WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SEROQUEL
This section contains information on the drug SEROQUEL. It will provide you with important information but cannot be complete. If you should have any questions or if you are in doubt, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- What is SEROQUEL?
- Seroquel is available in the form of film-coated tablets and each tablet contains quetiapinefumarate, equivalent to 25 mg (Seroquel-25), 100 mg (Seroquel-100), 200 mg (Seroquel-200) or 300 mg (Seroquel-300) of the active ingredient quetiapine. Additionally each tablet contains a number of excipients necessary for the production of the tablet. These are hypromellose, povidone, calciumhydrogenphosphate, sodium starch glycolate, cellulose, macrogol, lactose, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide (E171) and iron oxide (E172). Seroquel comes in boxes of 60 tablets in strip-packaging. Seroquel is also available as a 4-day starters' pack with six tablets Seroquel-25, three tablets Seroquel-100 and one tablet Seroquel-200.
Seroquel-25 is a peach-coloured round tablet; Seroquel-100 is a yellow round tablet; Seroquel-200 is a white round tablet and Seroquel-300 is a white capsule-shaped tablet.
Seroquel belongs to the group of drugs called antipsychotics. This means that Seroquel will decrease the symptoms of certain forms of poor mental health, including hallucinations (e.g. hearing inexplicable voices), strange and anxious thoughts, changes in your behaviour, and feelings of loneliness and confusion.
- When should you not use SEROQUEL?
- Before you start using your medication, you must inform your doctor if you have used Seroquel or any of its ingredients before and experienced an allergic reaction.
You must not use Seroquel concomitantly with substances which inhibit the so called ‘cytochrome P450’ enzyme, such as HIV protease inhibitors (against AIDS), antifungal agents from the azole group (such as ketoconazole), the drugs erythromycin or clarithromycin (macrolide antibiotics) or nefazodone (an antidepressant).
- What precautions must be taken on account of SEROQUEL?
Before you start using your medication, you must inform your doctor if you:
- may be pregnant, want to become pregnant or want to breast-feed the baby;
- use medication which may enhance the effects of Seroquel, such as drugs against AIDS (HIV-protease inhibitors), against fungal infections (agents from the azole group such as ketoconazole), or the drugs erythromycin or clarithromycin (antibiotics) or nefazodone (an agent against depressions);
- also use any other medication or will discontinue its use, including medication which you bought yourself. You must inform your doctor or pharmacist whether you are using any drugs against anxiousness, depression, epilepsy (such as e.g. phenytoin or carbamazepine), or against high blood pressure, or are going to discontinue the use of these drugs. When in doubt consult your doctor of pharmacist;
- have problems with your heart or liver, or if you have suffered a stroke, or when you know you had a low number of white blood cells in the past, possibly caused by other drugs, or if you have ever had an epileptic fit (seizure);
- have an elevated sugar content in your blood or if you run an increased risk of the development of diabetes on the basis of your family history.
Seroquel must not be used by elderly patients who suffer from dementia (loss of brain functions). When in doubt consult your doctor.
You must not take Seroquel with grapefruit juice.
Your tablets may make you feel drowsy. This may disappear when you continue taking your tablets. However, you must not drive a vehicle or operate a machine until you know what influence these tablets have on you.
You must be careful with the amount of alcohol which you drink. The combined effect of Seroquel and alcohol can make you drowsy.
If you experience a fever, accelerated respiration, sweating, muscular stiffness and reduced consciousness, you must stop taking the tablets and contact your doctor immediately (see also ‘What are possible side effects of Seroquel?’).
If you are admitted to hospital, you must inform the medical staff that you are using Seroquel.
The Seroquel tablets are intended for you only and must never be used by anybody else.
Stop taking your drug only at the advice of your doctor. If you suddenly discontinue taking Seroquel withdrawal effects may occur including nausea, vomiting and insomnia. Your doctor may suggest to gradually reduce the dosage before treatment is discontinued.
- How to use SEROQUEL?
Your doctor will decide how many Seroquel tablets you will have to take each day. Follow your doctor's directions as to when and how you should take your tablets. Read the (pharmacist) label on the packing. This states how many tablets you must take and when to take the tablets. When in doubt consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Schizophrenia
The total dose per day during the first four days of the treatment of schizophrenia usually is 50 mg (day 1), 100 mg (day 2), 200 mg (day 3) and 300 mg (day 4).
The customary dosage for most patients is between 150 mg and 750 mg per day.Manic episodes
The total dose per day during the first four days of the treatment of moderate to serious manic episodes usually is 100 mg (day 1), 200 mg (day 2), 300 mg (day 3) and 400 mg (day 4). The customary dosage for most patients is between 400 mg and 800 mg per day.
Seroquel tablets are available in various strengths, and the colour of each strength differs. So be not surprised when the colour of your tablets changes from time to time.
Swallow your tablets whole with some water.
You must take your tablets in accordance with the prescription of your doctor. If you forgot to take a dose, you must take your dose at the moment that you remember, but not concurrently with your next dose. After that you must resume your customary schedule.
If you have taken more than your normal dose, you must contact your doctor or the nearest hospital.
Do not stop using your medication, not even when you feel better, unless your doctor advises you to do so.
- What are the possible side effects of SEROQUEL?
The following side effects have been reported:
Very common (>10%):
Drowsiness, which generally decreases on continuation of taking the tablets, dizziness and headache.
Common(1%-10%):
Blood disorder with a shortage of white blood cells (leucopenia) coupled with an increased susceptibility for infections, headache, increased heart rate (tachycardia), constipation, dry mouth, slight disorder of the digestive system, feebleness, local accumulation of fluid, slight weight increase, a stuffed up nose, fainting and drop in blood pressure as a result of getting up too quickly from a seated or recumbent posture sometimes coupled with dizziness.
Uncommon(0,1%-1%):
Blood disorder with an increased number of white blood cells (eosinophilia), elevated cholesterol- and/or lipid content, epileptic fit and hypersensitivity.
Rare (0,01% - 0,1%): Uncomprehended sudden fever, quickened breathing, sweating, muscular stiffness and reduced consciousness (malignant neuroleptic syndrome), yellow discolouration of the skin and the eyes (jaundice) and a prolonged and painful erection.
Very rare (< 0,01%):
Blood disorder with a shortage of white blood cells (neutropenia) coupled with an increased susceptibility for infections, unusual movements (particularly of the head and the tongue (tardive dyskinesia), inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) coupled with a yellow discolouring of the skin and eyes, diabetes (diabetes mellitus), elevated sugar content in the blood and an allergic reaction with sudden accumulation of fluid in skin and mucous membranes, breathing difficulties and/or itching and skin rash (angioedema), serious anaphylactic reaction with (high) fever, red blotches on the skin, joint pain and/or inflammation of the eye (Stevens Johnson Syndrome).
Inform your doctor or pharmacist when you suspect that you are suffering from one or more of these or other side effects, not mentioned in the leaflet, or other problems with your medication.
Do not be alarmed by this enumeration of possible side effects. It is quite likely that you will not experience any of these side effects.
- Storing SEROQUEL
- Store below 30°C in the original packing.
If your doctor decides to discontinue your treatment, please see to a proper disposal of the remaining tablets. You may return them to your pharmacist.
Do not use your tablets after the expiry date. This is stated on the packing and is also found on the strip behind the letters ‘exp’. See to proper disposal of the tablets; you may return them to your pharmacist.
Keep your Seroquel tablets in a safe place out of sight and reach of children. Your medication may be harmful to them.