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Seroquel Review – 8 Things You Should Know

By Sasha de Beausset Aparicio, MSc

Reviewed by Rebecca Williams, MD, MA, MB, BChir

Last Updated:

Evidence Based | Summary | Ingredients | Health Benefits | Contraindications | Cost | How To Use | Bottom Line

Seroquel is labeled as an antipsychotic medication and it claims to work by changing the actions of certain chemicals in the brain. The drug is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies. They have been on the market for almost 100 years and have researched and produced medications for heart disease, cancer, mental illness, infections, gastrointestinal disorders and respiratory conditions.

This product is available by prescription only and it is used with the purpose of treating schizophrenia and maniac depression (bipolar disorder) in children and adults. Together with other antidepressant medications, Seroquel is used to treat major depressive disorder in adults.

Summary

1) What is Seroquel?

All antipsychotic medications function similarly by regulating dopamine release and by blocking specific receptors in the brain. On the other hand, atypical antipsychotic drugs (like Seroquel) are somewhat different in that they seem to more specifically target the intended receptors in the brain, causing fewer side effects.

Seroquel contains only one active ingredient: Quetiaprine fumarate, which is labeled as an atypical antipsychotic. This ingredient is commonly used due to its properties in treating symptoms of psychosis that may occur to individuals with schizophrenia, during the manic phases of delusional disorder and bipolar disorder.

It is extremely important to note that this drug is associated with side effects like heart failure, very stiff (rigid) muscles, pneumonia, sweating, high fever, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, confusion, uncontrolled muscle movements, blurred vision, feeling light-headed, eye pain, excessive hunger, increased thirst and urination, fruity breath odor, weakness, nausea and vomiting.

Ingredients

2) Seroquel Ingredients

Seroquel includes the following ingredients: Quetiapine fumarate, Magnesium stearate, Dibasic dicalcium phosphate dehydrate, Hypromellose, Lactose monohydrate, Titanium dioxide, red ferric oxide, and yellow ferric oxide.

3) Is Seroquel Right for You?

As stated above, Seroquel is a prescription antipsychotic that is commonly used to treat schizophrenia and severe forms of bipolar disorder (manic depression) in adults and children. It is paramount to note that this drug may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.

It is strongly advised to stop using Seroquel and immediately contact your doctor if one or more of the following symptoms occur: very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, uncontrolled muscle movements, feeling light-headed, blurred vision, eye pain, increased thirst and urination, excessive hunger, fruity breath odor, weakness, nausea, and vomiting.

The active ingredient in Seroquel is quetiapine fumarate, which is classified as an atypical antipsychotic. This ingredient is commonly used to treat symptoms of psychosis that may be present in individuals with schizophrenia, during the manic phases of bipolar disorder, and delusional disorder.

Some evidence shows that Seroquel may also be effective as a mood stabilizer and may help prevent psychotic or manic episodes from occurring.

Health Benefits

4) Seroquel Health Benefits

  • May have lighter side effects than other similar drugs;
  • The product is FDA approved;
  • It is provided a very wide variety of concentrations of which you can pick the one that suits you best.
Contraindications

5) Seroquel Warnings and Precautions

  • The product is available by prescription only;
  • There is very little information on the manufacturer’s website;
  • There are no testimonials;
  • No free sample is available.
Cost

6) How Much Does Seroquel Cost?

Seroquel is available in different strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg or 300 mg. Some online retailers are offering this drug without prescription, but we do not encourage such practices.

Seroquel is an expensive form of medication. The health insurance programs may cover the costs of this treatment. It is never recommended to take a larger dose than prescribed.

How To Use

7) How to Use Seroquel

The product is available for purchase in different strengths: 25mg, 50mg, 100mg, 200mg and 300mg. The drug is also available in packs of 30 or 60 tables. We strongly advise you to do not take this drug without consulting your doctor.

Bottom Line

8) Our Bottom Line

Seroquel is an extremely powerful antipsychotic drug which is available by prescription only. Although the product is FDA approved, it was associated with some severe side effects like heart failure, high fever or pneumonia.

According to the company, multiple studies have been conducted to prove this drug effectiveness in the most severe cases of schizophrenia. Some studies are available on the producer’s website but even so, there is too little information available. We feel like a drug with such strong implications in a patient development should be offered with a stronger background and with a lot more information regarding its effectiveness, ingredients and clinical test results.

We strongly recommend to do not take this drug without consulting your doctor. Also, take Seroquel in the exact dosage prescribed by your doctor.

1.5/5 - (4 votes)
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