What is quetiapine?
Quetiapine is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the
brain.
Quetiapine is used to treat the symptoms of psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder (manic depression) in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.
Quetiapine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking quetiapine?
Quetiapine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Quetiapine may cause
heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to
safely take quetiapine:
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liver or kidney disease;
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heart disease, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems;
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a history of heart attack or stroke;
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a thyroid disorder;
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seizures or epilepsy;
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high cholesterol or triglycerides;
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a personal or family history of diabetes; or
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trouble swallowing.
Quetiapine may cause you to have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Talk
to your doctor if you have any signs of hyperglycemia such as increased thirst or urination, excessive
hunger, or weakness. If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis while you
are taking quetiapine.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if
you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or
suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether quetiapine is harmful to an unborn
baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
during treatment.
It is not known whether quetiapine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing
baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give quetiapine to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.
How should I take quetiapine?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your
prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this
medication.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking
the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your doctor will need to check your
progress on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Store quetiapine tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of quetiapine?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about quetiapine?
Your pharmacist has information about quetiapine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of quetiapine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or
behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated,
hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts
about suicide or hurting yourself.
Other serious side effects include:
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fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats;
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jerky muscle movements you cannot control;
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sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the
body;
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sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech,
or balance;
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increased thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, or
weakness;
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feeling like you might pass out; or
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urinating less than usual or not at all.
Less serious side effects may include:
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dizziness, drowsiness, or weakness;
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dry mouth, runny nose, sore throat;
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nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation;
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blurred vision, headache, anxiety, agitation;
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breast swelling or discharge;
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missed menstrual periods; or
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weight gain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about quetiapine?
Quetiapine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Quetiapine may cause
heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
Stop using quetiapine and call your doctor at once if you have the following symptoms:
fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats, uncontrolled muscle movements,
symptoms that come on suddenly such as numbness or weakness, severe headache, and problems with
vision, speech, or balance.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if
you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the
first 12 weeks of treatment.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or
behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated,
hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts
about suicide or hurting yourself.
What should I avoid while taking quetiapine?
Quetiapine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if
you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly
and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of quetiapine.
What other drugs will affect quetiapine?
Before taking quetiapine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
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cimetidine (Tagamet);
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erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S, Ery-Tab);
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lorazepam (Ativan);
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rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane,
Rifater);
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steroids (prednisone and others);
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thioridazine (Mellaril);
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an antifungal medication such as fluconazole (Diflucan),
ketoconazole (Nizoral), or itraconazole (Sporanox);
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medicine for depression or mental illness, such as fluoxetine
(Prozac), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), or risperidone (Risperdal);
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a medication to treat high blood pressure or a heart
condition; or
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seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Tegretol),
divalproex (Depakote), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), phenytoin (Dilantin), or valproate
(Depakene).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
quetiapine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This
includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using
a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of quetiapine?
