Seroquel Quick Facts

Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic, with FDA approval for use in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Other Brand Names: Ketipinor
Generic Name: Quetiapine Fumarate

Primary Uses:

  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar Disorder

Other Uses:

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Borderline Personality Disorder
  • Autism
  • Alcoholism
  • Depression
  • Tourette’s Syndrome
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Sleep disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Recreational (often co-administered with other street drugs)
  • There are also reports that Seroquel has been used as a date rape drug, as it can cause loss of consciousness, when used with alcohol

Availability: Seroquel is available in oral form in 25mg, 50mg, 100mg, 200mg, 300mg, & 400mg pills. It is also available as extended release tablets (Seroquel XR) in 50mg, 150mg, 200mg, 300mg & 400mg pills.

Contraindications:

  • Dementia
  • Liver or kidney disease
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Co-administration of bupropion (Wellbutrin)

Side Effects:

Less serious side effects may include:

  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Fatigue
  • Dry mouth
  • Sore throat
  • Increased appetite
  • Weight gain
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Stomach pain
  • Constipation
  • Breast swelling or discharge
  • Missed periods
  • Lowered seizure threshold
  • Akathesia

Less common but serious side effects include:

  • Tardive dyskinesia
  • Malignant neuroleptic syndrome
  • Long-QT syndrome
  • Extrapyramidal symptoms

Black Box Warnings: may increase risk of death in elderly patients with dementia

Metabolized: Liver
Excreted: Kidneys
Half-life: 6 hours

Withdrawal Effects:

Seroquel should be decreased gradually so as to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

  • Nausea
  • Lightheadedness
  • Sweating
  • Dyskinesia
  • Tachycardia
  • Dizziness
  • Anxiety
  • Excessive crying
  • Insomnia
  • Psychosis

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetiapine

http://www.drugs.com/seroquel.html

http://www.rxlist.com/seroquel-drug.htm

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  1. By Kimberly Brown

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