Title: Understanding Quetiapine Side Effects and Coping Strategies
Seroquel, a brand name for the medication quetiapine, is an oral tablet used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in certain adults and children. As with any medication, Seroquel can cause side effects. These may include dry mouth and sleepiness.
Seroquel belongs to a class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics. It's also available in a generic version. The drug's side effects may be affected by whether it's taken as a regular Seroquel tablet or the extended-release version, Seroquel XR.
When comparing Seroquel with Seroquel XR, some side effects were found to be more common in clinical trials of one version over the other. For example, nasal congestion, slowed or slurred speech, and increased appetite were more commonly reported with Seroquel XR, while abdominal pain, weakness, and orthostatic hypotension (a sudden drop in blood pressure) were more common with Seroquel.
Common side effects of Seroquel include constipation, weight gain, dizziness, dry mouth, and sleepiness. Mild side effects include digestive problems, weight gain, dizziness, headaches, feeling weak, sore throat, increased liver enzymes, nightmares, and swelling. Serious side effects can include a sudden drop in blood pressure, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, tardive dyskinesia, cataracts, seizures, underactive thyroid, high levels of prolactin, changes in metabolism, low white blood cell counts, and an increased risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis.
Seroquel may also cause suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults up to 24 years old. It should not be used to treat dementia-related psychosis in older adults due to an increased risk of death.
If you have questions about the side effects of Seroquel or Seroquel XR, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They can provide more information and advice based on your personal health situation. As with any medication, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions and to report any side effects to your healthcare provider.
Seroquel's side effects may sometimes be severe, such as a sudden drop in blood pressure or neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Although rare, anthrax has been reported as a serious side effect in some cases of contaminated injection forms of antipsychotic medications, including atypical ones like Seroquel.
