Quetiapine Fumarate, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antipsychotic

Generic and brand names: quetiapine fumarate, oral; Seroquel

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia. It is also used to treat bipolar disorder. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• Alzheimer's disease or dementia
• diabetes
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• liver disease
• seizures
• a stroke
• thyroid disease.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or become pregnant while taking this medicine. Do not breast-feed while you are taking this medicine.

How do I use it?

You will start taking a low dosage. Your dose will gradually be increased until you reach one that works well and causes as few side effects as possible. Follow your healthcare provider's directions exactly.

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You may have to reduce your dosage gradually.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

When you start taking this medicine, you may feel dizzy and faint when you get up too fast from sitting or lying down. This may happen during the first 3 to 5 days you take this medicine or when your dosage is increased. Getting up slowly may help.

Older adults with dementia are at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your provider about this.

Using this medicine for a long time may cause muscle spasms, twitching in the face and body, and uncontrolled tongue or jaw movement. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

While taking this medicine, avoid strenuous exercise, high temperatures, and dehydration. This medicine interferes with your body's ability to cool down, and you may become overheated. Contact your provider immediately if you have muscle stiffness, confusion, irregular or rapid heartbeat, heavy sweating, and a high fever.

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery until you are fully awake and can see clearly. Also, do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine because it may increase these side effects. Ask your healthcare provider about this.

You need to have regular eye exams while on this medicine because it can cause cataracts.

This medicine may increase the risk of developing diabetes, especially if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes. If you have diabetes, this medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Seizures, tremors, fast or irregular heartbeats, heavy sweating, high fever, muscle stiffness or pain, confusion, feeling as if you need to be moving constantly, muscle spasms, twitching, uncontrolled movements, fainting.

Other: Headache, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, dry mouth, upset stomach, changes in vision, weight gain, lightheadedness, stuffy or runny nose.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• alpha blockers such as prazosin (Minipress), terazosin (Hytrin), and doxazosin (Cardura)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), acebutolol (Sectral), betaxolol (Kerlone), carteolol, bisoprolol (Zebeta), pindolol, metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), timolol, sotalol (Betapace), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), and carvedilol (Coreg)
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiamate, Tiazac), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• corticosteroids such as prednisone (Orasone), dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred), and cortisone (Cortef)
• herbal remedies such as St. John's wort, kava, gotu kola, and valerian
• medicines to treat infection such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), rifampin (Rifadin), erythromycin (EES, E-mycin), itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• medicines used to treat Parkinson's such as levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet), selegiline (Eldepryl), pramipexole (Mirapex), and ropinirole (Requip)
• metoclopramide (Reglan)
• muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol (Soma), chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), metaxalone (Skelaxin), orphenadrine (Norflex), tizanidine (Zanaflex), methocarbamol (Robaxin)
• narcotic painkillers such as morphine (Oramorph, MS Contin, Roxanol), codeine, oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), oxycodone/APAP (Tylox, Percocet, Endocet), meperidine (Demerol), and hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab)
• sedatives such as flurazepam (Dalmane), temazepam (Restoril), butabarbital (Butisol), phenobarbital, pentobarbital (Nembutal), zolpidem (Ambien), triazolam (Halcion), and zaleplon (Sonata)
• thioridazine
• tranquilizers such as diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.