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