Quetiapine

U.S. Brand Names

Seroquel®; Seroquel® XR

Canadian Brand Names

Seroquel®; Seroquel® XR

Mexican Brand Names

Seroquel

Pharmacologic Category

Antipsychotic Agent, Atypical

What key warnings should I know about before taking this medicine?

There is an increased chance of death in elderly people who take this medicine for dementia.

The desire to harm yourself is a serious symptom of depression. It may last until your depression is completely treated. If you are planning on harming yourself, call the emergency room right away.

Please read the medication guide given to you.

Reasons not to take this medicine

• If you have an allergy to quetiapine or any other part of this medicine.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

• If you are breast-feeding.

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to treat manic depression.

• This medicine is used to treat schizophrenia.

• It may take 6 weeks to see the full effect.

How does it work?

• Quetiapine helps clear your thinking.

• It works on improving social interactions, mood, expression of mood, as well as, delusions, paranoia, and appearance.

• It is a mood stabilizer.

How is it best taken?

• Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.

• Long-acting products: Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.

• Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.

• Follow diet and exercise plan as recommended by healthcare provider.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects.

• If you have diabetes, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have a family history of diabetes, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have high cholesterol, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you are overweight, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have Parkinson's disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have seizures, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Do not take St John's wort with this medicine. It may make this medicine less effective.

• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain medicine.

• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Be careful in hot weather. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.

• Headache.

• Low blood pressure.

• High cholesterol.

• High triglycerides.

• Nervous and excitable.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.

• Dry mouth. Frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Blurred vision.

• Weight gain.

• High blood sugar. Usually reverses when stopped.

What should I monitor?

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• Have an eye exam every 6 months.

• Check blood sugar as directed by healthcare provider.

• Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.

• Dry mouth may cause an increase in cavities. Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• If you are planning to harm yourself or the desire to harm yourself increases.

• Severe dizziness or passing out.

• Significant change in balance.

• Shakiness, difficulty moving around, or stiffness.

• Very nervous and excitable.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Increased trips to the bathroom, increased thirst, or weight loss.

• For females, menstrual changes. These include lots of bleeding, spotting, or bleeding between cycles.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store at room temperature.

• Protect from light.

• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

General statements

• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

Created: 2006-10-13 15:25:15.0

Modified: 2008-05-02 15:27:47.0

Lexi-PALS^TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.