Quetiapine Fumarate, Oral

Type of medicine: antipsychotic

Generic and brand names: quetiapine fumarate, oral; Seroquel

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 health care provider.

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

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

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

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 health care provider's directions exactly.

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your health care 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 health care provider.

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.

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 health care 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.

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 health care provider about this.

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 health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Seizures, changes in vision, tremors, fast or irregular heartbeats, 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, weight gain, lightheadedness, stuffy or runny nose.

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 health care 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) and doxazosin (Cardura)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline), and secobarbital (Seconal)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), acebutolol (Sectral), betaxolol (Kerlone), carteolol (Cartrol), bisoprolol (Zebeta), pindolol (Visken), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), timolol (Blocadren), 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)
• herbal remedies such as St. John's wort, kava, gotu kola, and valerian
• lorazepam (Ativan)
• 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 (Sinemet), selegiline (Eldepryl), pramipexole (Mirapex), and ropinirole (Requip)
• metoclopramide (Reglan)
• thioridazine (Mellaril).

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

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 health care 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.