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 mental disorders such as schizophrenia.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

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

• Alzheimer's disease
• breast cancer
• 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.

How do I use it?

You will start taking a low dosage twice a day. Then you will gradually increase your dosage until you reach one that works well and causes as few side effects as possible. Follow your health care provider's directions exactly.

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.

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.

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.

This medicine may increase your risk of dehydration (loss of too much water from your body). Use caution in hot weather, especially if you exercise outdoors.

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 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 (convulsions), changes in vision, tremors (shaking), rapid heartbeats that continue, high fever, muscle stiffness or pain, confusion, feeling as if you need to be moving constantly, muscle spasms, twitching, uncontrolled jaw or tongue movement, fainting.

Other: Headache, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, dry mouth, upset stomach, weight gain.

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 health care provider if you are taking:

• barbiturates such as phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline), and secobarbital (Seconal)
• carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• levodopa (Sinemet)
• lorazepam (Ativan)
• medicines to treat high blood pressure such as prazosin (Minipress), doxazosin (Cardura), benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiamate, Tiazac), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), 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)
• medicines to treat infection such as erythromycin (EES, E-mycin), itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• rifampin (Rifadin)
• 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.

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 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.