Quincy Medical Group

Quetiapine (kwe-TYE-a-peen)

Treats schizophrenia and symptoms of bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness).

Brand Name(s):

Seroquel, Seroquel XR

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Long Acting Tablet, Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to. You need to start with a low dose, even if you have used this medicine before.
• Your doctor may tell you to take the medicine at bedtime, because quetiapine can make you sleepy.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Ask your pharmacist for the Medication Guide if you do not have one. Your doctor might ask you to sign some forms to show that you understand this information.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using levodopa, Sinemet®, erythromycin (Ery-Tab®), lorazepam (Ativan®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®), or a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®).
• Tell your doctor if you are also using medicine for seizures (such as carbamazepine, divalproex, phenytoin, phenobarbital, Depakote®, Dilantin®, Luminal®, or Tegretol®), medicine to treat a fungus infection (such as fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, Diflucan®, Nizoral®, or Sporanox®), or other antipsychotic medicine such as thioridazine (Mellaril®).
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using medicine to lower blood pressure. Some blood pressure medicines are atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), lisinopril, metoprolol, quinapril, Accupril®, Cozaar®, Diovan®, Lotrel®, Norvasc®, Toprol®, or Zestril®.
• Tell your doctor if you are using any medicines that make you sleepy. These include sleeping pills, cold and allergy medicine, narcotic pain relievers, and sedatives.
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, Alzheimer's disease, thyroid problems, or a history of seizures or breast cancer. Tell your doctor if you have diabetes or a family history of diabetes.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you have heart disease or circulation problems, such as heart failure, low blood pressure, rhythm problems, blood problems, high cholesterol, or a history of heart attack or stroke. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had a condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) in the past.
• For some children, teenagers, and young adults, this medicine can increase thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor or your child's doctor right away if you or your child start to feel more depressed and have thoughts about hurting yourselves. Report any unusual thoughts or behaviors that trouble you or your child, especially if they are new or are getting worse quickly. Make sure the doctor knows if you or your child have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Also tell the doctor if you or your child have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. Let the doctor know if you, your child, or anyone in your family has bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) or has tried to commit suicide.
• This medicine is not approved to treat behavior disorders in older people who have dementia. Using this medicine to treat this problem could increase the risk of death. This risk has not been shown for the approved uses of this medicine.
• Tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder) may occur and may not go away after you stop using the medicine. Call your doctor if you are having signs of tardive dyskinesia such as rapid, worm-like movements of the tongue, or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, or arms and legs.
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert. You may also feel lightheaded when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position, so get up slowly.
• Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.You may also need to have your eyes tested on a regular basis.
• Tell your doctor about any other medicine you have used to treat a mental disorder, especially if the medicine caused problems.
• You might get overheated more easily while using this medicine. Be aware of this if you are exercising or the weather is hot. Drinking water might help. If you get too hot and feel dizzy, weak, tired, confused, or sick to your stomach, you need to cool down.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
• Agitation, anxiety, or restlessness.
• Changes in behavior, or thoughts of hurting yourself or others.
• Constant muscle movement that you cannot control (often in your lips, tongue, jaw, arms, or legs).
• Decrease in how much or how often you urinate, increased thirst, increased hunger, or weakness.
• Fast heartbeat.
• Fever, sweating, confusion, uneven heartbeat, muscle stiffness.
• Lightheadedness or fainting (more common at the beginning or when changing doses).
• Painful, prolonged erection of the penis.
• Seizures or tremors.
• Severe drowsiness, dizziness, or sleepiness.
• Trouble seeing, or bright light bothering your eyes.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Unusual tiredness.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Back pain.
• Changes in menstrual periods.
• Headache, sore throat.
• Increased appetite.
• Nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, upset stomach, or stomach pain.
• Stuffy or runny nose.
• Weight gain.