedonia (diminished ability to experience pleasure).
During therapy with SEROQUEL (quetiapine), especially during the initial dosing period, you may experience light-headedness or dizziness, especially when standing up quickly or getting out of bed. To help prevent this feeling, rise slowly from your chair or bed. Drowsiness can be a side effect of SEROQUEL (quetiapine) especially during the first 3-5 days after you begin taking SEROQUEL (quetiapine). Use caution when performing any activity requiring alertness, including operating an automobile or other hazardous machinery, until you are reasonably certain SEROQUEL (quetiapine) does not cause you to be drowsy. You shouQld avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while taking SEROQUEL (quetiapine) and avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated while you are taking SEROQUEL (quetiapine).
SEROQUEL (quetiapine) is available as tablets you take by mouth. You should take SEROQUEL (quetiapine) every day or as your doctor has directed. To gain the most benefit from , take the exact number of tablets of SEROQUEL (quetiapine) your doctor has prescribed for you each day at the appropriate times. Regardless of how good or how bad you feel, do not stop taking SEROQUEL (quetiapine) without notifying your doctor.
Remember that you need to give yourself some time to feel better. Your symptoms will probably improve gradually over the first few weeks of treatment. The most important thing you can do to make the most of your treatment with SEROQUEL (quetiapine) is to take SEROQUEL (quetiapine) the way your doctor has recommended. Taking SEROQUEL (quetiapine) the way your doctor has prescribed should help relieve your symptoms.
The most common SEROQUEL side effects are dizziness (10%), postural hypotension (7%), dry mouth (7%), and dyspepsia (6%). The majority of SEROQUEL side effects are mild or moderate. The incidence of somnolence in clinical trials was 18% versus 11% for placebo.
Consideration should be given to a lower starting dose, a slower rate of dose titration, careful monitoring during the initial dosing period, and a lower target dose in the elderly and patients with hepatic impairment.
As with all antipsychotic medications, prescribing should be consistent with the need to minimize the risk of SEROQUEL side effects like tardive dyskinesia, seizures, and orthostatic hypotension.
As with all antipsychotic medications,SEROQUEL side effects like a rare condition referred to as neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) has been reported.
SEROQUEL is available as tablets you take by mouth. You should take SEROQUEL every day or as your doctor has directed. To gain the most benefit from SEROQUEL, take the exact number of tablets your doctor has prescribed for you each day at the appropriate times. Regardless of how good or how bad you feel, do not stop taking SEROQUEL without notifying your doctor.
Remember that you need to give yourself some time to feel better. Your symptoms will probably improve gradually over the first few weeks of treatment. The most important thing you can do to make the most of your treatment with SEROQUEL is to take SEROQUEL the way your doctor has recommended. Taking your medicine the way your doctor has prescribed should help relieve your symptoms.