You will start with a low dose that your doctor will increase slowly to a dose that is effective for you. Choose a time that you can always remember. This could be a mealtime, or when you brush your teeth. You can take the ordinary tablets with or without food and they should be swallowed with a drink of water — the tablets have an unpleasant bitter taste if chewed.
The prolonged-release long-acting tablets should not be broken as they have a special system in them to deliver the medicine into your body slowly over a few hours. You should take the prolonged-release long-acting tablets by swallowing them whole do not chew or crush with a glass of water on an empty stomach — one hour before food, or two hours after food. If you forget to take it by your next dose, just take the next dose at the correct time. Do not try to catch up on missed doses. If you forget to take your tablets for a few days, you may start getting your old symptoms back or some withdrawal symptoms.
Talk to your doctor if this happens. Once you start taking an antipsychotic, the brain adjusts to having a new level of dopamine around. If you stop taking the antipsychotic all at once, or reduce the dose too much all at once, the balance starts to change again.
You could get your old symptoms back or experience unpleasant side effects including feeling or being sick, difficulty sleeping, headache, diarrhoea, feeling dizzy or irritable.
It is better to agree stopping with a doctor who will reduce your dose gradually over several weeks. You will probably go for checks after you finish to see that your old symptoms have not come back. Some people have thoughts about harming themselves or taking their own lives soon after they stop this medicine — you must go straight to a hospital if this happens to you.
If you have taken more quetiapine than the dosage recommended by the doctor who prescribed it to you, you must get medical help immediately — even if you do not feel any different. While taking quetiapine, some people may think about hurting themselves or taking their own lives. You must go straight to hospital with your tablets if you have any of these thoughts.
Quetiapine can sometimes cause serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience unusual movements mainly of the face or tongue. Feeling a little dizzy or sleepy is common, particularly at the start of treatment. This usually passes, but if you feel very dizzy or excessively sleepy, contact your doctor. Go to hospital if you have a seizure fit. Quetiapine can in rare cases cause a long-lasting and painful erection called priapism.
If this happens, you will need to be treated in hospital. In very rare cases, people have severe allergic reactions to quetiapine. Go to hospital if you have difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face or throat. Quetiapine is not addictive, but stopping it suddenly can cause problems such as difficulty sleeping, feeling or being sick, headache, diarrhoea loose poo , feeling dizzy or irritable. See you doctor if you want to stop, or if you are having these effects.
You might feel sleepy or dizzy, and not able to see properly, in the first few days after taking quetiapine. Do not drive a car, ride a bike or operate machines until you see how this affects you.
Not everyone will experience side effects with quetiapine, and most of the common side effects of this medication will go away or get better within a couple of weeks. If you think you have a side effect that has lasted longer than this, see your doctor to discuss possible alternatives to quetiapine.
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Open guide menu Skip to guide menu. I am a young person I am a parent I work with young people. Open site search Open main navigation. View shareable links View Basket : 0 items. Guide Menu for Quetiapine. Hide Show guide menu. Guide contents jump to section About quetiapine Quetiapine and everyday life Uses, warnings, safety and side effects About this information More information and advice. About quetiapine. Please note. Always talk to your doctor about your situation and whether this medication is for you.
Thinking about trying medication? Read our guide. How quetiapine works. Quetiapine and everyday life. Frequently asked questions.
How long does it take to start working? What effects will it have on my body? Watch out for any early signs of diabetes. These include: wanting to drink a lot going for a wee a lot feeling weak If you are a young person who already has diabetes, taking quetiapine may affect your blood sugar levels. Talk to your doctor and check your blood glucose levels regularly. You may have to increase the dosage of the medication you use for your diabetes. Should I tell my family and friends I am taking it?
Will it affect my sleep? In the first few days of taking quetiapine, you may feel extremely sleepy. Taking quetiapine with alcohol or some other medicines could make this even worse.
You might also have strange dreams or nightmares. Talk to your doctor if any of this worries you. Can I drink alcohol and take street drugs while taking it? Alcohol You can continue to drink alcohol while taking quetiapine, but having the two together might make you very sleepy.
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. Quetiapine rebalances dopamine and serotonin to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.
This medication sheet will focus primarily on schizophrenia. You can find more information about bipolar disorder and depression here. Quetiapine may also be helpful when prescribed "off-label" for delusional parasitosis, post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD , generalized anxiety disorder, delirium in the intensive care unit, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Your mental health provider should justify his or her thinking in recommending an "off-label" treatment. They should be clear about the limits of the research around that medication and if there are any other options. Schizophrenia requires long-term treatment. Do not stop taking quetiapine, even when you feel better.
With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine. Do not stop taking quetiapine or change your dose without talking with your healthcare provider first. For quetiapine to work properly, it should be taken every day as ordered by your healthcare provider. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your healthcare provider to best manage your medications. People living with schizophrenia who wish to become pregnant face important decisions.
This is a complex decision since untreated schizophrenia has risks to the fetus, as well as the mother. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers.
Symptoms in the newborn may include agitation, feeding disorder, hypertonia, hypotonia, respiratory distress, somnolence, and tremor; these may be self-limiting or require hospitalization. Quetiapine is usually taken 1, 2, or 3 times per day with or without food. Typically patients begin at a low dose of medicine and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks. The dose usually ranges from mg to mg.
Only your healthcare provider can determine the correct dose for you. The extended release tablets should be swallowed whole. They should not be chewed, crushed, or broken. Use a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication.
You may also ask a family member or a friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication. If you miss a dose of quetiapine, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose.
Discuss this with your healthcare provider. Do not double your next dose or take more than what is prescribed. Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking quetiapine. They may decrease the benefits e. If an overdose occurs call your doctor or You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at Increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, drowsiness, headache, agitation, dizziness, fatigue, extrapyramidal symptoms, weight gain, cholesterol abnormalities, increased glucose, dry mouth, increased appetite, constipation.
Quetiapine may increase the blood levels of a hormone called prolactin. Side effects of increased prolactin levels include females losing their period, production of breast milk and males losing their sex drive or possibly experiencing erectile problems. Long term months or years of elevated prolactin can lead to osteoporosis, or increased risk of bone fractures.
Some people may develop muscle related side effects while taking quetiapine. These symptoms should be reported immediately to the doctor. Please see additional information within the full Prescribing Information. By finding a treatment that works for you, and taking it regularly, you may experience improvement in your symptoms. Be patient and follow the directions of your health care professional. Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis having lost touch with reality due to confusion and memory loss treated with this type of medicine are at an increased risk of death, compared to placebo sugar pill.
Stop SEROQUEL XR and call your doctor right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms: high fever; excessive sweating; stiff muscles; confusion; changes in pulse, heart rate, and blood pressure. These may be symptoms of a rare, but very serious and potentially fatal, side effect called neuroleptic malignant syndrome NMS.
If you develop symptoms of high blood sugar or diabetes, such as excessive thirst or hunger, increased urination, or weakness, contact your doctor. Complications from diabetes can be serious and even life threatening.
Your doctor should check your weight regularly. Tell your doctor about any movements you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts, as they may be signs of a serious condition called tardive dyskinesia TD.
Other risks include feeling dizzy or lightheaded upon standing, falls which may cause serious injuries , trouble swallowing, or decreases in white blood cells which can be fatal. Fever, flu-like symptoms, or any other infection could be a result of a very low white blood cell count.
Tell your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you experience any of these. Before starting treatment, tell your doctor about all prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking. Also tell your doctor if you have or have had low white blood cell count, seizures, abnormal thyroid tests, high prolactin levels, heart or liver problems, trouble emptying your bladder, enlarged prostate, constipation, increased pressure inside your eyes, or cataracts.
An eye exam for cataracts is recommended at the beginning of treatment and every 6 months thereafter. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. The most common side effects in adults are drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, increased appetite, upset stomach, weight gain, fatigue, difficulty moving, and disturbance in speech or language, and stuffy nose.
The most common side effects in children and adolescents are drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, stuffy nose, increased appetite, upset stomach, vomiting, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, and weight gain.
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