Quetiapine

This information from Lexicomp^® explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.

Brand Names: US

SEROquel; SEROquel XR

Brand Names: Canada

ACH-Quetiapine Fumarate; ACH-Quetiapine Fumarate XR; ACT QUEtiapine; AG-Quetiapine; AG-Quetiapine Fumarate; AG-Quetiapine XR; APO-QUEtiapine; APO-Quetiapine Fumarate; APO-QUEtiapine XR; Auro-QUEtiapine; BIO-QUEtiapine; DOM-QUEtiapine [DSC]; JAMP-QUEtiapine; JAMP-Quetiapine Fumarate; M-Quetiapine Fumarate XR; Mar-QUEtiapine [DSC]; MINT-QUEtiapine; MINT-Quetiapine XR; NAT-QUEtiapine; NRA-Quetiapine; NRA-Quetiapine XR; PMS-QUEtiapine; Priva-QUEtiapine [DSC]; PRO-QUEtiapine; RAN-QUEtiapine; RIVA-QUEtiapine; SANDOZ QUEtiapine XRT; SANDOZ QUEtiapine [DSC]; SEROquel; SEROquel XR; TARO-Quetiapine; TEVA-QUEtiapine XR; TEVA-QUEtiapine [DSC]

What is this drug used for?

• It is used to treat bipolar disorder.
• It is used to treat schizophrenia.
• It is used to treat depression.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take this drug?

• If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have any of these health problems: Low potassium or magnesium levels.
• If you have ever had a long QT on ECG or other heartbeat that is not normal.
• If you are taking any drugs that can cause a certain type of heartbeat that is not normal (prolonged QT interval). There are many drugs that can do this. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take this drug?

For all patients taking this drug:

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this drug. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how this drug affects you.
• To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
• Cataracts may rarely happen.
• High blood sugar or diabetes, high cholesterol, and weight gain have happened with drugs like this one. These may raise the chance of heart and brain blood vessel disease.
• Tell your doctor if you have signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, unusual thirst or hunger, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
• Low white blood cell counts have happened with drugs like this one. This may lead to a higher chance of infection. Rarely, infections have been deadly. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a low white blood cell count. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection like fever, chills, or sore throat.
• A very bad and sometimes deadly health problem called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) may happen. Call your doctor right away if you have any fever, muscle cramps or stiffness, dizziness, very bad headache, confusion, change in thinking, fast heartbeat, heartbeat that does not feel normal, or are sweating a lot.
• Dizziness, sleepiness, and feeling less stable may happen with this drug. These may lead to falling, which can cause broken bones or other health problems.
• It is common to have constipation with this drug. Sometimes, bowel block has happened. Rarely, bowel block has been deadly in people taking this drug with other drugs that slow movement through the GI (gastrointestinal) tract. If you have questions, talk with the doctor.
• If you are 65 or older, use this drug with care. You could have more side effects.
• Older adults with dementia taking drugs like this one have had a higher number of strokes. Sometimes these have been deadly. This drug is not approved to treat mental problems caused by dementia.
• This drug may affect being able to get pregnant. This effect goes back to normal when the drug is stopped. If you have questions, talk with the doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to you and the baby.
• Taking this drug in the third trimester of pregnancy may lead to side effects or withdrawal in the newborn.

Children:

• If the patient is a child, use this drug with care. The risk of some side effects may be higher in children.
• High blood pressure has happened in children and teenagers. Have your child’s blood pressure checked as you have been told by your child’s doctor.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of low thyroid levels like constipation; not able to handle cold; memory problems; mood changes; or a burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Chest pain or pressure, a fast heartbeat, or an abnormal heartbeat.
• Trouble controlling body movements, twitching, change in balance, trouble swallowing or speaking.
• Shakiness, trouble moving around, or stiffness.
• Drooling.
• Seizures.
• Change in eyesight.
• Severe constipation or stomach pain. These may be signs of a severe bowel problem.
• Trouble passing urine.
• Flu-like signs.
• Enlarged breasts, nipple discharge, not able to get or keep an erection, or menstrual changes.
• Some people may get a severe muscle problem called tardive dyskinesia. This problem may lessen or go away after stopping this drug, but it may not go away. The risk is greater with diabetes and in older adults, especially older females. The risk is greater with longer use or higher doses, but it may also occur after short-term use with low doses. Call your doctor right away if you have trouble controlling body movements or problems with your tongue, face, mouth, or jaw like tongue sticking out, puffing cheeks, mouth puckering, or chewing.

What are some other side effects of this drug?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Feeling dizzy, sleepy, tired, or weak.
• Headache.
• Feeling nervous and excitable.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Constipation.
• Dry mouth.
• Increased appetite.
• Weight gain.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Stomach pain.
• Back pain.
• Stuffy nose.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to your national health agency.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

How is this drug best taken?

Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

Regular-release tablets:

• Take with or without food.

Extended-release tablets:

• Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
• Take in the evening, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
• Take on an empty stomach or with a light meal.

All products:

• Keep taking this drug as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this drug.
• Talk with your doctor before you use marijuana, other forms of cannabis, or prescription or OTC drugs that may slow your actions.
• Do not stop taking this drug all of a sudden without calling your doctor. You may have a greater risk of signs of withdrawal. If you need to stop this drug, you will want to slowly stop it as ordered by your doctor.
• Drink lots of noncaffeine liquids unless told to drink less liquid by your doctor.
• Be careful in hot weather or while being active. Drink lots of fluids to stop fluid loss.
• Have your blood work checked and eye exams as you have been told by your doctor.
• This drug may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take this drug.
• Check your blood sugar as you have been told by your doctor.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
• If you are not sure what to do if you miss a dose, call your doctor.

Extended-release tablets:

• If it has been more than 7 days since your last dose, call your doctor to find out how to restart.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

• Store at room temperature protected from light. Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

General drug facts

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else’s drugs.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• This drug comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time this drug is refilled. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.

Last Reviewed Date

2022-03-10

Copyright

© 2024 UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.