Seroquel: What is it for? what indications? what side effects? Can it be used during pregnancy? All about Quetiapina.
Seroquel: what is it and what is it for?
Seroquel is a drug which contains a substance called quetiapine. This substance belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics.
Seroquel prolonged-release tablets can be used to treat various diseases, such as the following:
- Bipolar depression and major depressive episodes associated with major depressive disorder.
- Mania.
- Schizophrenia.
Contraindications.
Seroquel is contraindicated in case of:
- Allergy or hypersensitivity to quetiapine or to any of the excipients of Seroquel prolonged-release tablets.
if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- some medicines for the HIV virus;
- azole drugs, i.e. used for infections caused by fungi);
- erythromycin or clarithromycin, which are some antibiotics useful for infections);
- nefazodone, drug for depression.
Seroquel in pregnancy and lactation.
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breast-feeding, please inform your doctor before taking Seroquel prolonged-release tablets. You should not take Seroquel prolonged-release tablets during pregnancy without first discussing it with your doctor. Seroquel prolonged-release tablets should not be taken while breastfeeding.
The following symptoms, which may represent withdrawal, have been observed in newborn babies of mothers who have taken conventional or atypical antipsychotics, including Seroquel, during the last trimester (last three months of pregnancy): shaking, muscle stiffness and / or weakness sleepiness, agitation, breathing problems and difficulty in eating.
Seroquel and side effects.
Like all medicines, Seroquel prolonged-release tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Very common, i.e. affects more than 1 in 10 people:
- Dizziness, headache, dry mouth.
- Feeling sleepy.
- Withdrawal symptoms, which include inability to sleep (insomnia), feeling sick (nausea), headache, diarrhea, being sick (vomiting), dizziness and irritability.
- Increased body weight.
- Abnormal muscle movements, which include difficulty starting muscle movement, tremor, feeling restless or muscle stiffness without pain.
Common, i.e. it occurs in less than 1 in 10 people:
- Tachycardia;
- Stuffy nose
- Constipation, stomach upset;
- Feeling of weakness, fainting;
- Swelling of the arms or legs
- Low blood pressure
- Increased blood sugar levels
- Blurred vision
- Abnormal dreams and nightmares;
- Increased feeling of hunger;
- Irritability;
- Disorders of conversation and speech;
- Thoughts of suicide and worsening of depression
- Dyspnea;
- Nausea and vomit;
- Temperature.
Uncommon, i.e. it occurs in less than 1 in 100 people:
- Convulsions or seizures.
- Allergic reactions including skin bruising (bruising), swelling of the skin and the area around the mouth.
- Unpleasant sensation in the legs (also called restless legs syndrome).
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Uncontrollable movements, mainly of the face or tongue.
- Sexual dysfunctions.
- Prolongation of the QT interval, which is an observed alteration in the electrocardiogram.
- A slowing of the normal heart rate may occur when treatment is started and may be associated with low blood pressure and fainting.
- Worsening of pre-existing diabetes.
- Difficulty urinating.
Rare, i.e. it occurs in less than 1 in 1000 people:
- High body temperature associated with sweating, muscle stiffness, increased feeling of numbness or fainting;
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes;
- Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis);
- Prolonged and painful erection (priapism);
- Swelling of the breasts and unexpected production of milk from the mammary gland (galactorrhea);
- Menstrual disturbances;
- Blood clots in the veins, especially in the legs which can travel through blood vessels to the lungs, causing chest pain and difficulty in breathing
- Sleepwalking and other related events;
- Decrease in body temperature (Hypothermia);
- Inflammation of the pancreas;
- Combination of fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat or any other infection with a very low white blood cell count, a condition referred to as agranulocytosis;
- Intestinal obstruction.
Very rare, i.e. affects less than 1 in 10,000 people:
- Severe rash, blisters or red patches on the skin (Stevens-Johnson syndrome);
- Severe allergic reaction (called anaphylaxis) which can cause difficulty in breathing or shock;
- Rapid swelling of the skin, usually in the area around the eyes, lips and throat (angioedema)
- Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, hence the hormone that controls urine volume;
- Damage to muscle fibers and muscle pain (rhabdomyolysis);
Frequency not known:
- Neonatal withdrawal syndrome, i.e. withdrawal symptoms may occur in newborn babies of mothers who took Seroquel during pregnancy.
- Extrapyramidal symptoms (see section Pregnancy and lactation).
As reported my-personaltrainer.it, the class of medicines to which Seroquel belongs can cause heart rhythm problems, which can even be serious and fatal in some cases.
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